Acute hypoxia induces reduction of algal symbiont density and suppression of energy metabolism in the scleractinian coral Pocillopora damicornis.

Loss of oxygen in the ocean is accelerating and threatening the coral reef ecosystem. In this study, the impacts of hypoxia on the scleractinian coral Pocillopora damicornis were explored. The algal symbiont density, chlorophyll a + c2 content, energy consumption of corals, as well as energy available and consumption of their symbionts, decreased significantly post hypoxia stress. Meanwhile, the malondialdehyde contents in corals and symbionts, together with the caspase-3 activation level in corals, increased significantly in response to hypoxia stress. Furthermore, it was revealed that activities such as coral cell division and calcification were inhibited under hypoxia. These results collectively suggest that acute hypoxia stress reduces symbiont density and chlorophyll a + c2 content in the coral P. damicornis by elevating intracellular oxidative pressure and apoptotic level, which further suppresses energy metabolism in the symbiotic association and negatively affects a series of activities such as coral cell division and calcification.