González Casañas, Francisco E.

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    Assessing metabolic changes in the Caribbean coral 𝘖𝘳𝘣𝘪𝘤𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘢 𝘧𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘰𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘢 during gametogenesis using the CISME (Community In Situ Metabolism) device
    (2023-12-12) González Casañas, Francisco E.; Weil, Ernesto F.; College of Arts and Sciences - Sciences; Cruz Motta, Juan J.; Croquer, Aldo; Department of Marine Sciences; Santiago, Frances
    Scleractinian corals are heterotroph animals that also have symbiotic algae living in their tissues which makes it so that they can also be considered autotrophs. These symbionts can provide a large percentage of the organic molecules used by the corals for ATP generation through respiration. Rates of respiration integrate the energy requirements of all the metabolic pathways in an organism, therefore, making it a direct measure of many cellular functions. This project used the CISME to assess metabolic changes along the reproductive cycle of Orbicella faveolata, one of the most important reef building corals in the Caribbean. The CISME can make non-invasive measurements of respiration and photosynthesis of corals in situ (under ambient conditions). Water samples from the incubation period then allow the measurement of total alkalinity values and the calculation of calcification rates. After a pilot study, six large colonies were tagged and sampled (in quadruple) once a month throughout the gametogenic cycle (April to September) to evaluate metabolic changes. Obtained results indicate that both respiration and photosynthesis rates diminish throughout the stages of the reproductive cycle, possibly indicating an energy shift or translocation within the organism cells or due to a host-symbiont interaction. The energy translocation hypothesis is supported by lower calcification rates obtained by the end of the reproductive cycle, marking a probable transition from asexual to sexual reproduction. This study is the first to measure metabolic rates in situ in ambient conditions during the gametogenic process of a scleractinian coral.