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Effects of turbidity and depth on the bioconstruction of the Abrolhos reefs

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Abstract

Turbidity increase is one of the main stressors to coral reefs. It affects light availability and will act together with global sea level rise to reduce potential photosynthesis that is important to light-enhanced calcification in corals. Corals are the main contributors to the morphological complexity of reefs through skeletal calcification. Bioconstruction by corals is a multifactorial process that is controlled by physical (e.g., irradiance and turbidity) and biological factors such as photoacclimation process. In this paper, we intend to show how turbidity and photobiology might interplay to produce a coral species distribution that controls reef growth and structural complexity. The Abrolhos complex is composed by a group of reefs closer to the coastline characterized by a high light attenuation value (Kd490 = 0.11), and another one about 60 km far from the coast characterized by a light attenuation coefficient of Kd490 = 0.08. In these reefs, different coral communities produce bioconstruction potential accordingly. We used data collected for 7 yrs, with the AGRRA (Atlantic and Gulf rapid reef assessment) Protocol. Coral species cover and distribution data were used to estimate reef bioconstruction [sensu Done (1995)] rates. A field experiment examined the metabolic function of five species (Mussismilia braziliensis, Mussismilia hispida, Mussismilia harttii, Montastraea cavernosa and Siderastrea stellata) through respirometry and rapid light curves (RLC). Bioconstruction potential and primary gross productivity demonstrated a substantial variability between reefs and species. In combination, these functional responses meant that coral species distribution is controlled by local factors and acclimation process. Therefore, our results suggest that these functional responses are useful tools to understand photoacclimation process and its consequences, species distribution and the space occupation on Abrolhos bank. We highlight the deleterious effect of turbidity in bioconstruction. This suggests that the local processes that increase sediment runoff is an immediate impact and must be controlled.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank the anonymous reviewers for comments and suggestions for improving the manuscript. Also, thanks to the Abrolhos Marine National Park/IBAMA (Brazilian Institute of the Environment and Renewable Natural Resources) for support to the experiments with the coral species. The experiments were done under the license SISBIO No. 22106–2, issued by the Brazilian Biodiversity Conservation Agency (ICMBio). The authors thank the Brazilian Navy for the authorization to stay in one of the houses on Santa Bárbara Island. Dr. David Suggett provided the equipment used in the photobiology experiment through SymBioCore Project (PIRSES-GA-2011-295191). The authors thank Lindzai Torres and Miguel Loiola for the technical support during the sampling and the experiment as well as for the discussions related to the development of the experiment. Dr. Pablo Santos helped in production of the map. We also thank Alan Matos for his invaluable help in the map layout, and Danilo Lisboa in the acquisition of the MODIS data. This work is part of the Long-Term Ecological Program (PELD) funded by the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) and by the National Institute of Science and Technology of Tropical Marine Environments INCT AmbTropic (CNPq/FAPESB Processes: 565054/2010-4, 8936/2011 and 465634/2014-1). LMF received a Ph.D. scholarship from the Bahia Research Foundation (FAPESB). MDMO received a postdoctoral fellowship from CNPq. RKPK and ZMANL were awarded CNPq-1C Grants.

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  1. Laboratory of Coral Reefs and Global Changes-RECOR, Institute of Geosciences, Universidade Federal da Bahia (Federal University of Bahia–UFBA), Barão de Jeremoabo Street, Ondina, Salvador, Bahia, 40170-290, Brazil

    Lourianne M. Freitas, Marília de Dirceu M. Oliveira, Zelinda M. A. N. Leão & Ruy Kenji P. Kikuchi

  2. Graduate Program in Ecology and Biomonitoring, Institute of Biology, Universidade Federal da Bahia (Federal University of Bahia–UFBA), Barão de Jeremoabo Street 147, Ondina, Salvador, Bahia, 40170-115, Brazil

    Lourianne M. Freitas & Ruy Kenji P. Kikuchi

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  1. Lourianne M. Freitas
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Correspondence to Lourianne M. Freitas.

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Freitas, L.M., Oliveira, M.D.M., Leão, Z.M.A.N. et al. Effects of turbidity and depth on the bioconstruction of the Abrolhos reefs. Coral Reefs 38, 241–253 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-019-01770-3

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