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Nitrate uptake by the reef coral Diploria strigosa: effects of concentration, water flow, and irradiance

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Abstract

The effects of several environmental variables on net nitrate uptake by the scleractinian coral Diploria strigosa were investigated under controlled flow conditions. D. strigosa exhibited nitrate uptake rates ranging from 1 to 5 nmol cm−2 h−1 at ambient concentrations of 0.1–0.3 μM that are typical of oligotrophic reefs such as Bermuda. Net uptake ceased at approximately 0.045 μM. The uptake was positively correlated with concentration up to a saturation concentration of approximately 3 μM. The uptake was also positively correlated with water velocity at 1 μM, but not at 6 μM, suggesting diffusional limitation at low concentrations and kinetic limitation at higher concentrations. Nitrate uptake by D. strigosa was not affected by light intensity or time of day, but was almost completely inhibited by 48 h exposure to ammonium levels found on many reefs.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by NSF grant OCE9811577 to K. Sebens, an award from PADI foundation to B. Badgley, and funding from the Edith and Curtis Munson Foundation to BBSR. We thank T. Shyka and M. Mills for their assistance. Funding and logistical support for this research was also provided by the graduate intern program at BBSR. All experiments complied with the current laws of Bermuda. This is BBSR contribution no.1666.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biology Department, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA

    Brian D. Badgley

  2. Bermuda Biological Station for Research, St. George’s, Bermuda

    Fredric Lipschultz

  3. Friday Harbor Laboratories, University of Washington, Friday Harbor, WA, USA

    Kenneth P. Sebens

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  1. Brian D. Badgley
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  2. Fredric Lipschultz
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  3. Kenneth P. Sebens
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Correspondence to Brian D. Badgley.

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Communicated by P.W. Sammarco, Chauvin

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Badgley, B.D., Lipschultz, F. & Sebens, K.P. Nitrate uptake by the reef coral Diploria strigosa: effects of concentration, water flow, and irradiance. Marine Biology 149, 327–338 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-005-0180-5

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