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Abstract Corals obtain nutrition from the photosynthetic products of their algal endosymbionts and the ingestion of organic material and zooplankton from the water column. Here, we use stable carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) isotopes to assess the proportionate contribution of photoautotrophic and heterotrophic sources to seven Hawaiian coral species collected from six locations around the island of O‘ahu, Hawaiʻi. We analyzed the δ13C and δ15N of coral tissues and their algal endosymbionts, as well as that of dissolved inorganic matter, particulate organic matter, and zooplankton from each site. Estimates of heterotrophic contribution varied among coral species and sites. Bayesian mixing models revealed that heterotrophic sources (particulate organic material and zooplankton) contributed the most toPocillopora acutaandMontipora patulacoral tissues at 49.3% and 48.0%, respectively, and the least toPorites lobataat 28.7%, on average. Estimates of heterotrophic contribution based on the difference between δ13C of the host and algal endosymbiont (δ13Ch–e) and isotopic niche overlap often differed, while estimates based on δ15Nh–ewere slightly more aligned with the estimates produced using Bayesian mixing models. These findings suggest that the utility of each approach may vary with coral health status, regions, and coral species. Overall, we find that the mean heterotrophic contribution to Hawaiian coral tissues ranges from 20% to 50%, suggesting a variety of trophic strategies. However, these findings did not always match past direct measurements of heterotrophic feeding, indicating that heterotrophically acquired nutrition does not necessarily get incorporated into tissues but can be respired or exuded in mucus.
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Sponge-derived matter is assimilated by coral holobionts
Abstract Coral reef biodiversity is maintained by a complex network of nutrient recycling among organisms. Sponges assimilate nutrients produced by other organisms like coral and algae, releasing them as particulate and dissolved matter, but to date, only a single trophic link between sponge-derived dissolved matter and a macroalgae has been identified. We sought to determine if sponge-coral nutrient exchange is reciprocal using a stable isotope ‘pulse-chase’ experiment to trace the uptake of13C and15N sponge-derived matter by the coral holobiont for three coral species (Acropora cervicornis, Orbicella faveolata, andEunicea flexuosa). Coral holobionts incorporated 2.3–26.8x more15N than13C from sponge-derived matter andA. cervicornisincorporated more of both C and N than the other corals. Differential isotopic incorporation among coral species aligns with their ecophysiological characteristics (e.g., morphology, Symbiodiniaceae density). Our results elucidate a recycling pathway on coral reefs that has implications for improving coral aquaculture and management approaches.
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- Award ID(s):
- 1923962
- PAR ID:
- 10489169
- Publisher / Repository:
- Nature Publishing Group
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Communications Biology
- Volume:
- 7
- Issue:
- 1
- ISSN:
- 2399-3642
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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