Marine Biology

Exploration of factors that influence photosynthetic efficiency of symbiotic zooxanthellae of scleractinian corals in a Sanya fringing reef

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  • South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China; Hainan Tropical Marine Biology Research Station, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya 572000, China

Received date: 2013-01-10

  Revised date: 2013-03-27

  Online published: 2014-03-08

Abstract

Symbiosis of coral and zooxanthellae is the primary ecological characteristic of coral reef ecosystem, and photosynthetic efficiency of zooxanthellae decides the health of symbiont. The present study monitored the photochemical efficiency of zooxanthellae within tissues of five typical species of scleractinian corals, Porites Lutea, Galaxea fascicularis, Favia speciosa, Goniastrea favulus and Acropora corymbosa, in a Sanya fringing reef for five consecutive days, and recorded the environmental parameters of the area. Aiming at exploring the potential diurnal change of photosynthetic efficiency, we analyzed the pivotal factors that impede the photosynthesis of symbiotic algae. The results suggested that photosynthetic active radiation (PAR) determines the diurnal variation of ΦPSⅡ, an indicator of actual photochemical efficiency. Temperature and tidal height also had prevalent influences on corals. In addition, Porites lutea showed the biggest amplitude of daily ΦPSⅡ than the other four species.

Cite this article

ZHOU Jie, SHI Qi, YU Ke-fu . Exploration of factors that influence photosynthetic efficiency of symbiotic zooxanthellae of scleractinian corals in a Sanya fringing reef[J]. Journal of Tropical Oceanography, 2014 , 33(1) : 81 -89 . DOI: 10.11978/j.issn.1009-5470.2014.01.011

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