DOI: 10.5061/dryad.jwstqjqj4
title: Data from: Physiological responses of scleractinian coral to trace metal enrichment and thermal stress

description: Coral bleaching events are increasingly frequent due to global climate
 change and marine pollution. Trace metals, such as manganese (Mn) and iron
 (Fe), though toxic at high concentrations, are vital for coral physiology,
 supporting photosynthesis and antioxidation. This study investigates how
 thermal stress and trace metal exposure interact to influence the
 physiology of the scleractinian corals Turbinaria irregularis and
 Montipora mollis. Corals were exposed to Mn and Fe at varying
 concentrations under control (25°C) and elevated (30°C) temperatures. Mn
 enhanced photosynthetic efficiency, an increase of 1.7% in M. mollis at
 250 nM and 1.4% in T. irregularis at 30°C (p &lt; 0.05). Fe improved
 photosynthesis by 1.8% in M. mollis at 50 nM and growth rates by 2.1% in
 T. irregularis at 25°C (p &lt; 0.05). Both metals mitigated bleaching,
 as seen in reduced relative gray intensity and increased symbiotic algal
 density, particularly at moderate concentrations. However, elevated
 temperatures suppressed growth and photosynthetic efficiency, with
 decreases up to 1.6% in M. mollis (p &lt; 0.01). These results
 highlight the pivotal role of trace metals in coral health and stress
 resilience, while emphasizing the importance of species-specific
 differences in trace metal uptake, thermal tolerance, and physiological
 responses. Further studies are necessary to elucidate the mechanisms and
 long-term impacts of these interactions in the face of ongoing climate
 change.
description: This study aimed to explore the effects of Fe and Mn
 supplementation on the physiological parameters of two coral species,
 <em>Turbinaria irregularis</em> and <em>Montipora
 mollis</em>, under both normal and heat stress treatments. The
 experimental design, which was based on previous research (Biscéré et al.,
 2018), incorporated two temperature levels (25°C ± 1°C and 30°C ± 1°C) and
 two trace metals (Fe2+ and Mn2+) at three concentrations each (50, 100,
 and 250 nM), as outlined by Reich et al. (2020) and Rodriguez and Ho
 (2018). A control not exposed to metals was also included. Each treatment
 was replicated, and the experiment ran for a duration of 14 days. On-site
 measurements of temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen (DO), and pH were
 conducted daily using a handheld multiparameter water quality meter
 (ProDSS multiparameter digital water quality meter, YSI; Xylem Inc., USA).
 Digital photographs of coral branches were taken at the experiment’s
 outset and conclusion for later analysis. Following the experiment, each
 set of coral fragments was individually enveloped in aluminum foil and
 placed in a freezer set to -20°C for subsequent analysis of physiological
 indices. Tissue was rinsed using high-pressure water, and the resultant
 homogenate was measured to 40 mL for subsequent physiological index
 analyses. Symbiotic algae density and chlorophyll a (Chl a) content were
 further normalized based on the sample surface area, and these parameters
 were compared and analyzed using standardized values. The analyzed methods
 for each variable can be found from the paper. Statistical analysis in
 this study was performed using SPSS 14.0 software
 (https://spss.software.informer.com/14.0/), with graphing software by
 Grapher (v.16.0.314, Golden Software, USA). A two-way ANOVA was used to
 compare the various measurement parameters between different temperatures
 and trace metal treatments to determine whether there were any
 differences. Tukey’s test was employed for post hoc analysis. If the basic
 assumptions were not met, the Kruskal–Wallis and Mann–Whitney U tests were
 used instead. The Pearson and Spearman correlation tests were used to
 determine the strength of correlations. A p-value of less than 0.05 (p
 &lt; 0.05) was considered to indicate a significant difference. Data
 are presented as the mean (± SE).
