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<p>Mixotrophy is a widespread nutritional strategy among zooxanthellate octocorals, yet the balance between autotrophic and heterotrophic inputs can vary across species and may be influenced by colony morphology and metabolic traits. This study examined whether variation in morphological traits—including polyp size, polyp density, branch thickness, and surface-area-to-volume (SA: V) ratio—was associated with differences in photosynthetic efficiency and oxygen metabolism among sympatric species of the Caribbean candelabrum octocoral genus <i>Eunicea</i>, collected from reefs off Cartagena, Colombia, at approximately 16&#xa0;m depth in April 2023. Morphological traits differed significantly among species: <i>Eunicea fusca</i> exhibited small, densely packed polyps and high SA: V ratios; <i>E. colombiensis</i> and <i>E. clavigera</i> had larger, sparsely distributed polyps and thicker branches; and <i>E. tourneforti</i> displayed the lowest SA: V values, reflecting its larger polyp size and robust colony structure. Metabolic traits also varied, revealing distinct species-level physiological profiles. All species consistently exhibited net oxygen consumption even under light conditions, indicating that autotrophic input alone was insufficient to meet metabolic demands. This pattern suggests a predominant reliance on heterotrophy, despite morphological traits that may favor autotrophic capacity in some taxa. These findings underscore the importance of integrating morphological and physiological traits to understand the functional ecology of mixotrophic octocorals and contribute to understanding how octocoral species modulate their trophic strategies in response to environmental heterogeneity.</p>

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Linking colony morphology and metabolic performance in sympatric zooxanthellate octocorals (Cnidaria: Octocorallia): a functional trait approach

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年11月20日

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  • Sarmiento Adriana,
  • Goméz Carlos E.,
  • Julio-Rodríguez Tatiana,
  • Sánchez Juan A.

摘要

Mixotrophy is a widespread nutritional strategy among zooxanthellate octocorals, yet the balance between autotrophic and heterotrophic inputs can vary across species and may be influenced by colony morphology and metabolic traits. This study examined whether variation in morphological traits—including polyp size, polyp density, branch thickness, and surface-area-to-volume (SA: V) ratio—was associated with differences in photosynthetic efficiency and oxygen metabolism among sympatric species of the Caribbean candelabrum octocoral genus Eunicea, collected from reefs off Cartagena, Colombia, at approximately 16 m depth in April 2023. Morphological traits differed significantly among species: Eunicea fusca exhibited small, densely packed polyps and high SA: V ratios; E. colombiensis and E. clavigera had larger, sparsely distributed polyps and thicker branches; and E. tourneforti displayed the lowest SA: V values, reflecting its larger polyp size and robust colony structure. Metabolic traits also varied, revealing distinct species-level physiological profiles. All species consistently exhibited net oxygen consumption even under light conditions, indicating that autotrophic input alone was insufficient to meet metabolic demands. This pattern suggests a predominant reliance on heterotrophy, despite morphological traits that may favor autotrophic capacity in some taxa. These findings underscore the importance of integrating morphological and physiological traits to understand the functional ecology of mixotrophic octocorals and contribute to understanding how octocoral species modulate their trophic strategies in response to environmental heterogeneity.