Skip to main content
Log in

Lipid content of some Caribbean corals in relation to depth and light

  • Published:
Marine Biology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Three procedures for the extraction of coral lipids were compared and a rapid and effective method for future use is suggested. This method was used to measure the lipid content of the branching coral Porites porites (Pallas) and the massive corals Montastrea annularis (Ellis and Solander) and Siderastrea siderea (Ellis and Solander) during July and August 1991. P. porites and M. annularis were sampled on two fringing reefs, each characterised by different water quality affecting light transmission, and at depths of down to 30 m on a barrier reef on the west coast of the island. m. annularis contained, on average, 29% of dry weight as lipid, and there were no significant differences in lipid levels between corals sampled on either fringing reef at 3 and 6 m, or between fringing reefs and the barrier reef at 13, 20 or 30 m depth. Five samples were also taken from a single massive colony of S. siderea at 3 m on a fringing reef and at 13, 20 and 30 m depth on the barrier reef. Values for lipid ranged from 26 to 35% of dry tissue weight. P. porites from 3 and 6 m depth on both fringing reefs contained the same amount of lipid (∼11% of dry tissue weight). However, at 13 m depth on the barrier reef this coral contained significantly less lipid (8.5% of dry tissue weight). This difference may be attributable to a higher nutritional intake by P. porites on the fringing reefs.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Literature cited

  • Battey, J. F., Patton, J. S. (1984). A reevaluation of the role of glycerol in carbon translocation in zooxanthellae-coelenterate symbiosis. Mar. Biol. 79: 27–38

    Google Scholar 

  • Bergmann, W., Creighton, S. M., Stokes, W. M. (1956). Contributions to the study of marine products. XL. Waxes and triglycerides of sea anemones. J. org. Chem. 21: 721–728

    Google Scholar 

  • Chalker, B. E., Dunlap, W. C. (1983). Primary production and photoadaptation by corals on the Great Barrier reef. In: Baker, J. T. et al. (eds.) Proceedings of Great Barrier Reef Conference. James Cook University and Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville

    Google Scholar 

  • Crossland, C. J. (1987). In situ release of mucus and DOC-lipid from the corals Acropora variabilis, and Stylophora pistillata in different light regimens. Coral Reefs 6: 35–42

    Google Scholar 

  • Crossland, C. J., Barnes, D. J., Borowitzka M. A. (1980). Diurnal lipid and mucus production in the staghorn coral Acropora acuminata. Mar. Biol. 60: 81–90

    Google Scholar 

  • Davies, P. S. (1977). Carbon budgets and vertical zonation of Atlantic reef corals. Proc. 3rd int. coral Reef Symp. 1: 391–396 [Taylor, D. L. (ed.) Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, Florida]

    Google Scholar 

  • Davies, P. S. (1984). The role of zooxanthellae in the nutritional energy requirements of Pocillopora eydouxi. Coral Reefs 2: 181–186

    Google Scholar 

  • Davies, P. Spencer (1991). Effect of daylight variations on the energy budgets of shallow-water corals. Mar. Biol. 108: 137–144

    Google Scholar 

  • Edmunds, P. J., Davis, P. S. (1989). An energy budget for Porites porites (Scleractinia), growing in a stressed environment. Coral Reefs 8: 37–43

    Google Scholar 

  • Folch, J., Lees, M., Sloane Stanley, G. H. (1957). A simple method for the isolation and purification of total lipids from animal tissues. J. biol. Chem. 226: 497–509

    Google Scholar 

  • Goreau, T. F., Goreau, N. I., Yonge, C. M. (1971). Reef corals: autotrophs or heterotrophs? Biol. Bull. mar. biol. Lab., Woods Hole 141: 247–260

    Google Scholar 

  • Harland, A. D., Fixter, L. M., Davies, P. Spencer, Anderson, R. A. (1991). Distribution of lipids between the zooxanthellae and animal compartment in the symbiotic sea anemone Anemonia viridis: wax esters, triglycerides and fatty acids Mar. Biol. 110: 13–19

    Google Scholar 

  • Harland, A. D., Fixter, L. M., Davies, P. Spencer, Anderson, R. A. (1992). Effect of light on the total lipid content and storage lipids of the symbiotic sea anemone Anemonia viridis. Mar. Biol. 112: 253–258

    Google Scholar 

  • Huston, M. (1985). Variation in coral growth rates with depth at Discovery Bay, Jamaica. Coral Reefs 4: 19–26

    Google Scholar 

  • Lewis, J. B. (1960). The coral reefs and coral communities of Barbados, W. I. Can. J. Zool. 38: 1133–1145

    Google Scholar 

  • MacIntyre, I. G. (1967). Submerged coral reefs, west coast of Barbados, West Indies. Can. J. Earth Sciences 4: 461–474

    Google Scholar 

  • Muscatine, L., Cernichiari, E. (1969). Assimilation of photosynthetic products of zooxanthellae by reef corals. Biol. Bull. mar. biol. Lab., Woods Hole 137: 506–523

    Google Scholar 

  • Muscatine, L., Falkowski P. G., Porter, J. W., Dubinsky, Z. (1984). Fate of photosynthetic fixed carbon in light- and shade-adapted colonies of the symbiotic coral Stylophora pistillata. Proc. R. Soc. (Ser. B). 222: 181–202

    Google Scholar 

  • Ott, B. (1975). Community patterns on a submerged barrier reef at Barbados, West Indies. Int Revue ges. Hydrobiol. 60: 719–736

    Google Scholar 

  • Patton, J. S., Abraham, S., Benson, A. A. (1977). Lipogenesis in the intact coral Pocillopora capitata and its isolated zooxanthellae: evidence for a light-driven carbon cycle between symbiont and host. Mar. Biol. 44: 235–247

    Google Scholar 

  • Stearn, C. W., Scoffin, T. P., Martindale, W. (1977). Calcium carbonate budget of a fringing reef on the west coast of Barbados. Part I — Zonation and productivity. Bull. mar. Sci. 27: 479–510

    Google Scholar 

  • Stimson, J. S. (1987). Location, quantity and rate of change in quantity of lipids in tissues of Hawaiian hermatypic corals. Bull. mar. Sci. 41: 889–904

    Google Scholar 

  • Tomascik, T., Sander, F. (1985). Effects of eutrophication on reef-building corals. I. Growth rate of the reef-building coral Montastrea annularis. Mar. Biol. 87: 143–155

    Google Scholar 

  • Zar, J. H. (1974). Biostatistical analysis. Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

Communicated by J. Mauchline, Oban

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Harland, A.D., Davies, P.S. & Fixter, L.M. Lipid content of some Caribbean corals in relation to depth and light. Marine Biology 113, 357–361 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00349159

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00349159

Keywords

Navigation