Impacts of nitrogen pollution on corals in the context of global climate change and potential strategies to conserve coral reefs

Hongwei Zhao
Meile Yuan
Maryna Strokal
Henry C. Wu
Xianhua Liu
AlberTinka Murk
Carolien Kroeze
Ronald Osinga

Abstract

Ocean warming has severe impacts on coral reef ecosystems with frequent incidences of coral bleaching. In addition, eutrophication poses an increasing threat to coral reef environments and has been found to increase the vulnerability of corals to thermal bleaching. Eutrophication has accelerated in recent years with coastal nutrient loads expected to continue to increase under global change. However, the mechanisms by which nutrient pollution affects corals and coral reefs are still under debate, in particular with regard to nitrogen. The main objective of this paper is to review mechanisms by which nitrogen pollution affects coral health and corresponding strategies to reduce the impact of nitrogen pollution. Different coral species possess varying tolerance thresholds for nitrogen enrichment and corals show differential responses to enrichment with nitrate and ammonium. Nitrate assimilation increases oxidative stress in corals, promotes growth of the phototrophic symbionts in corals, and induces phosphate starvation in these symbionts, which further impairs the symbiosis. In contrast, a moderate supply of ammonium is mostly beneficial for coral development. In addition, combined nitrogen and phosphorous enrichment can indirectly compromise coral health by enhancing macroalgae growth and increasing the incidence of coral diseases caused by predation on corals. It must be realized that both levels of nutrient pollution and the stoichiometric ratios of C: N: P: Fe availabilities determine the ultimate effect of nutrients on coral health. We confirm the strategy to conserve coral reefs via coral-targeted water quality management, in particular by including a reduction of the nitrate influx and by proper management of fish stocks to facilitate healthy reef ecology.

DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.145017

Cite this activity

Zhao H., Yuan M., Strokal M., Wu H.C., Liu X., Murk A., Kroeze C. and Osinga R. (2021) Impacts of nitrogen pollution on corals in the context of global climate change and potential strategies to conserve coral reefs. The Science of The Total Environment 774: 145017. 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.145017

@article{Zhao2021,
  Title = {Impacts of nitrogen pollution on corals in the context of global climate change and potential strategies to conserve coral reefs},
  Author = {Zhao, Hongwei and Yuan, Meile and Strokal, Maryna and Wu, Henry C. and Liu, Xianhua and Murk, AlberTinka and Kroeze, Carolien and Osinga, Ronald},
  Editor = {},
  Journal = {The Science of The Total Environment},
  Year = {2021},
  Pages = {145017},
  Volume = {774},
  Doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.145017},
  Abstract = {Ocean warming has severe impacts on coral reef ecosystems with frequent incidences of coral bleaching. In addition, eutrophication poses an increasing threat to coral reef environments and has been found to increase the vulnerability of corals to thermal bleaching. Eutrophication has accelerated in recent years with coastal nutrient loads expected to continue to increase under global change. However, the mechanisms by which nutrient pollution affects corals and coral reefs are still under debate, in particular with regard to nitrogen. The main objective of this paper is to review mechanisms by which nitrogen pollution affects coral health and corresponding strategies to reduce the impact of nitrogen pollution. Different coral species possess varying tolerance thresholds for nitrogen enrichment and corals show differential responses to enrichment with nitrate and ammonium. Nitrate assimilation increases oxidative stress in corals, promotes growth of the phototrophic symbionts in corals, and induces phosphate starvation in these symbionts, which further impairs the symbiosis. In contrast, a moderate supply of ammonium is mostly beneficial for coral development. In addition, combined nitrogen and phosphorous enrichment can indirectly compromise coral health by enhancing macroalgae growth and increasing the incidence of coral diseases caused by predation on corals. It must be realized that both levels of nutrient pollution and the stoichiometric ratios of C: N: P: Fe availabilities determine the ultimate effect of nutrients on coral health. We confirm the strategy to conserve coral reefs via coral-targeted water quality management, in particular by including a reduction of the nitrate influx and by proper management of fish stocks to facilitate healthy reef ecology.},
  Keywords = {},
}

TY - JOUR
AU - Zhao, Hongwei
AU - Yuan, Meile
AU - Strokal, Maryna
AU - Wu, Henry C.
AU - Liu, Xianhua
AU - Murk, AlberTinka
AU - Kroeze, Carolien
AU - Osinga, Ronald
TI - Impacts of nitrogen pollution on corals in the context of global climate change and potential strategies to conserve coral reefs
T2 - The Science of The Total Environment
PY - 2021
SP - 145017
VL - 774
DO - 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.145017
AB - Ocean warming has severe impacts on coral reef ecosystems with frequent incidences of coral bleaching. In addition, eutrophication poses an increasing threat to coral reef environments and has been found to increase the vulnerability of corals to thermal bleaching. Eutrophication has accelerated in recent years with coastal nutrient loads expected to continue to increase under global change. However, the mechanisms by which nutrient pollution affects corals and coral reefs are still under debate, in particular with regard to nitrogen. The main objective of this paper is to review mechanisms by which nitrogen pollution affects coral health and corresponding strategies to reduce the impact of nitrogen pollution. Different coral species possess varying tolerance thresholds for nitrogen enrichment and corals show differential responses to enrichment with nitrate and ammonium. Nitrate assimilation increases oxidative stress in corals, promotes growth of the phototrophic symbionts in corals, and induces phosphate starvation in these symbionts, which further impairs the symbiosis. In contrast, a moderate supply of ammonium is mostly beneficial for coral development. In addition, combined nitrogen and phosphorous enrichment can indirectly compromise coral health by enhancing macroalgae growth and increasing the incidence of coral diseases caused by predation on corals. It must be realized that both levels of nutrient pollution and the stoichiometric ratios of C: N: P: Fe availabilities determine the ultimate effect of nutrients on coral health. We confirm the strategy to conserve coral reefs via coral-targeted water quality management, in particular by including a reduction of the nitrate influx and by proper management of fish stocks to facilitate healthy reef ecology.
ER -