description: # Data from: Physiological responses of scleractinian coral to trace metal
 enrichment and thermal stress Raw data belonging to: Ting-Hsuan Tu,
 Hung-Yen Hsieh, Pei-Jie Meng, and Chung-Chi Chen (2024). Physiological
 responses of scleractinian coral to trace metal enrichment and thermal
 stress. ## File Information ### Data_for_Dryad.xlsx #### Fig. 2_PSII: The
 photosynthetic efficiency (Fv/Fm) of the scleractinian corals. **Unit:**
 All (Fv/Fm) and standard errors are dimensionless ##### Manganese (Mn)
 treatment Column: Variables A: Mn treatment (Control, 50 nM, 100 nM, 250
 nM) B: (Fv/Fm) of *Montipora mollis* at 25°C C: Standard error for
 (Fv/Fm)_Mn_M_25   D: (Fv/Fm) of *Montipora mollis* at 30°C   E: Standard
 error for (Fv/Fm)_Mn_M_30 F: (Fv/Fm) of *Turbinaria irregularis* at 25°C
 G: Standard error for (Fv/Fm)_Mn_T_25     H: (Fv/Fm) of *Turbinaria
 irregularis* at 30°C I: Standard error for (Fv/Fm)_Mn_T_30 ##### Iron (Fe)
 Treatment J: Fe treatment (Control, 50 nM, 100 nM, 250 nM)   K: (Fv/Fm) of
 *Montipora mollis* at 25°C L: Standard error for (Fv/Fm)_Fe_M_25 M:
 (Fv/Fm) of *Montipora mollis* at 30°C N: Standard error for
 (Fv/Fm)_Fe_M_30 O: (Fv/Fm) of *Turbinaria irregularis* at 25°C P: Standard
 error for (Fv/Fm)_Fe_T_25   Q: (Fv/Fm) of *Turbinaria irregularis* at 30°C
 R: Standard error for (Fv/Fm)_Fe_T_30 #### Fig. 3. Growth rate: Growth
 rate of the scleractinian corals **Units:** All growth rate and standard
 erros are in **g cm-2 d-1** ##### Manganese (Mn) treatment Column:
 Variable A: Mn treatment (Control, 50 nM, 100 nM, 250 nM) B: Growth rate
 of *Montipora mollis* at 25°C C: Standard error for Growth_Mn_M_25   D:
 Growth rate of *Montipora mollis* at 30°C   E: Standard error for
 Growth_Mn_M_30 F: Growth rate of *Turbinaria irregularis* at 25°C G:
 Standard error for Growth_Mn_T_25     H: Growth rate of *Turbinaria
 irregularis* at 30°C I: Standard error for Growth_Mn_T_30 ##### Iron (Fe)
 Treatment J: Fe treatment (Control, 50 nM, 100 nM, 250 nM)   K: Growth
 rate of *Montipora mollis* at 25°C L: Standard error for Growth_Fe_M_25 M:
 Growth rate of *Montipora mollis* at 30°C N: Standard error for
 Growth_Fe_M_30 O: Growth rate of *Turbinaria irregularis* at 25°C P:
 Standard error for Growth_Fe_T_25   Q: Growth rate of *Turbinaria
 irregularis* at 30°C R: Standard error for Growth_Fe_T_30 #### Fig. 4.
