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MEPS 181:309-314 (1999)
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Abstract
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Effect of small variations in salinity on the rates of photosynthesis and respiration of the zooxanthellate coral Stylophora pistillata
C. Ferrier-Pagès1,*, J.-P. Gattuso2, J. Jaubert1
1Observatoire Océanologique Européen, Centre Scientifique de Monaco, Av. Saint-Martin, MC-98000, Monaco
2Observatoire Océanologique, LOBEPM, UPRESA 7076, CNRS, BP 28, F-06234 Villefranche-sur-Mer cedex, France
*E-mail: ferrier@naxos.unice.fr
ABSTRACT: This paper deals with the effect of a long term (3 wk) change in salinity (increase or decrease of 2 to 4 psu) on the rates of photosynthesis and respiration of the zooxanthellate coral Stylophora pistillata. Colonies were exposed to 4
levels of salinity (34, 36, 38 and 40 psu, with 38 psu as the control salinity) and results were compared using 1-factor ANOVAs. Salinity had a significant effect on the protein concentration. It was 30% higher at 38 psu than at the other salinities. It
had also a significant effect on the rates of photosynthesis, respiration and on the Pg:R ratio. Gross maximal photosynthetic rates were 50% lower at 34, 36 and 40 psu than at 38 psu. The Pg:R ratio was
always higher at the control salinity. Most of the colonies maintained at 40 psu died, and this was explained by a very low Pg:R ratio (<1). S. pistillata is therefore especially sensitive to small changes in salinity
and seems to acclimate more easily to hypo- rather than to hypersaline conditions.
KEY WORDS: Scleractinian · Coral · Photosynthesis · Respiration · Salinity
Published in MEPS Vol.
181
(1999) on May 18
ISSN: 0171-8630.
Copyright © Inter-Research, Oldendorf/Luhe, 1999
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