Response of the temperate coral <i>Cladocora caespitosa</i> to mid- and long-term exposure to <i>p</i>CO₂ and temperature levels projected for the year 2100 AD

• Main Authors: R. Rodolfo-Metalpa, S. Martin, C. Ferrier-Pagès, J.-P. Gattuso
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Copernicus Publications 2010-01-01
• Series: Biogeosciences
• Online Access: http://www.biogeosciences.net/7/289/2010/bg-7-289-2010.pdf
• ISSN: 1726-4170; 1726-4189

Atmospheric CO₂ partial pressure (<i>p</i>CO₂) is expected to increase to 700 &mu;atm or more by the end of the present century. Anthropogenic CO₂ is absorbed by the oceans, leading to decreases in pH and the CaCO₃ saturation state (Ω) of the seawater. Elevated <i>p</i>CO₂ was shown to drastically decrease calcification rates in tropical zooxanthellate corals. Here we show, using the Mediterranean zooxanthellate coral <i>Cladocora caespitosa</i>, that an increase in <i>p</i>CO₂, in the range predicted for 2100, does not reduce its calcification rate. Therefore, the conventional belief that calcification rates will be affected by ocean acidification may not be widespread in temperate corals. Seasonal change in temperature is the predominant factor controlling photosynthesis, respiration, calcification and symbiont density. An increase in <i>p</i>CO₂, alone or in combination with elevated temperature, had no significant effect on photosynthesis, photosynthetic efficiency and calcification. The lack of sensitivity <i>C. caespitosa</i> to elevated <i>p</i>CO₂ might be due to its slow growth rates, which seem to be more dependent on temperature than on the saturation state of calcium carbonate in the range projected for the end of the century.