Ecophysiological trade-offs for reef corals living in climate refugia

• Grant number: 23/03107-2
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: February 01, 2024
• End date: January 31, 2027
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Ecology - Applied Ecology
• Principal Investigator: Ronaldo Bastos Francini Filho
• Grantee: Ronaldo Bastos Francini Filho
• Host Institution: Centro de Biologia Marinha (CEBIMAR). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Sebastião , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Bianca Del Bianco Sahm ; Carla Zilberberg ; Leticia Veras Costa Lotufo ; Marcelo Visentini Kitahara ; Miguel Mies ; Samuel Coelho de Faria
• Associated research grant(s): 24/02182-3 - Uncovering the patterns and mechanisms of environmental memory in an endemic Brazilian coral, Mussismilia hispida, AP.R

Abstract

Accelerated ocean warming is a major threat for reef ecosystems worldwide. Sustained heat and elevated solar irradiance may lead to mass coral bleaching and death. Reef sites and habitats that are less susceptible to heat stress due to intrinsic characteristics (e.g. greater depths and high turbidity) are widely recognized as coral refugia. Corals living outside climate refugia may face stronger selective pressure and have greater adaptive/acclimatization potential than those found within refugia, including higher heat tolerance and bleaching thresholds. Thus, climate refugia may pose trade-offs to reef corals that could compromise their long-term survival. Our goal here is to evaluate the ecophysiological trade-offs experienced by reef corals living in climate refugia in Southwestern Atlantic reefs (i.e. turbid habitats/sites subjected to less thermal variability/stress). We will do that by investigating how corals from refugia and non-refugia sites/habitats respond to heat and light stress at three spatial scales: between regions along the latitudinal gradient within the Brazilian Province, between sites across the continental shelf, and between habitats (tops versus wall) within reef sites. Our findings will help to clarify the advantages and trade-offs for reef corals living inside and outside climate refugia, at various spatial scales, and provide insights into effective conservation strategies for reef ecosystems in the face of climate change. (AU)