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Thermal sensitivity of black corals (Antipatharia: Hexacorallia): comparisons between sympatric species from a thermally fluctuating site in Madagascar and between allopatric congenerics
Godefroid, M.; Vandendriessche, M.; Todinanahary, G.G.B.; Ransquin, I.; Dubois, P. (2024). Thermal sensitivity of black corals (Antipatharia: Hexacorallia): comparisons between sympatric species from a thermally fluctuating site in Madagascar and between allopatric congenerics. Sci. Total Environ. 908: 168311. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168311
In: Science of the Total Environment. Elsevier: Amsterdam. ISSN 0048-9697; e-ISSN 1879-1026, more
Peer reviewed article  

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Keywords
    Antipatharia [WoRMS]
    Marine/Coastal
Author keywords
    Thermotolerance; Antipatharians; Madagascar; Black coral bed; Morphology

Authors  Top 
  • Godefroid, M., more
  • Vandendriessche, M., more
  • Todinanahary, G.G.B., more

Abstract

    This study investigated factors shaping the thermal sensitivity in antipatharians, a taxon whose members form dense aggregations in all oceans, harbouring a high biodiversity. First, we tested the thermal responses of five sympatric species (Antipathes grandisCupressopathes abiesStichopathes cf. maldivensisCirrhipathes anguina and Cirrhipathes cf. spiralis) from the Great Reef of Toliara (Madagascar), using an acute ramping methodology. We then compared the thermal performance curves (TPCs) for oxygen consumption of these five species. Results indicated that phylogeny alone does not explain differences in thermal sensitivity (Antipathidae vs. Myriopathidae). On the contrary, morphology (branched vs. unbranched) appeared as a key factor, with unbranched species (S. cf. maldivensis, C. anguinaC. cf. spiralis) being more tolerant to thermal stress than branched ones (A. grandis and C. abies). Several hypothesis could explain these variations in thermal tolerance across morphology, such as tissue thickness, surface/volume ratio or mass-transfer efficiency. Secondly, we compared the TPC of Stichopathes from Madagascar with those previously obtained in congenerics from the Canary Islands and French Polynesia. This revealed a higher thermal tolerance in the two former than in the latter. It is proposed that it is linked to higher annual temperature variability (but not daily variability) in these two sites compared to French Polynesia. It is concluded that thermal sensitivity in antipatharians is linked to their morphology influencing their physiology and to their thermal history. Phylogeny at the family level plays a less important role in explaining differences in thermal sensitivity in antipatharians.


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