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Environmental stability and phenotypic plasticity benefit the cold-water coral *Desmophyllum dianthus* in an acidified fjord

Biology

Environmental stability and phenotypic plasticity benefit the cold-water coral *Desmophyllum dianthus* in an acidified fjord

K. K. Beck, G. M. Schmidt-grieb, et al.

Discover the fascinating world of cold-water corals with groundbreaking research from Kristina K. Beck and colleagues. Their study reveals how *Desmophyllum dianthus*, thriving in both aragonite supersaturated shallow and undersaturated deep waters of the Comau Fjord, showcases remarkable adaptability and fitness despite challenging conditions. This research challenges conventional beliefs about coral growth and responses to environmental changes.

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Playback language: English
Abstract
The stratified Chilean Comau Fjord sustains a dense population of the cold-water coral (CWC) *Desmophyllum dianthus* in aragonite supersaturated shallow and aragonite undersaturated deep water. This provides a rare opportunity to evaluate CWC fitness trade-offs in response to physico-chemical drivers and their variability. Here, we combined year-long reciprocal transplantation experiments along natural oceanographic gradients with an in situ assessment of CWC fitness. Following transplantation, corals acclimated fast to the novel environment with no discernible difference between native and novel (i.e. cross-transplanted) corals, demonstrating high phenotypic plasticity. Surprisingly, corals exposed to lowest aragonite saturation (Ωarag <1) and temperature (T < 12.0 °C), but stable environmental conditions, at the deep station grew fastest and expressed the fittest phenotype. We found an inverse relationship between CWC fitness and environmental variability and propose to consider the high-frequency fluctuations of abiotic and biotic factors to better predict the future of CWCs in a changing ocean.
Publisher
Communications Biology
Published On
Jul 09, 2022
Authors
Kristina K. Beck, Gertraud M. Schmidt-Grieb, Jürgen Laudien, Günter Försterra, Verena Häussermann, Humberto E. González, Juan Pablo Espinoza, Claudio Richter, Marlene Wall
Tags
cold-water coral
Desmophyllum dianthus
aragonite saturation
phenotypic plasticity
environmental variability
oceanography
marine ecosystems
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