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A mechanistic model of coral bleaching due to temperature-mediated light-driven reactive oxygen build-up in zooxanthellae

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  • Baird, Mark E.
  • Mongin, Mathieu
  • Rizwi, Farhan
  • Bay, Line K.
  • Cantin, Neal E.
  • Soja-Woźniak, Monika
  • Skerratt, Jennifer

Abstract

Mass coral bleaching has emerged in the 21st century as the greatest threat to the health of the world's reefs. A sophisticated process understanding of bleaching at the polyp scale has now been achieved through laboratory and field studies, but this knowledge is yet to be applied in mechanistic models of shelf-scale reef systems. In this study we develop a mechanistic model of the coral-symbiont relationship that considers temperature-mediated build-up of reactive oxygen species due to excess light, leading to zooxanthellae expulsion. The model explicitly represents the coral host biomass, as well as zooxanthellae biomass, intracellular pigment concentration, nutrient status, and the state of reaction centres and the xanthophyll cycle. Photophysiological processes represented include photoadaptation, xanthophyll cycle dynamics, and reaction centre state transitions. The mechanistic model of the coral-symbiont relationship is incorporated into a ∼1 km resolution coupled hydrodynamic – biogeochemical model that encompasses the entire ∼2000 km length of the Great Barrier Reef. A simulation of the 2016 bleaching event shows the model is able to capture the broadscale features of the observed bleaching, but fails to capture bleaching on offshore reefs due to the model's grid being unable to resolve the bathymetry of shallow platforms surrounded by deep water. To further analyse the model behaviour, a ∼200 m resolution nested simulation of Davies Reef (18°49′ S, 147°38′ E) is undertaken. We use this nested model to demonstrate the depth gradient in zooxanthellae response to thermal stress. Finally, we discuss the uncertainties in the bleaching model, which lie primarily in quantifying the link between reactive oxygen build-up and the expulsion process. Through the mechanistic representation of environmental forcing, this model of coral bleaching applied in realistic environmental conditions has the potential to generate more detailed predictions than the presently-available satellite-based coral bleaching metrics, and can be used to evaluate proposed management strategies.

Suggested Citation

  • Baird, Mark E. & Mongin, Mathieu & Rizwi, Farhan & Bay, Line K. & Cantin, Neal E. & Soja-Woźniak, Monika & Skerratt, Jennifer, 2018. "A mechanistic model of coral bleaching due to temperature-mediated light-driven reactive oxygen build-up in zooxanthellae," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 386(C), pages 20-37.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecomod:v:386:y:2018:i:c:p:20-37
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2018.07.013
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Zhang, Zhenlin & Lowe, Ryan & Falter, James & Ivey, Greg, 2011. "A numerical model of wave- and current-driven nutrient uptake by coral reef communities," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 222(8), pages 1456-1470.
    2. Gustafsson, Malin S.M. & Baird, Mark E. & Ralph, Peter J., 2013. "The interchangeability of autotrophic and heterotrophic nitrogen sources in Scleractinian coral symbiotic relationships: A numerical study," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 250(C), pages 183-194.
    3. Eynaud, Yoan & Nisbet, Roger M. & Muller, Erik B., 2011. "Impact of excess and harmful radiation on energy budgets in scleractinian corals," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 222(7), pages 1315-1322.
    4. Baird, Mark E. & Adams, Matthew P. & Babcock, Russell C. & Oubelkheir, Kadija & Mongin, Mathieu & Wild-Allen, Karen A. & Skerratt, Jennifer & Robson, Barbara J. & Petrou, Katherina & Ralph, Peter J. &, 2016. "A biophysical representation of seagrass growth for application in a complex shallow-water biogeochemical model," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 325(C), pages 13-27.
    5. Mathieu Mongin & Mark E. Baird & Bronte Tilbrook & Richard J. Matear & Andrew Lenton & Mike Herzfeld & Karen Wild-Allen & Jenny Skerratt & Nugzar Margvelashvili & Barbara J. Robson & Carlos M. Duarte , 2016. "The exposure of the Great Barrier Reef to ocean acidification," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 7(1), pages 1-8, April.
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    Cited by:

    1. Chaojiao Sun & Alistair J. Hobday & Scott A. Condie & Mark E. Baird & J. Paige Eveson & Jason R. Hartog & Anthony J. Richardson & Andrew D. L. Steven & Karen Wild-Allen & Russell C. Babcock & Dezhou Y, 2022. "Ecological Forecasting and Operational Information Systems Support Sustainable Ocean Management," Forecasting, MDPI, vol. 4(4), pages 1-29, December.
    2. Lewis, Dakota M. & Vardi, Tali & Maher, Rebecca L. & Correa, Adrienne M.S. & Cook, Geoffrey S., 2022. "Predicting shifts in demography of Orbicella franksi following simulated disturbance and restoration," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 472(C).

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