Abstract
The effects of inorganic carbon concentrations on photosynthetic oxygen evolution of isolated zooxanthellae and coral tips from the hermatypic coral Seriatopora hystrix were measured in the laboratory using an oxygen electrode. Whole coral colonies of Stylophora pistillata were examined in situ, using a bioassay respirometer. Inorganic carbon concentrations above 2.3 mM, the ambient concentration of reef water, generally did not stimulate photosynthesis. These results indicate that inorganic carbon is not limiting to coral photosynthesis and that respiratory carbon dioxide production by the coral host probably has little effect on the photosynthetic rates of its symbiotic zooxanthellae.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Literature cited
Drew, E. A.: The biology and physiology of alga-invertebrate symbioses II. The density of symbiotic algal cells in a number of hermatypic hard corals and alcyonarians from various depths. J. exp. mar. Biol. Ecol. 9, 71–75 (1972)
Falkowski, P. G. and Z. Dubinsky: Light-shade adaptation of Stylophora pistillata, a hermatypic coral from the Gulf of Eilat. Nature, Lond. 289, 172–174 (1981)
Gieskes, J. M. and W. C. Rogers: Alkalinity determination in interstitial waters of marine sediments. J. sediment. Petrol. 43, 272–277 (1973)
Gordon, L. I., P. K. Park, S. W. Hager and T. R. Parsons: Carbon dioxide partial pressures in north Pacific surface waters-time variations. J. oceanogr. Soc. Japan 27, 81–90 (1971)
Holm-Hansen, O., C. J. Lorenzen, R. W. Holmes and J. D. H. Strickland: Fluorometric determination of chlorophyll. J. Cons. Perm. int. Explor. Mer 30, 3–15 (1965)
Johannes, R. E. and W. J. Wiebe: A method for determination of coral tissue biomass and composition. Limnol. Oceanogr. 15, 822–824 (1970)
Marsh, J. A.: Primary productivity of reef-building calcareous red algae. Ecology 51, 255–263 (1970)
Phipps, D. W. and R. L. Pardy: Host enhancement of symbiont photosynthesis in the Hydra-algae symbiosis. Biol. Bull. mar. biol. Lab., Woods Hole 162, 83–94 (1982)
Porter, J. W.: Primary productivity in the sea: reef corals in situ. Brookhaven Symp. Biol. 31, 403–410 (1980)
Porter, J. W., L. Muscatine, Z. Dubinsky and P. G. Falkowski: Reef coral energetics: primary production and photoadaptation. Proc. R. Soc. Lond. Ser. B (In press)
Reisser, W.: The metabolic interactions between Paramecium bursaria Ehrbg. and Chlorella spec. in the Paramecium bursaria-symbiosis III. The influence of different CO2 concentrations and of glucose on the photosynthetic and respiratory capacity of the symbiotic unit. Arch. Microbiol.. 125, 291–293 (1980)
Stumm, W. and J. J. Morgan: Aquatic chemistry, 483 pp. New York: Wiley-Interscience 1970
Zvalinskii, V. I., V. A. Leletkin, E. A. Titlyanov and M. G. Shaposhnikova: Photosynthesis and adaptation of corals to irradiance. 2. Oxygen exchange. Photosynthetica 14, 422–430 (1980)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Communicated by S. K. Pierce, College Park
Contribution No. 221 from the Department of Biology, The Pennsylvania State University
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Burris, J.E., Porter, J.W. & Laing, W.A. Effects of carbon dioxide concentration on coral photosynthesis. Mar. Biol. 75, 113–116 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00405992
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00405992