Journal article
Dimethylated sulfur compounds in coral-reef ecosystems
Environmental Chemistry, Vol.13(2), pp.239-251
2016
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Abstract
Dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) and its main breakdown products dimethylsulfide (DMS) and dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) are biogenic species in the marine environment. In coral reefs, these dimethylated sulfur compounds (DSCs) have been reported at greater concentrations than in other marine ecosystems, which is most likely attributable to the extraordinary large biodiversity of coral reef communities (e.g. corals, macroalgae, coralline algae, invertebrates) and to the unique ability of zooxanthellate corals to synthesise DMSP from both the animal host and algal symbionts. Besides the various biological functions that have been attributed to DSCs, including thermoregulation, osmoregulation, chemoattraction and antioxidant response, DMS is suspected to take part in a climate feedback loop that could help counteract global warming. Nowadays, anthropogenic effects such as pollution, overfishing, increased sedimentation and global climate change are imminently threatening the health of coral reef communities around the world, with possible consequences on the natural cycle of DSCs within these ecosystems. This review provides insight into the biogeochemistry of DSCs in coral reefs and discusses the implications of projected changes in DSC production in these increasingly stressed ecosystems under future climate change scenarios. It shows that DSC dynamics will incontestably be affected in the near future, with possible feedback consequences on local climate.
Details
- Title
- Dimethylated sulfur compounds in coral-reef ecosystems
- Creators
- Elisabeth Deschaseaux - Southern Cross UniversityGraham Jones - Southern Cross UniversityHilton Swan - Southern Cross University
- Publication Details
- Environmental Chemistry, Vol.13(2), pp.239-251
- Publisher
- CSIRO
- Identifiers
- 991012985997602368
- Academic Unit
- Centre for Coastal Biogeochemistry; Faculty of Science and Engineering
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article