@article{fdi:010093488,
  title = {{S}eabird-derived nitrogen supply enhances photosynthetic activity in a reef-building coral},
  author = {{T}hibault, {M}artin and {L}orrain, {A}nne and {D}uprey, {N}. {N}. and {M}artínez-{G}arcía, {A}. and {H}oulbr{\`e}que, {F}anny},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{N}utrient subsidies from seabirds ({SDN}) significantly impact coral reef ecosystems, but access to remote seabird nesting islands limits our understanding of how corals respond to this nutrient source. {T}his study investigates the in natura effects of {SDN} on coral metabolism at {S}urprise {I}sland in the southwestern {P}acific. {S}pecifically, we examine how the photobiology of the ubiquitous reef-building coral {P}ocillopora damicornis responds to {SDN} availability. {O}n {S}urprise {I}sland, seabird-derived nitrogen follows a well-defined gradient across the land-ocean continuum and significantly contributes to scleractinian coral nitrogen uptake. {A}t stations exposed to {SDN} discharge, seawater exhibited an elevated {N}:{P} ratio due to high nitrate concentrations as phosphate and ammonium concentrations remained similar to those at the reference station. {C}orals exposed to {SDN}-enriched coastal waters displayed a 50 % increase in photosynthetic efficiency and a 40 % increase in photosynthetic rate, coupled with a 115 % increase in both symbiont density and chlorophyll concentrations. {T}hese findings demonstrate that nitrogen inputs from seabirds stimulate the photosynthetic activity of coral symbionts, highlighting the sensitivity of coral photophysiology to {SDN}. {T}his underscores the critical link between seabird ecology and coral reefs functioning and emphasizes the need for integrated conservation efforts on coral islands.},
  keywords = {{C}orals ; {S}eabirds ; {N}utrients ; {P}hotobiology ; {NOUVELLE} {CALEDONIE}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{M}arine {E}nvironmental {R}esearch},
  volume = {209},
  numero = {},
  pages = {107147 [8 p.]},
  ISSN = {0141-1136},
  year = {2025},
  DOI = {10.1016/j.marenvres.2025.107147},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010093488},
}