A deep-sea perspective on coral resilience in a changing world
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Bristol
Department Name: Earth Sciences
Abstract
The ocean is undergoing large scale physical, chemical and biological changes which are causing major ecosystem-scale shifts. The impact is clearly evident in shallow continental shelf waters easily accessible to local communities, the fishing industry, and scientists (e.g. increased coral reef bleaching, dwindling fish yields, blooms in nuisance algae and jellyfish). Changes in the deep sea are potentially as dramatic, with equally challenging long-term consequences (e.g. rising temperatures and lowering pH and oxygen levels) especially in the high latitudes. However, these changes are less visible to the general public and are chronically understudied given the logistical challenges of access to the deep sea. Even with increasing recognition of the intrinsic (e.g. biodiversity, blue carbon storage) and economic value (e.g. natural pharmaceuticals, heavy metal resources, fisheries nurseries) of the deep sea, there remain glaring gaps in our understanding of the resilience and vulnerability of the organisms which make up the major habitats of the deep. Particularly important in this regard are the extensive deep-sea habitats formed by calcifying corals. These corals can live for thousands of years and they form vast, diverse habitats in a surprisingly dynamic environment where food supply is controlled by falling particles from the surface and ever-changing currents. However, changes such as ocean acidification, food supply, and declining oxygen levels have the potential to reduce the ability of corals to produce their skeletons effectively. If corals were able to manipulate the composition of their skeletons to be more resilient to these changes, this would represent a key survival strategy in a rapidly changing world. Despite hints that some corals may have this ability, we do not know which taxa, or under what conditions, thus hampering effective marine conservation strategies.
In this project we intend to compare three habitat-forming coral taxa which exhibit contrasting modes of skeleton growth likely to dictate their vulnerability to external stress. Scleractinia calcify aragonite and are able to the modify seawater in which they grow so that they can live in low pH waters. Octocorals form their skeletons from calcite, which is more resistant to dissolution than aragonite. Stylasterids have the capacity to form from either aragonite or calcite, and as yet it is not known how they survive in low pH waters. Surprisingly, the phylogenetic tree for these corals is very poorly constrained, making it challenging to assess the relationships between the taxa or even to identify species. Using new genomic and geochemical data, together with a systematic examination of how and where corals grow in the modern ocean, we will be in a unique position to distinguish internal biological controls of coral biomineralization from external influences. We have exceptional access to deep-sea coral collections which will allow us to build the first phylogenomic framework for understanding mineralisation and susceptibility to external pressure in environmentally-critical, habitat-forming deep-sea corals. This will help us understand which deep-sea corals may be vulnerable to current and future climate change, and what environmental parameters are required for coral growth. These data will be used to better protect vulnerable marine ecosystems in the Southern Ocean via input to the Scientific Committee for Antarctic Research which provides objective and independent scientific advice to the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meetings.
In this project we intend to compare three habitat-forming coral taxa which exhibit contrasting modes of skeleton growth likely to dictate their vulnerability to external stress. Scleractinia calcify aragonite and are able to the modify seawater in which they grow so that they can live in low pH waters. Octocorals form their skeletons from calcite, which is more resistant to dissolution than aragonite. Stylasterids have the capacity to form from either aragonite or calcite, and as yet it is not known how they survive in low pH waters. Surprisingly, the phylogenetic tree for these corals is very poorly constrained, making it challenging to assess the relationships between the taxa or even to identify species. Using new genomic and geochemical data, together with a systematic examination of how and where corals grow in the modern ocean, we will be in a unique position to distinguish internal biological controls of coral biomineralization from external influences. We have exceptional access to deep-sea coral collections which will allow us to build the first phylogenomic framework for understanding mineralisation and susceptibility to external pressure in environmentally-critical, habitat-forming deep-sea corals. This will help us understand which deep-sea corals may be vulnerable to current and future climate change, and what environmental parameters are required for coral growth. These data will be used to better protect vulnerable marine ecosystems in the Southern Ocean via input to the Scientific Committee for Antarctic Research which provides objective and independent scientific advice to the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meetings.
Organisations
- University of Bristol (Lead Research Organisation)
- University of York (Collaboration)
- Federal University of São Paulo (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF ESSEX (Collaboration)
- National History Museum (replace) (Project Partner)
- Smithsonian Institution (Project Partner)
- Federal University of São Paulo (Project Partner)
- National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (Project Partner)
- Polish Academy of Sciences (Project Partner)
- South African National Biodiversity Institute (Project Partner)
- British Antarctic Survey (Project Partner)
Publications

Chen T
(2023)
Radiocarbon evidence for the stability of polar ocean overturning during the Holocene
in Nature Geoscience

Kershaw J
(2023)
Ba/Ca of stylasterid coral skeletons records dissolved seawater barium concentrations
in Chemical Geology

Liu Q
(2023)
Reinterpreting radiocarbon records in bamboo corals - New insights from the tropical North Atlantic
in Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta

Standish C
(2024)
Correlative geochemical imaging of Desmophyllum dianthus reveals biomineralisation strategy as a key coral vital effect
in Scientific Reports

Sun Y
(2023)
Iodine-to-calcium ratios in deep-sea scleractinian and bamboo corals
in Frontiers in Marine Science
Title | U-series and radiocarbon data of polar ocean deep-sea corals |
Description | The dataset contains two sheets. The first sheet is the U-series and radiocarbon data of the Holocene Southern Ocean deep-sea corals. The second sheet is the U-series and radiocarbon data of the Holocene North Atlantic deep-sea corals. |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2023 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
URL | https://springernature.figshare.com/articles/dataset/U-series_and_radiocarbon_data_of_polar_ocean_de... |
Title | U-series and radiocarbon data of polar ocean deep-sea corals |
Description | The dataset contains two sheets. The first sheet is the U-series and radiocarbon data of the Holocene Southern Ocean deep-sea corals. The second sheet is the U-series and radiocarbon data of the Holocene North Atlantic deep-sea corals. |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2023 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
URL | https://springernature.figshare.com/articles/dataset/U-series_and_radiocarbon_data_of_polar_ocean_de... |
Description | Marcelo Kitahara - Brazil |
Organisation | Federal University of São Paulo |
Country | Brazil |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | PhD student Maria Luiza De Carvalho Ferreira visited Sao Paulo to initiate the collaboration. PI Robinson will take part in a follow up visit in March 2019. We are developing new geochemical proxies which will be used by the combined team to better understand coral bio-mineralisation. Together the project team will work towards the project goals. |
Collaborator Contribution | Dr Kitahara is providing additional supervisory support and training to PhD student Maria Luiza De Carvalho Ferreira (Brazilian student funded by Faculty for the Future at University of Bristol). Together the project team will work towards the project goals. |
Impact | N/A - too early |
Start Year | 2018 |
Description | University of Essex |
Organisation | University of Essex |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | U. of Essex providing expertise in coral taxonomy and access to samples |
Collaborator Contribution | U of Bristol providing samples, access to research cruises and geochemical insights. |
Impact | The formal collaboration occurred with the start of this funding |
Start Year | 2018 |
Description | University of York |
Organisation | University of York |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Analyses of organic geochemistry |
Collaborator Contribution | Analyses of organic geochemistry to explore coral mineralisation |
Impact | A Masters Student is now working on the project |
Start Year | 2023 |