The coral community and pH conditions were characterized at a shallow hydrothermal vent in Batangas, Philippines. Hard coral cover was 14.8 ± 12.5% (mean ± standard deviation) and made up of more than 26 hard coral TAUs (taxonomic amalgamation units). Seawater pH was highly dynamic, especially near the most active vent plume, ranging from a low of 6.12 to a high of 8.09 over the 10 m x 10 m site. Fourteen (14) coral TAUs were found within 1 m of this vent plume, suggesting they can persist under variable pH conditions. These results contribute towards understanding the response of coral communities under future climate change scenarios.
Reyes M., San Diego–McGlone M. L., Pavia R., Opiňa J., Isah R., Magyaya R., Morris J., Tamayo N. & Licuanan W., 2022. Low pH and low coral cover at a shallow hydrothermal vent site in Batangas, Philippines. Philippine Journal of Science 151(2): 665-670. Article.
