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Effects of the 1997–1998 El Niño on the cnidarian community of a high turbidity coral reef system (northern Bahia, Brazil)

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Abstract

We are reporting on the results of a 4-year study that allowed for the analysis of the effects of the 1997–1998 El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) event on the cnidarian community of the naturally high-turbidity reefs of northern Bahia, Brazil. Cnidarian densities were significantly different between pre- and post-ENSO years, with significant consequent changes in community composition. BIOENV analysis identified variations in turbidity, mean temperature variance, and cloud cover as the factors best explaining changes in the community. We suggest that the 1997–1998 ENSO event, the most intense on record, had a differential effect on the cnidarian community. Highest mortalities were suffered by minute hydroid colonies, partial mortality by octocorals and actiniarians, while large hydroid colonies and scleractinians were the least affected. Such an ability to survive under the stressful environmental regime imposed by this ENSO event is attributed to the presence of morphological pre-adaptations (e.g., size of colony polyps, abundance of certain nematocyst types) and the inherent phenotypic plasticity that results from long-term exposure to naturally stressful conditions.

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Acknowledgements

This investigation was made possible by financial support from CNPq-Brazil. Constructive criticism of the manuscript by Dr. Daphne Fautin (University of Kansas, USA) is gratefully acknowledged. Gratitude is extended to Dr. José Maria Landin Dominguez of the Laboratory of Coastal Studies, and to Dr. Marlene Campos Peso Aguiar of the Laboratory of Malacology and Benthic Ecology (both from Universidade Federal da Bahia, Brazil) for the technical facilities provided during the first years of this research. Special gratitude is extended to Carlos Neves, Larissa de Siqueira, Rilza da Costa Tourinho Gomes, Simone Souza de Moraes, and Yonara Souza Braga for their encouragement of this research over the past few years, and for all their help and assistance during the fieldwork.

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  1. Francisco Kelmo

    Present address: Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico, Brazilian Research Council, 70750-901, Brasília, Brazil

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  1. School of Biological Sciences, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth, Devon, PL4 8AA, UK

    Francisco Kelmo, Martin J. Attrill & Malcolm B. Jones

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Correspondence to Martin J. Attrill.

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Kelmo, F., Attrill, M.J. & Jones, M.B. Effects of the 1997–1998 El Niño on the cnidarian community of a high turbidity coral reef system (northern Bahia, Brazil). Coral Reefs 22, 541–550 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-003-0343-0

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