Impact of warming and suspended terrigenous sediment on the Hawaiian reef coral Montipora capitata

Alexandra M. Good; Ashleigh Epps; Maile Coberly; Kuʻulei S Rodgers; Nancy G. Prouty; Curt D. Storlazzi; Keisha D. Bahr

doi:10.1007/s00338-025-02752-4

Impact of warming and suspended terrigenous sediment on the Hawaiian reef coral Montipora capitata

Coral Reefs

By: Alexandra M. Good, Ashleigh Epps, Maile Coberly, Kuʻulei S Rodgers, Nancy G. Prouty, Curt D. Storlazzi, and Keisha D. Bahr

https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-025-02752-4

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Abstract

Coral reefs near high human population areas suffer from sedimentation and increased turbidity due to coastal development. However, there is limited research on how key species respond to turbidity caused by terrigenous sediment and how this response may change with increased water temperatures. This study investigated the effects of ambient and elevated turbidity (+ 26 NTU) in combination with ambient (27.1 °C) and elevated temperature (+ 4.1 °C; 31.2 °C) on the dominant Hawaiian reef coral Montipora capitata, collected from two Kāneʻohe Bay watersheds with distinct environmental histories. Using intermittent flow respirometry, we found that acute (12 h) exposure to elevated turbidity and temperature impacted algal symbionts (Symbiodinium spp.) but not the coral host, suggesting a potential delayed host physiological response. Corals from south Kāneʻohe Bay, where restricted water circulation and urbanization have degraded water quality, were more sensitive to stressors than those from the less-impacted northern sites, indicating that physiological responses vary by location and may be influenced by watershed conditions. The findings suggest that while short-term turbidity and warming impact Symbiodinium spp. immediately, prolonged exposure may lead to cascading effects on the coral host. Understanding these species-specific and location-dependent responses enhances our ability to guide restoration and conservation efforts for coral ecosystems facing both local (turbidity) and global (warming) stressors.

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Additional publication details
Publication type	Article
Publication Subtype	Journal Article
Title	Impact of warming and suspended terrigenous sediment on the Hawaiian reef coral Montipora capitata
Series title	Coral Reefs
DOI	10.1007/s00338-025-02752-4
Volume	44
Publication Date	October 15, 2025
Year Published	2025
Language	English
Publisher	Springer
Contributing office(s)	Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center
Description	17 p.
First page	2065
Last page	2081
Country	United States
State	Hawaii
Other Geospatial	Kāneʻohe Bay