26 February 2016

Recent study published by PhD student Martina Prazeres and collaborators showed that populations of reef-dwelling foraminifera that live in variable environments are more resistant to changes in physicochemical conditions above their threshold of tolerance than those that live in more stable habitats. Using Amphistegina lobifera as model organism and biochemical tools, they were able to detect some acclimation mechanisms related to bleaching responses and growth/calcification in response to elevated temperature and nitrate. The results provided the fundamental single-factor analysis that is crucial to understand the differences in tolerance among A. lobifera collected from different reef sites to changing environmental conditions. Findings highlight the importance of local habitat in shaping the responses of this species to short-term shifts in environmental conditions.

Prazeres, M., Uthicke, S., Pandolfi, J.M. 2016. Influence of local habitat on the physiological responses of large benthic foraminifera to temperature and nutrient stress. Scientific Reports 6: 21936. doi: 10.1038/srep21936