Electronic Supplementary Material

A summary of the information collected as part of a review of the literature on salinity tolerance is provided in the Table 1. Where species names have been revised, the current names are provided in brackets. Question marks refer to information not provided by the authors.

References

Chavanich S, Viyakarn V, Loyjiw T, Pattaratamrong P, Chankong A (2009) Mass bleaching of soft coral, Sarcophyton spp. in Thailand and the role of temperature and salinity stress. ICES J Mar Sci 66:1515-1519

Coles SL (1992) Experimental comparison of salinity tolerances of reef corals from the Arabian Gulf and Hawaii. Proc 7th Int Coral Reef Symp 1:227-234

Edmondson CH (1928) The ecology of an Hawaiian coral reef. Bishop Museum Bull 45:1-64

Edmondson CH (1946) Behavior of coral planulae under alterned saline and thermal conditions. Bishop Museum Occas Pap 18:283-304

Faxneld S, Jorgensen TL, Tedengren M (2010) Effects of elevated water temperature, reduced salinity and nutrient enrichment on the metabolism of the coral Turbinaria mesenterina. Estuar Coast Shelf Sci 88:482-487

Ferrier-Pages C, Gattuso JP, Jaubert J (1999) Effect of small variations in salinity on the rates of photosynthesis and respiration of the zooxanthellate coral Stylophora pistillata. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 181:309-314

Goldberg W (1973) Ecological tolerances aspects of salinity and temperature of some reef-dwelling gorgonians from Florida. Caribb J Sci 13:173-177

Hoegh-Guldberg O, Smith GJ (1989) The effect of sudden changes in temperature, light and salinity on the population density and export of zooxanthellae from reef corals Stylophora pistillata Esper and Seriatopora hystrix Dana. J Exp Mar Biol Ecol 129:279-303

Kato M (1987) Mucus-sheet formation and discoloration in the reef building coral, Porites cylindrica: effects of altered salinity and temperature. Galaxea 6:1-16

Kerswell AP, Jones RJ (2003) Effects of hypo-osmosis on the coral Stylophora pistillata: nature and cause of ‘low-salinity bleaching’. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 253:145-154

Marcus J, Thorhaug A (1981) Pacific versus Atlantic responses of the subtropical hermatypic coral Porites spp. to temperature and salinity effects. Proc 4th Int Coral Reef Symp 2:15-20

Moberg F, Nyström M, Kautsky N, Tedengren M, Jarayabhand P (1997) Effects of reduced salinity on the rates of photosynthesis and respiration in the hermatypic corals Porites lutea and Pocillopora damicornis. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 157:53-59

Muthiga NA, Szmant AM (1987) The effects of salinity stress on the rates of aerobic respiration and photosynthesis in the hermatypic coral Siderastrea siderea. Biol Bull 173:539-551

Nyström M, Moberg F, Tedengren M (1997) Natural and anthopogenic disturbance on reef corals in the inner Gulf of Thailand: Physiological effects of reduced salinity, copper and siltation. Proc 8th Int Coral Reef Symp 2:1893-1898

Vaughan TW (1914) Reef corals of the Bahamas and of southern Florida. Carnegie Inst Wash Year B:222-226

Table 1. Summary of experimental studies assessing the effect of low salinity on reef coral

