Abstract
Large benthic foraminifera are an integral component of shallow-water tropical habitats and like many marine calcifiers, are susceptible to ocean acidification (OA) and ocean warming (OW). In particular, the prolific Symbiodiniaceae-bearing and high-magnesium calcite Marginopora vertebralis has a low threshold compared to several diatom-bearing and low-magnesium calcite species. In this multi-year mesocosm experiment, we tested three RPC 8.5 climate change scenarios (i) present day, (ii) the year 2050, and (iii) 2100. To enable a realistic epiphytic association, these experiments were uniquely conducted using natural carbonate substrate, living calcifying alga, and seagrass. In contrast to previous studies, we detected no reduction in surface-area growth under future climate conditions compared with present day conditions. In terms of calcification, M. vertebralis’ epiphytic association to primary producers (i.e., calcifying algae and seagrasses) potentially ameliorates the effects of OA by buffering against declines in boundary layer pH during periods of photosynthesis (i.e., CO2 removal). Importantly for population maintenance, we observed a strong reduction in asexual fecundity under the 2100 scenario. We propose the additional energy needed to maintain growth might be one reason for drastically reduced asexual reproduction. An alternative explanation could be that the 2 °C temperature increase interfered with the environmental synchronization that triggered asexual multiple fission. We conclude that the low levels of reproduction will reduce populations in a high CO2 environment and reduce a valuable source of CaCO3 sediment production.
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Acknowledgments
The authors are grateful for the support, design, and maintenance of the mesocosm system by the National Sea Simulator (SeaSim) staff at the Australian Institute of Marine Science in Townsville, Queensland (AIMS). The Australian Government’s National Environmental Science Program (NESP) Tropical Water Quality (TWQ) Hub Projects 2.1.6 and 5.2: From exposure to risk: novel experimental approaches to analyse cumulative impacts and determine thresholds in the GBRWHA is acknowledged for financial support. Special thanks go to Craig Humphrey, Andrea Severati, Adriana Campili and Lonidas Koukoumaftsis. This study would not have been possible without the help of a large number of volunteers and interns assisting with maintenance and measurements, particularly Lilly von Kalckreuth, Morgane Hartley and Iga-Maria Nestorowicz, Soumya Santosh. Two anonymous reviewers are acknowledged for their time. The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper. The final publication is available at Springer via https://doi.org/10.1007/s12583-022-1657-6.
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Reymond, C.E., Patel, F. & Uthicke, S. Stable Adult Growth but Reduced Asexual Fecundity in Marginopora vertebralis, under Global Climate Change Scenarios. J. Earth Sci. 33, 1400–1410 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12583-022-1657-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12583-022-1657-6