Abstract
Mesophotic coral ecosystems may serve as a refuge for reef-building corals to survive the ongoing climate change. Distribution of coral species changes during larval dispersal. However, the acclimation potential in the early life stages of corals at different depths is unknown. This study investigated the acclimation potential of four shallow Acropora species at different depths via the transplantation of larvae and early polyps settled on tiles to 5, 10, 20, and 40 m depths. We then examined physiological parameters, such as size, survival, growth rate, and morphological characteristics. The survival and size of juveniles of A. tenuis and A. valida at 40 m depth were significantly higher than those at other depths. In contrast, A. digitifera and A. hyacinthus showed higher survival rates at shallow depths. The morphology (i.e., size of the corallites) also varied among the depths. Collectively, the shallow coral larvae and juveniles displayed substantial plasticity at depth.
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