The ecophysiology of the cold-water coral Lophelia pertusa (Scleractinia)
type: CreativeWork
description: Lophelia pertusa is the world’s most common and widespread framework-forming cold-water coral. It forms deep-water coral reefs and carbonate mounds supporting diverse animal communities on the continental shelf and on seamounts. Cold-water corals are found throughout most of the world’s oceans at depths of around 200 to 1000 metres. Unlike their tropical counterparts, cold-water corals do not contain symbiotic algae. These recently discovered ecosystems have been damaged by deep-sea fishing and are threatened by climate change. Despite this, very little is known about the ecophysiology of L. pertusa and its likely response to environmental changes. The aims of this research were to investigate the physiology of L. pertusa and relate this to its environment. In particular, this research focused on the respiratory physiology, growth and feeding ecology of L. pertusa. This was investigated through a combination of aquarium experiments and analysis of field-collected samples. The majority of samples were collected from the Mingulay Reef Complex at 130 m water depth in the Sea of the Hebrides. This area has recently been mapped, revealing L. pertusa reefs aligned with seabed ridges. Samples were collected using a video-controlled van Veen grab. After collection the coral samples were maintained in a recirculating aquarium at SAMS laboratory. Lophelia pertusa is associated with water masses of oceanic origin where seawater temperatures are 4-12 oC and salinity is 35-37. The L. pertusa habitat is dynamic, often showing tidal fluctuation in currents, nutrient input and temperature. The small-scale variation in oxygen levels within the reef structure has not been investigated but seasonal falls of phytodetritus may locally decrease oxygen availability to the benthos. It was therefore of interest to investigate the effects of temperature and dissolved oxygen change on the oxygen consumption of L. pertusa. This study showed that L. pertusa could maintain respiratory independen…
abstract: Lophelia pertusa is the world’s most common and widespread framework-forming cold-water coral. It forms deep-water coral reefs and carbonate mounds supporting diverse animal communities on the continental shelf and on seamounts. Cold-water corals are found throughout most of the world’s oceans at depths of around 200 to 1000 metres. Unlike their tropical counterparts, cold-water corals do not contain symbiotic algae. These recently discovered ecosystems have been damaged by deep-sea fishing and are threatened by climate change. Despite this, very little is known about the ecophysiology of L. pertusa and its likely response to environmental changes. The aims of this research were to investigate the physiology of L. pertusa and relate this to its environment. In particular, this research focused on the respiratory physiology, growth and feeding ecology of L. pertusa. This was investigated through a combination of aquarium experiments and analysis of field-collected samples. The majority of samples were collected from the Mingulay Reef Complex at 130 m water depth in the Sea of the Hebrides. This area has recently been mapped, revealing L. pertusa reefs aligned with seabed ridges. Samples were collected using a video-controlled van Veen grab. After collection the coral samples were maintained in a recirculating aquarium at SAMS laboratory. Lophelia pertusa is associated with water masses of oceanic origin where seawater temperatures are 4-12 oC and salinity is 35-37. The L. pertusa habitat is dynamic, often showing tidal fluctuation in currents, nutrient input and temperature. The small-scale variation in oxygen levels within the reef structure has not been investigated but seasonal falls of phytodetritus may locally decrease oxygen availability to the benthos. It was therefore of interest to investigate the effects of temperature and dissolved oxygen change on the oxygen consumption of L. pertusa. This study showed that L. pertusa could maintain respiratory independen…
author: Dodds, Lyndsey
language: eng
date published: 2007-11-14
date modified: 2026-07-24T05:12:04Z
provider: University of the Highlands and Islands
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: University of Edinburgh