Bathymetric adaptations of reef-building corals at davies reef, great barrier reef, Australia. I. Long-term growth responses of Acropora formosa (Dana 1846)

Abstract

In situ rates of linear growth (branch extension) were measured for Acropora formosa (Dana) at depths of 5, 10, and 15 m. Estimates of radial branch growth and internal accretion were made at the shallowest and deepest sites. In addition, reciprocal transplant experiments between these two sites were conducted using branches of different lengths. The in situ results showed that individual branches at the deep site extended twice as fast, and deposited more calcium carbonate than branches at the shallow site. Branch initiation, however, was more rapid at the shallow site. Thus, if the extension of new lateral branches were included to obtain a measure of overall growth, rates were highest at the shallow site. The initial length of the transplanted branches significantly affected growth rates. Longer branches showed greater overall growth within all treatments. Branch extension rates, however, increased with initial branch length at the deep site, while tending to remain constant at the shallow site. This result is interpreted as evidence that the extension of each branch tip at the deep site was supported by translocated metabolites derived from a greater volume of zooxanthellae-bearing tissue than at the shallow site. A. formosa exhibits different growth patterns at different depths. At the deep site, extension is favoured over branch initiation. Consequently, translocation from a greater volume of tissue is presumably available to sustain the higher extension rate at each tip. At the shallow site, where extension is less rapid but branch initiation is more rapid, each tip probably receives translocate from a smaller volume of tissue. These mechanisms result in different growth forms at the two sites and are apparently adaptations to different environmental conditions. Light or water motion, or a combination of the two are proposed as probable controlling factors.