 MIGRE: The relative mean intensity of gray (MIGRE) of the scleractinian
 corals. ""Unit:'' All MIGRE and standard errors are
 dimensionless ##### Manganese (Mn) treatment Column: Variables A: Mn
 treatment (Control, 50 nM, 100 nM, 250 nM) B: MIGRE of *Montipora mollis*
 at 25°C C: Standard error forMIGRE_Mn_M_25   D: MIGREof *Montipora mollis*
 at 30°C   E: Standard error for MIGRE_Mn_M_30 F: MIGRE of *Turbinaria
 irregularis* at 25°C G: Standard error for MIGRE_Mn_T_25     H: MIGRE of
 *Turbinaria irregularis* at 30°C I: Standard error for MIGRE_Mn_T_30 #####
 Iron (Fe) Treatment J: Fe treatment (Control, 50 nM, 100 nM, 250 nM)   K:
 MIGRE of *Montipora mollis* at 25°C L: Standard error for MIGRE_Fe_M_25 M:
 MIGRE of *Montipora mollis* at 30°C N: Standard error for MIGRE_Fe_M_30 O:
 MIGRE of *Turbinaria irregularis* at 25°C P: Standard error for
 MIGRE_Fe_T_25   Q: MIGRE of *Turbinaria irregularis* at 30°C R: Standard
 error for MIGRE_Fe_T_30 #### Fig. 5. Algal density: Symbiotic algal
 density of the scleractinian corals. **Units:** All algal density and
 standard errors are in **x 105 cells cm-2** ##### Manganese (Mn) treatment
 Column: Variable A: Mn treatment (Control, 50 nM, 100 nM, 250 nM) B: Algal
 density of *Montipora mollis* at 25°C C: Standard error for Algal
 density_Mn_M_25   D: Algal density of *Montipora mollis* at 30°C   E:
 Standard error for Algal density_Mn_M_30 F: Algal density of *Turbinaria
 irregularis* at 25°C G: Standard error for Algal density_Mn_T_25     H:
 Algal density of *Turbinaria irregularis* at 30°C I: Standard error for
 Algal density_Mn_T_30 ##### Iron (Fe) Treatment J: Fe treatment (Control,
 50 nM, 100 nM, 250 nM)   K: Algal density of *Montipora mollis* at 25°C L:
 Standard error for Algal density_Fe_M_25 M: Algal density of *Montipora
 mollis* at 30°C N: Standard error for Algal density_Fe_M_30 O: Algal
 density of *Turbinaria irregularis* at 25°C P: Standard error for Algal
 density_Fe_T_25   Q: Algal density of *Turbinaria irregularis* at 30°C R:
 Standard error for Algal density_Fe_T_30 #### Fig. 6. Chl a: Chl a of the
 scleractinian corals. **Units:** All Chl a and standard erros are in **μg
 cm-2** ##### Manganese (Mn) treatment Column: Variables A: Mn treatment
 (Control, 50 nM, 100 nM, 250 nM) B: Chl a of *Montipora mollis* at 25°C C:
 Standard error for Chl a_Mn_M_25   D: Chl a of *Montipora mollis* at 30°C
   E: Standard error for Chl a_Mn_M_30 F: Chl a of *Turbinaria irregularis*
 at 25°C G: Standard error for Chl a_Mn_T_25     H: Chl a of *Turbinaria
 irregularis* at 30°C I: Standard error for Chl a_Mn_T_30 ##### Iron (Fe)
 Treatment J: Fe treatment (Control, 50 nM, 100 nM, 250 nM)   K: Chl a of
 *Montipora mollis* at 25°C L: Standard error for Chl a_Fe_M_25 M: Chl a of
 *Montipora mollis* at 30°C N: Standard error for Chl a_Fe_M_30 O: Chl a of
 *Turbinaria irregularis* at 25°C P: Standard error for Chl a_Fe_T_25   Q:
 Chl a of *Turbinaria irregularis* at 30°C R: Standard error for Chl
 a_Fe_T_30 #### Fig. S1. water temperature: The water temperature
 throughout the experimental periods in manganese (Mn) and iron (Fe)
 treatments. **Unit:** Date is experimetnal day; water temperature and
 standard errors are in **°C** ##### Manganese (Mn) treatment at 25°C
 Column: Variables A: Date B: Water temperature at control of Mn at 25°C C:
 Standard errors of water temperature at control of Mn at 25°C D: Water
 temperature at 50nM of Mn at 25°C E: Standard errors of water temperature
 at 50nM of Mn at 25°C F: Water temperature at 100nM of Mn at 25°C G:
 Standard errors of water temperature at 100nM of Mn at 25°C H: Water
 temperature at 250nM of Mn at 25°C I: Standard errors of water temperature
 at 250nM of Mn at 25°C ##### Manganese (Mn) treatment at 30°C J: Water
 temperature at control of Mn at 25°C K: Standard errors of water
