Which Environmental Factors Predict Seasonal Variation in the Coral Health of Acropora digitifera and Acropora spicifera at Ningaloo Reef?

Research at Ningaloo Reef reveals that high sea surface temperatures during extreme events, such as La Niña, may reduce metabolic rates in coral hosts, potentially mitigating thermal stress. The study found that optimal metabolic values for Acropora digitifera and Acropora spicifera occur at 26-28°C, coinciding with lower autotrophic indices (chlorophyll a and zooxanthellae density). During the La Niña event in summer 2011, corals shifted feeding modes, relying more on water column plankton concentrations. The study analyzed metabolic indices, energy levels, and autotrophic indices across six stations during typical seasons and the extreme event, correlating them with 15 physico-chemical factors to identify predictors of coral health.

Hinrichs, S., Patten, N. L., Feng, M., Strickland, D., & Waite, A. M. (2013). Which Environmental Factors Predict Seasonal Variation in the Coral Health of Acropora digitifera and Acropora spicifera at Ningaloo Reef? PLoS ONE, 8(4), e60830. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0060830