Abstract
Pocilloporids are one of the major reef-building corals in the eastern tropical Pacific (ETP) and also the most affected by thermal stress events, mainly those associated with El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) periods. To date, coral growth parameters have been poorly reported in Pocillopora species in the northeastern region of the tropical Pacific. Monthly and annual growth rates of the three most abundant morphospecies (P. cf. verrucosa, P. cf. capitata, and P. cf. damicornis) were evaluated during two annual periods at a site on the Pacific coast of Mexico. The first annual period, 2010–2011 was considered a strong ENSO/La Niña period with cool sea surface temperatures, then followed by a non-ENSO period in 2012–2013. The linear extension rate, skeletal density, and calcification rate averaged (±SD) were 2.31 ± 0.11 cm yr−1, 1.65 ± 0.18 g cm−3, 5.03 ± 0.84 g cm−2 yr-1 respectively, during the strong ENSO event. In contrast, the respective non-ENSO values were 3.50 ± 0.64 cm yr−1, 1.70 ± 0.18 g cm−3, and 6.02 ± 1.36 g cm−2 yr−1. This corresponds to 52% and 20% faster linear extension and calcification rates, respectively, during non-ENSO period. The evidence suggests that Pocillopora branching species responded positively with faster growth rates following thermal anomalies, which allow them to maintain coral communities in the region.
Highlights
Coral growth is the key factor to building reef with calcareous hard structures that provide direct and indirect habitats for marine species and maintain the growth and structure of coral reef ecosystems (Hubbard, Miller & Scaturo, 1990; Guzmán & Cortés, 1993; Sheppard, Davy & Pilling, 2010)
There was no significant difference on annual linear extension rate (Kruskal-Wallis; H2,6 = 0.958, P = 0.619), skeletal density (ANOVA; F2,6 = 4.276, P = 0.070), nor calcification rates (Kruskal-Wallis; H2,6 = 1.263, P = 0.532) across the three morphospecies
The relationship between linear extension and calcification rates ( r2 = 0.523, P = 0.028; Fig. S1A), and skeletal density with calcification (r2 = 0.556, P = 0.021; Fig. S1B) was positive; there was no significant relation of linear extension and skeletal density (r2 = 0.104, P = 0.397; Fig. S1C)
Summary
Coral growth is the key factor to building reef with calcareous hard structures that provide direct and indirect habitats for marine species and maintain the growth (accretion) and structure of coral reef ecosystems (Hubbard, Miller & Scaturo, 1990; Guzmán & Cortés, 1993; Sheppard, Davy & Pilling, 2010). In order to recognize these effects in the continuous coral decline, different parameters such as linear extension rate (cm yr−1), skeletal density (g cm−3) and calcification rate (g cm−2 yr−1) have been helpful to assess coral growth rate over time (Lough & Cooper, 2011). This allows us to know how the organisms are responding to regional environmental factors, which thereby allows for the modeling of future accretion of the coral reef on an ecosystem level (Knutson, Buddemeier & Smith, 1972; Lough & Barnes, 2000; Lough & Cooper, 2011)
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