Nitrate increases zooxanthellae population density and reduces skeletogenesis in corals

Very little information exists on the effects of nitrate on corals, although this is the major form in which nitrogen is present in tropical eutrophic coastal waters. In this study we incubated nubbins of Porites porites and explants of Montastrea annularis in laboratory photostats illuminated by halide lamps, with concentrations of nitrate of 0, 1, 5 and 20 mu M, for 40 and 30 d, respectively. At the end of this period it was found that the population density of the zooxanthellae had increased significantly with increased nitrate concentration, suggesting nitrogen limitation of the growth rate of Zooxanthellae in the control group. There were also significant increases in the amount of chlorophyll a and cz per algal cell, in the volume of the algal cells, and in the protein per cell. Overall, the protein per unit surface increased, but this was attributable solely to increased algal protein: there was no significant change in host protein. Maximum gross photosynthesis normalized to surface area was enhanced by nitrate addition, reflecting the increase in algal population density. There was no change when normalized on a per cell basis. Respiration rate normalized to protein content was decreased by nitrate. The most dramatic change was in the rate of skeletogenesis, which decreased by similar or equal to 50% in both species when exposed to nitrate enrichment. A model is presented which suggests that the diffusion-limited supply of CO2 from surrounding seawater is used preferentially by the enlarged zooxanthellae population for photosynthesis, thereby reducing the availability of inorganic carbon for calcification. It is concluded that enhanced nitrate levels in tropical coastal waters will have a hitherto unrecognized effect on the growth I-ate of tropical coral reefs.