Palau Reef (IMAGE)

Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences

Palau Reef

Caption

For scientists attempting to understand how reef ecosystems function, like this one in Palau, they must determine how photosynthetic rates respond to a variety of environmental stressors, including temperature, light availability, carbon dioxide levels, and nutrient availability. A recent study published in the journal PLoSOne demonstrates that reefs, like terrestrial forests, can optimize their rates of photosynthesis to prevailing environmental conditions.

Credit

BIOS, Eric Hochberg

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