Variation of micro-morphological features and possible adaptation strategies of platy-laminar corals Echinopora lamellosa and E. pacificus to turbidity stress in changing climate

Platy-laminar corals have miraculously been reported as sedimentation-tolerant, though their morphology could naturally allow undesirable surface sedimentation. In this paper, we examine how micro-morphological variation might possibly become a key factor for platy-laminar corals Echinopora lamellos...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Coral reefs 2024-12, Vol.43 (6), p.1819-1830
Main Authors: Ghafari, Muhammad Irsyad Abiyusfi, Kamal, Abu Hena Mustafa, Idris, Mohd Hanafi
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Climate change
Corals
Diameters
Echinopora lamellosa
Freshwater & Marine Ecology
Life Sciences
Limestone
Morphology
Morphometry
Oceanography
Polyps
Polyps (organisms)
Sedimentation
Sedimentation & deposition
Siltation
Survival
Turbidity
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Summary:Platy-laminar corals have miraculously been reported as sedimentation-tolerant, though their morphology could naturally allow undesirable surface sedimentation. In this paper, we examine how micro-morphological variation might possibly become a key factor for platy-laminar corals Echinopora lamellosa Esper (1795) and E. pacificus Veron (1990) to survive turbidity stress. We observed corallite morphometric [area (CA), diameter (CD-min, CD-max, CD-rate), spacing (ICD), mouth-disk diameter (MD), exsert septal spacing (IES), polyp density (PD) and height (PH), and skeleton thickness (SkT)] of both species that inhabit in different depth regime (2 m and 4 m) of non-turbid sites (ST1 and ST4) and turbid sites (ST2 and ST3). There were significant differences between populations inhabit different depths and turbidity levels. Higher turbidity seems to correspond to the increasing size of corallite morphometric, while thicker limestone and denser polyps present in lower turbidity. In micro-scale environment, the ‘hill-and-slope –like’ structure of protruded corallite of turbid corals might passively prevent sediment accumulation over their polyp’s surface, while lower and wider valley between corallites accommodate temporary siltation. The suitable micro-morphological configuration could greatly determine the platy-laminar corals survivorship in turbid conditions.
ISSN:0722-4028
1432-0975
DOI:10.1007/s00338-024-02579-5