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Scleractinian corals rely on heterotrophy in highly turbid environments

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Abstract

Coral communities can survive in stressful environments; however, the mechanisms corals employ to endure challenging conditions are poorly understood. This study assessed how the heterotrophy of three coral genera (Acropora spp., Porites spp. and Platygyra spp.) varies among sites in the Dampier Archipelago, Western Australia, exposed to different levels of turbidity. Stable isotope δ13C and δ15N analysis of coral host and endosymbionts were combined with modern Bayesian isotopic niche analysis to demonstrate that heterotrophy in all three coral genera increased in highly turbid environments. While all coral genera were found to be more heterotrophic in highly turbid waters, Porites spp. favoured heterotrophy across all levels of turbidity, whereas Platygyra spp. and Acropora spp. were less heterotrophic at sites with lower turbidity. Thus, some scleractinian corals can alter their feeding strategies in response to turbidity levels. As nearshore coral reefs experience increased and prolonged turbidity with intensifying climate change and anthropogenic development, the knowledge gained from this study will allow for improved environmental impact assessment and predictive modelling for future coral reef conservation.

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Samples were collected under DBCA permit #FO25000234 and DPIRD exemption # 3671.

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Acknowledgements

We recognise and acknowledge the Murujuga People, the traditional custodians of the land and sea country on which this study was conducted. The authors recognise and thank those who have contributed to the research and preparation of this manuscript, Tahlia Bassett (Curtin University) for her assistance in the field, Adi Zvifler (University of Western Australia) for her training in coral stable isotope preparation methodologies, Janine Bruemmer (Edith Cowen University) for conducting the Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometer analysis, Zoe Richards (Curtin University) and Emily Howells (Southern Cross University) for assisting in the initial coral identifications and James Price (Ohio State University), for his guidance regarding the SIBER analysis.

Funding

This project was funded by the Woodside-operated Pluto Project for the State Environmental Offsets Program administered by DBCA. The funders had no role in the preparation of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Australian Institute of Marine Science, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia

    Natalie Travaglione & Shaun Wilson

  2. Environmental and Conservation Sciences, Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University, 90 South St, Murdoch, WA, 6150, Australia

    Natalie Travaglione & James Tweedley

  3. Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, 17 Dick Perry Ave, Kensington, WA, 6151, Australia

    Richard Evans, Molly Moustaka & Shaun Wilson

  4. Oceans Institute, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia

    Richard Evans & Shaun Wilson

  5. Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Oceans and Atmosphere, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia

    Damian P. Thomson

  6. Oceans Graduate School, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia

    Michael Cuttler

Authors
  1. Natalie Travaglione
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  2. Richard Evans
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  3. Molly Moustaka
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  4. Michael Cuttler
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  6. James Tweedley
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  7. Shaun Wilson
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Contributions

NT contributed to data collection, statistical analysis, graphics and interpretation, and wrote the manuscript. RE, SKW, and MM conceived the initial project idea, experimental design, and contributed to data collection. DT contributed to methodological design and laboratory processing. MC contributed to data collection and collation. All authors contributed to manuscript revisions.

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Correspondence to Natalie Travaglione.

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Travaglione, N., Evans, R., Moustaka, M. et al. Scleractinian corals rely on heterotrophy in highly turbid environments. Coral Reefs 42, 997–1010 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-023-02407-2

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