Increasing acidification does not affect sexual reproduction of a solitary zooxanthellate coral transplanted at a carbon dioxide vent

Abstract

The absorption of atmospheric carbon dioxide is causing significant changes to the carbonate chemistry of the ocean, in a phenomenon called ocean acidification. The latter makes it potentially more difficult for marine calcifiers like corals, to build their calcium carbonate structures, thus affecting their ability to survive and reproduce. Research on how ocean acidification impacts coral sexual reproduction has focused on tropical species investigated under controlled conditions in aquaria, lacking insights into the intricate natural environment. Here we show that the sexual reproduction of the zooxanthellate solitary scleractinian Balanophyllia europaea transplanted at a CO2 vent off the Island of Panarea (Tyrrhenian Sea, Italy) for up to 5 months is unaffected by decreasing pH (pH range 8.1–7.4). These findings reinforce earlier evidence, suggesting that zooxanthellate corals may exhibit a certain degree of short‐term resilience to ocean acidification. However, the interplay between ocean acidification and additional environmental stressors, including warming, will ultimately define the boundaries that distinguish winners and losers amid swift climatic changes.