Ocean acidification rapidly reduces dinitrogen fixation associated with the hermatypic coral Seriatopora hystrix

Abstract

Since productivity and growth of coral-associated dinoflagellate algae is nitrogen (N)-limited, dinitrogen (N2) fixation by coral-associated microbes is likely crucial for maintaining the coraldinoflagellate symbiosis. It is thus essential to understand the effects future climate change will have on N2 fixation by the coral holobiont. This laboratory study is the first to investi- gate short-term effects of ocean acidification on N2 fixation activity associated with the tropical, hermatypic coral Seriatopora hystrix using the acetylene reduction assay in combination with cal- cification measurements. Findings reveal that simulated ocean acidification (p CO2 1080 µatm) caused a rapid and significant decrease (53%) in N2 fixation rates associated with S. hystrix com- pared to the present day scenario (p CO2 486 µatm). In addition, N2 fixation associated with the coral holobiont showed a positive exponential relationship with its calcification rates. This sug- gests that even small declines in calcification rates of hermatypic corals under high CO2 conditions may result in decreased N2 fixation activity, since these 2 processes may compete for energy in the coral holobiont. Ultimately, an intensified N limitation in combination with a decline in skeletal growth may trigger a negative feedback loop on coral productivity exacerbating the negative long-term effects of ocean acidification.