Annie Ann Nee Chew , Yan Zhi Yap , Rosa Celia Poquita-Du , Danwei Huang , Peter Alan Todd
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
The reason why four out of five historically recorded pocilloporid species in Singapore went extinct remains unclear. However, potential causes include urbanization-related stressors such as sedimentation and low light. In this study, we conducted two ex-situ experiments to examine the effects of light limitation and sediment load on the survival and health of two extirpated (Stylophora pistillata, and Seriatopora hystrix), one extant (Pocillopora acuta), and one regional (Pocillopora meandrina) pocilloporid species. All were able to photoacclimate to high sedimentation and low light conditions. However, P. acuta and Se. hystrix exhibited reduced growth under low light, and mortality was significantly higher under increased sedimentation, especially for St. pistillata. While our results indicate that sedimentation and low light characteristic in Singapore's urban reefs are unlikely to be the sole drivers of pocilloporid extirpations, these variables probably contributed to the overall stress burden, pushing already uncommon species into functional, and then actual, extinction.
期刊介绍:
Marine Pollution Bulletin is concerned with the rational use of maritime and marine resources in estuaries, the seas and oceans, as well as with documenting marine pollution and introducing new forms of measurement and analysis. A wide range of topics are discussed as news, comment, reviews and research reports, not only on effluent disposal and pollution control, but also on the management, economic aspects and protection of the marine environment in general.