Red Light Represses the Photophysiology of the Scleractinian Coral Stylophora pistillata
Wijgerde, T.; van Melis, A.; Silva, C.I.F.; Leal, M.C.; Vogels, L.; Mutter, C.; Osinga, R. (2014). Red Light Represses the Photophysiology of the Scleractinian Coral Stylophora pistillata. PLoS One 9(3): e92781. dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0092781
In: PLoS One. Public Library of Science: San Francisco. ISSN 1932-6203; e-ISSN 1932-6203, more
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| Authors | | Top |
- Wijgerde, T.
- van Melis, A.
- Silva, C.I.F., more
- Leal, M.C.
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- Vogels, L.
- Mutter, C.
- Osinga, R.
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| Abstract |
Light spectrum plays a key role in the biology of symbiotic corals, with blue light resulting in higher coral growth, zooxanthellae density, chlorophyll a content and photosynthesis rates as compared to red light. However, it is still unclear whether these physiological processes are blue-enhanced or red-repressed. This study investigated the individual and combined effects of blue and red light on the health, zooxanthellae density, photophysiology and colouration of the scleractinian coral Stylophora pistillata over 6 weeks. Coral fragments were exposed to blue, red, and combined 50/50% blue red light, at two irradiance levels (128 and 256 mu mol m(-2) s(-1)). Light spectrum affected the health/survival, zooxanthellae density, and NDVI (a proxy for chlorophyll a content) of S. pistillata. Blue light resulted in highest survival rates, whereas red light resulted in low survival at 256 mu mol m(-2) s(-1). Blue light also resulted in higher zooxanthellae densities compared to red light at 256 mu mol m(-2) s(-1), and a higher NDVI compared to red and combined blue red light. Overall, our results suggest that red light negatively affects the health, survival, symbiont density and NDVI of S. pistillata, with a dominance of red over blue light for NDVI. |
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