 temperature at control of Mn at 30°C L: Water temperature at 50nM of Mn at
 30°C M: Standard errors of water temperature at 50nM of Mn at 30°C N:
 Water temperature at 100nM of Mn at 30°C O: Standard errors of water
 temperature at 100nM of Mn at 30°C P: Water temperature at 250nM of Mn at
 30°C Q: Standard errors of water temperature at 250nM of Mn at 30°C #####
 Iron (Fe) treatment at 25°C R: Water temperature at control of Fe at 25°C
 S: Standard errors of water temperature at control of Fe at 25°C T: Water
 temperature at 50nM of Fe at 25°C U: Standard errors of water temperature
 at 50nM of Fe at 25°C V: Water temperature at 100nM of Fe at 25°C W:
 Standard errors of water temperature at 100nM of Fe at 25°C X: Water
 temperature at 250nM of Fe at 25°C Y: Standard errors of water temperature
 at 250nM of Fe at 25°C ##### Iron (Fe) treatment at 30°C Z: Water
 temperature at control of Fe at 30°C AA: Standard errors of water
 temperature at control of Fe at 30°C AB: Water temperature at 50nM of Fe
 at 30°C AC: Standard errors of water temperature at 50nM of Fe at 30°C AD:
 Water temperature at 100nM of Fe at 30°C AE: Standard errors of water
 temperature at 100nM of Fe at 30°C AF: Water temperature at 250nM of Fe at
 30°C AG: Standard errors of water temperature at 250nM of Fe at 30°C ####
 Fig. S2. Trace metal concentration: Trace metal concentration throughout
 the experimental periods at Manganese (Mn) and Iron (Fe) treatments in
 different water temperatures **Unit:** Date is experimetnal day; trace
 metal concentratoin and standard errors are in **nM** Note: NA = data not
 available (no data on that date) ##### Manganese (Mn) treatment at 25°C
 Column: Variables A: Date B: Trace metal concentration at control of Mn at
 25°C C: Standard errors of Trace metal concentration at control of Mn at
 25°C D: Trace metal concentration at 50nM of Mn at 25°C E: Standard errors
 of Trace metal concentration at 50nM of Mn at 25°C F: Trace metal
 concentration at 100nM of Mn at 25°C G: Standard errors of Trace metal
 concentration at 100nM of Mn at 25°C H: Trace metal concentration at 250nM
 of Mn at 25°C I: Standard errors of Trace metal concentration at 250nM of
 Mn at 25°C ##### Manganese (Mn) treatment at 30°C J: Trace metal
 concentration at control of Mn at 25°C K: Standard errors of Trace metal
 concentration at control of Mn at 30°C L: Trace metal concentration at
 50nM of Mn at 30°C M: Standard errors of Trace metal concentration at 50nM
 of Mn at 30°C N: Trace metal concentration at 100nM of Mn at 30°C O:
 Standard errors of Trace metal concentration at 100nM of Mn at 30°C P:
 Trace metal concentration at 250nM of Mn at 30°C Q: Standard errors of
 Trace metal concentration at 250nM of Mn at 30°C ##### Iron (Fe) treatment
 at 25°C R: Trace metal concentration at control of Fe at 25°C S: Standard
 errors of Trace metal concentration at control of Fe at 25°C T: Trace
 metal concentration at 50nM of Fe at 25°C U: Standard errors of Trace
 metal concentration at 50nM of Fe at 25°C V: Trace metal concentration at
 100nM of Fe at 25°C W: Standard errors of Trace metal concentration at
 100nM of Fe at 25°C X: Trace metal concentration at 250nM of Fe at 25°C Y:
 Standard errors of Trace metal concentration at 250nM of Fe at 25°C #####
 Iron (Fe) treatment at 30°C Z: Trace metal concentration at control of Fe
 at 30°C AA: Standard errors of Trace metal concentration at control of Fe
 at 30°C AB: Trace metal concentration at 50nM of Fe at 30°C AC: Standard
 errors of Trace metal concentration at 50nM of Fe at 30°C AD: Trace metal
 concentration at 100nM of Fe at 30°C AE: Standard errors of Trace metal
 concentration at 100nM of Fe at 30°C AF: Trace metal concentration at
 250nM of Fe at 30°C AG: Standard errors of Trace metal concentration at
 250nM of Fe at 30°C