Photobiology of corals from Brazil's near-shore marginal reefs of Abrolhos

Coral communities were examined from highly

turbid near-shore marginal reefs of Abrolhos (Brazil) to

test a paradigm previously developed from observations in

clear water reefs; specifically, that coral photobiological

properties follow a highly conserved linear relationship

with optical depth (f) via preferential ‘non-photochemical’

over ‘photochemical’ dissipation of absorbed light energy.

PAM flourometry in situ was used to examine the photobiology of the most dominant coral species throughout the

platform surfaces and bases of Abrolhos’ characteristic

‘chapeiroes’ reef framework; however, none of the species

consistently adhered to the ‘clear water paradigm’. PAM

measurements further demonstrated that species conformed

to two different strategies of non-photochemical energy

dissipation: transient but relatively rapid for the two closely

related endemic species (Mussismilia braziliensis and

Mussismilia harttii) as opposed to more persistent for

Montastrea cavernosa, Porites astreoides and Siderastrea

stellata. Further experiments demonstrated that tolerance to

anomalous stress amongst species did not correspond with

the non-photochemical energy dissipation strategy present

but was consistent with the relative dominance of species

within the chapeiroes coral communities.