Skip to main content
Fig. 3 | BMC Ecology

Fig. 3

From: Skeletal light-scattering accelerates bleaching response in reef-building corals

Fig. 3

Effects of skeletal reflectance (R S ) and Symbiodinium thermotolerance (Symb thermo) on photosynthetic performance dynamics. High- and low- (means in gray and black respectively in b–g) R S and Symb thermo corals responded similarly to experimental light (broken line in a) and temperature (dotted line in a) conditions (described in Fig. 1). Photosynthetic performance was similarly suppressed under increased stress in corals grouped by R S (b, c) and was modestly (but non-significantly) more suppressed for corals hosting high-thermotolerance Symbiodinium (d, e). Both low- and high-R S corals experienced a progressively greater average rate of photochemical efficiency loss (CLL p = 0.64; CHL p = 0.28; TLL p = 0.55 and THL p = 0.91) as heat and light stress were increased (f), and both low and high-Symb thermo corals experienced a progressively greater average rate of photochemical efficiency loss (CLL p = 0.47; CHL p = 0.70; TLL p = 0.26 and THL p = 0.68) as heat and light stress were increased (g). All error bars are standard error of the mean

Back to article page