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Relationships between growth, population structure and sea surface temperature in the temperate solitary coral Balanophyllia europaea (Scleractinia, Dendrophylliidae)

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Abstract

The demographic characteristics of the solitary zooxanthellate scleractinian Balanophyllia europaea, endemic to the Mediterranean, were determined in six populations, on a latitudinal gradient along the Italian coast, and compared with the mean annual sea surface temperature (SST). Growth rate correlated negatively, and asymptotic length of the individuals positively with SST. With increasing SST, the distributions of age frequencies moved away from a typical steady state structure (i.e., exponential decrease in the frequency of individuals with age), indicating less stable populations and showed a deficiency of individuals in the younger-age classes. These observations suggest that high temperatures are an adverse factor to the B. europaea symbiosis. Using projected increases in seawater temperature, most of the B. europaea populations in the Mediterranean are expected to be close to their thermal limits by 2100 and the populations at that time may support few young individuals.

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Acknowledgments

We wish to thank L. Bortolazzi, A. Comini, M. Ghelia, G. Neto, L. Tomesani, Centro Immersioni Pantelleria, Il Pesciolino, Polo Sub, and Sub Maldive, Bologna Scuba Team, Scientific Diving School, Marine Science Group, J. Bilewitch (State University of New York at Buffalo), and M. Mukherjee (University of Georgia) for help and assistance, and two anonymous reviewers for their comments on the manuscript. This research was financed by the Associazione dei Tour Operator Italiani, the Marine & Freshwater Science Group Association, the Canziani foundation of the Department of Evolutionary and Experimental Biology of the Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, and the Ministry of Education, University and Research. This study is dedicated to the memory of U. Pepoli. The experiments complied with current Italian law.

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  1. Department of Evolutionary and Experimental Biology, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, Via F. Selmi 3, 40126, Bologna, Italy

    S. Goffredo, E. Caroselli & F. Zaccanti

  2. Operative Unit of Radiology and Diagnostics by Images, Hospital of Porretta Terme, Local Health Enterprise of Bologna, Via Roma 16, 40046, Porretta Terme, Bologna, Italy

    G. Mattioli

  3. Taskforce for Statistical Analysis, Marine & Freshwater Science Group Association, Via Andrea Costa 174, 40134, Bologna, Italy

    E. Pignotti

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  1. S. Goffredo
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  2. E. Caroselli
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Correspondence to S. Goffredo.

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Communicated by Environment Editor Prof. van Woesik.

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Goffredo, S., Caroselli, E., Mattioli, G. et al. Relationships between growth, population structure and sea surface temperature in the temperate solitary coral Balanophyllia europaea (Scleractinia, Dendrophylliidae). Coral Reefs 27, 623–632 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-008-0362-y

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