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First published online August 28, 2009
Journal of Experimental Biology 212, 3007-3015 (2009)
Published by The Company of Biologists 2009
doi: 10.1242/jeb.031823
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Physiological response of the symbiotic gorgonian Eunicella singularis to a long-term temperature increase

Christine Ferrier-Pagès1,*, Eric Tambutté1,*, Thamilla Zamoum2, Natacha Segonds1, Pierre-Laurent Merle2, Nathaniel Bensoussan3, Denis Allemand1, Joaquim Garrabou3 and Sylvie Tambutté1,{dagger}

1 Centre Scientifique de Monaco, Avenue Saint-Martin, MC-98000 Monaco, Principality of Monaco
2 Université de Nice-Sophia Antipolis, EA 4228 ECOMERS, bp71, F-06108 Nice Cedex 02, France
3 Centre d'Océanologie de Marseille, UMR-CNRS 6540 DIMAR, Station Marine d'Endoume, rue Batterie des Lions, F-13007 Marseille, France

{dagger} Author for correspondence (stambutte{at}centrescientifique.mc)

Accepted 24 June 2009

Increase in seawater temperature is one of the major effects of global climate change that affects marine organisms, including Cnidaria. Among them, gorgonians from the NW Mediterranean Sea, such as the species Eunicella singularis, have suffered spectacular and extensive damage. We thus investigated in a controlled laboratory experiment the response of E. singularis to a long-term increase in temperature and we took a special interest in its photosynthetic and calcification response to the stress. Two populations collected at 15 and 35 m depths were studied in order to determine whether there was a difference in sensitivity to thermal stress between living depths. Our results show: (a) that calcification and photosynthesis were impacted only when gorgonians were maintained for more than two weeks at 26°C, and (b) that colonies of E. singularis living in shallow waters were less tolerant than those living in deep waters. Because E. singularis is a symbiotic species, we have also discussed the potential role of symbiosis in the thermotolerance response.

Key words: gorgonians, symbiosis, calcification, photosynthesis, thermal stress, Mediterranean, climate change


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