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Main Authors: Hassenrück, Christiane, Jantzen, Carin, Försterra, Günter, Häussermann, Verena, Willenz, Philippe
Format: Dataset Open Access
Language:en
Published: PANGAEA 2013
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.819832
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author Hassenrück, Christiane
Jantzen, Carin
Försterra, Günter
Häussermann, Verena
Willenz, Philippe
author_facet Hassenrück, Christiane
Jantzen, Carin
Försterra, Günter
Häussermann, Verena
Willenz, Philippe
collection Datos científicos de ciencias marinas y ambientales
contents It has been hypothesized that endolithic photo-autotrophs inside the skeleton of cold-water corals may have a mutualistic relationship with the coral host positively affecting coral calcification. This study investigated the effect of endolithic photo-autotrophs on the apical septal extension of the cold-water coral Desmophyllum dianthus at Fjord Comau, southern Chile (42.41° - 42.15°S, 72.5°W). The fluorescent staining agent calcein was used to document the linear apical extension of septae for a period of one and a half years between 2006 and 2007. The results showed a severe reduction in extension rates associated with the presence of endolithic photo-autotrophs. Infested individuals grew about half as fast as non-infested polyps with a median value of 1.18 µm/day compared to 2.76 µm/day. Contrary to the initial hypothesis, these results point toward a parasitic relationship between D. dianthus and its endolithic photo-autotrophs potentially impairing coral fitness. However, further data on physiological parameters and other aspects of the calcification process are necessary to confirm these findings.
format Dataset Open Access
id pangaea_https___doi_org_10_1594_PANGAEA_819832
institution PANGAEA
language en
publishDate 2013
publisher PANGAEA
record_format pangaea
spellingShingle Growth rates and skeletal density of the scleractinian cold-water coral Desmophyllum dianthus at Isla Liliguapi (Fjord Comau, southern Chile)
Hassenrück, Christiane
Jantzen, Carin
Försterra, Günter
Häussermann, Verena
Willenz, Philippe

It has been hypothesized that endolithic photo-autotrophs inside the skeleton of cold-water corals may have a mutualistic relationship with the coral host positively affecting coral calcification. This study investigated the effect of endolithic photo-autotrophs on the apical septal extension of the cold-water coral Desmophyllum dianthus at Fjord Comau, southern Chile (42.41° - 42.15°S, 72.5°W). The fluorescent staining agent calcein was used to document the linear apical extension of septae for a period of one and a half years between 2006 and 2007. The results showed a severe reduction in extension rates associated with the presence of endolithic photo-autotrophs. Infested individuals grew about half as fast as non-infested polyps with a median value of 1.18 µm/day compared to 2.76 µm/day. Contrary to the initial hypothesis, these results point toward a parasitic relationship between D. dianthus and its endolithic photo-autotrophs potentially impairing coral fitness. However, further data on physiological parameters and other aspects of the calcification process are necessary to confirm these findings.
title Growth rates and skeletal density of the scleractinian cold-water coral Desmophyllum dianthus at Isla Liliguapi (Fjord Comau, southern Chile)
topic
url https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.819832