Spatial variation in the biochemical and isotopic composition of corals during bleaching and recovery

摘要: Ocean warming and the increased prevalence of coral bleaching events threaten reefs. However, biology corals during following under field conditions is poorly understood. We examined post-bleaching recovery in Montipora capitata Porites compressa that either bleached or did not bleach a 2014 event at three reef locations Kāne9ohe Bay, O9ahu. measured changes chlorophylls, biomass, nutritional plasticity using stable isotopes (δ 13 C, δ 15 N). Coral traits showed significant variation among conditions, sites, time periods, their interactions. Bleached colonies both species had lower chlorophyll total biomass. While M. biomass recovered months later, P. was location-dependent previously remained low. Biomass energy reserves were affected by bleaching, instead proteins declined over time, lipid site-specific. Stable isotope analyses host symbiont tissues indicate heterotrophic nutrition species, after thermal stress. Instead, mass balance calculations revealed variance C values best explained augmented composition, whereas N reflected spatial temporal variability nitrogen sources addition to effects on demand. These results emphasize quantity may change substantially recovery. Consequently, there need consider influence composition interpretation isotopic corals.