Variation in biometry and population density of solitary corals with solar radiation and sea surface temperature in the Mediterranean Sea

The correlation between two environmental factors (solar radiation and sea surface temperature), biometry, and population density was assessed along a latitudinal gradient in the zooxanthellate coral Balanophyllia europaea and in the azooxanthellate coral Leptopsammia pruvoti. With increasing polyp size, the oral disc of B. europaea assumed an oval shape, while that of L. pruvoti retained a circular shape. In both species, biometric parameters varied more with temperature than with solar radiation. In the zooxanthellate species, temperature explained a higher percentage of biometric parameter variance than in the azooxanthellate species. While environmental factors did not co-vary with demographic characteristics in L. pruvoti, temperature was negatively related to the population density of B. europaea. It is hypothesized that the negative effect of temperature on biometry and population density of B. europaea depends on photosynthesis inhibition of symbiotic zooxanthellae at high temperatures, which would lower the calcification rate and availability of energetic resources.