Family / Species / Ambient salinity, Location / Exposure time / Salinity treatment / Response / Additional information / Reference
Faviidae / Dichocoenia stokesi / 32-35, Florida / 6, 12, 24 hrs;48 hrs / 18.3ppt for <24 hrs; 27.9ppt for 48hrs / At 18.3ppt no effect after 6 hrs; response at other exposures not recorded / ok at 27.9ppt for 48 hrs / Vaughan 1914
Faviidae / Eusmilia aspera / 32-35, Florida / 6, 12, 24 hrs;48 hrs / 18.3ppt for <24 hrs; 27.9ppt for 48hrs / At 18.3ppt - Pale after 6 hrs, dead after 24hr / ok at 27.9ppt for 48 hrs / Vaughan 1914
Oculinidae / Oculina diffusa / 32-35, Florida / 6, 12, 24 hrs;48 hrs / 18.3ppt for <24 hrs; 27.9ppt for 48hrs / At 18.3ppt - Pale after 12 hrs, dead after 24hrs / ok at 27.9ppt for 48 hrs / Vaughan 1914
Faviidae / Orbicella annularis (Montastrea annularis) / 32-35, Florida / 6, 12, 24 hrs;48 hrs / 18.3ppt for <24 hrs; 27.9ppt for 48hrs / At 18.3ppt - Pale after 6 hrs, dead after 24hrs / ok at 27.9ppt for 48 hrs / Vaughan 1914
Faviidae / Orbicella cavernosa (Montastrea cavernosa) / 32-35, Florida / 6, 12, 24 hrs;48 hrs / 18.3ppt for <24 hrs; 27.9ppt for 48hrs / At 18.3ppt - ok at 6hrs, pale after 12 hrs, pale after 24hrs / ok at 27.9ppt for 48 hrs / Vaughan 1914
Faviidae / Favia fagrum / 32-35, Florida / 6, 12, 24 hrs;48 hrs / 18.3ppt for <24 hrs; 27.9ppt for 48hrs / At 18.3ppt - ok at 6hrs, pale after 12 hrs, pale after 24hrs / ok at 27.9ppt for 48 hrs / Vaughan 1914
Faviidae / Meandra aeriolata (Manicinia aeriolata) / 32-35, Florida / 6, 12, 24 hrs;48 hrs / 18.3ppt for <24 hrs; 27.9ppt for 48hrs / At 18.3ppt - ok at all time points / ok at 27.9ppt for 48 hrs / Vaughan 1914
Faviidae / Meandra strigosa (Diploria strigosa) / 32-35, Florida / 6, 12, 24 hrs;48 hrs / 18.3ppt for <24 hrs; 27.9ppt for 48hrs / At 18.3ppt - ok at 6hrs, pale after 12 hrs, pale after 24hrs / ok at 27.9ppt for 48 hrs / Vaughan 1914
Faviidae / Meandra clivosa (Diploria clivosa) / 32-35, Florida / 6, 12, 24 hrs;48 hrs / 18.3ppt for <24 hrs; 27.9ppt for 48hrs / At 18.3ppt - ok at 12 hrs, pale at 24 hrs / ok at 27.9ppt for 48 hrs / Vaughan 1914
Faviidae / Manicina gyrosa / 32-35, Florida / 6, 12, 24 hrs;48 hrs / 18.3ppt for <24 hrs; 27.9ppt for 48hrs / At 18.3ppt - ok at 12 hrs, pale at 24 hrs / ok at 27.9ppt for 48 hrs / Vaughan 1914
Siderastreidae / Siderastrea radians / 32-35, Florida / 6, 12, 24 hrs;48 hrs / 18.3ppt for <24 hrs; 27.9ppt for 48hrs / At 18.3ppt - ok at all time points / ok at 27.9ppt for 48 hrs / Vaughan 1914
Siderastreidae / Siderastrea siderea / 32-35, Florida / 6, 12, 24 hrs;48 hrs / 18.3ppt for <24 hrs; 27.9ppt for 48hrs / At 18.3ppt - ok at 12 hrs, pale at 24 hrs / ok at 27.9ppt for 48 hrs / Vaughan 1914
Agariciidae / Agaricia purpurea (Agaricia agaricites) / 32-35, Florida / 6, 12, 24 hrs;48 hrs / 18.3ppt for <24 hrs; 27.9ppt for 48hrs / At 18.3ppt - "damaged" at 6 hrs, dead at 12 hrs / ok at 27.9ppt for 48 hrs / Vaughan 1914
Acroporidae / Acropora cervicornis / 32-35, Florida / 6, 12, 24 hrs;48 hrs / 18.3ppt for <24 hrs; 27.9ppt for 48hrs / At 18.3ppt - ok at 6hrs, dead at 12 hrs / ok at 27.9ppt for 48 hrs / Vaughan 1914
Poritidae / Porites clavaria (Porites porites) / 32-35, Florida / 6, 12, 24 hrs;48 hrs / 18.3ppt for <24 hrs; 27.9ppt for 48hrs / At 18.3ppt - ok at 12 hrs, "scarcely damaged" at 24 hrs / ok at 27.9ppt for 48 hrs / Vaughan 1914
Poritidae / Porites furcata / 32-35, Florida / 6, 12, 24 hrs;48 hrs / 18.3ppt for <24 hrs; 27.9ppt for 48hrs / At 18.3ppt - ok at 12 hrs, "scarcely damaged" at 24 hrs / ok at 27.9ppt for 48 hrs / Vaughan 1914
Poritidae / Porites asteroides / 32-35, Florida / 6, 12, 24 hrs;48 hrs / 18.3ppt for <24 hrs; 27.9ppt for 48hrs / At 18.3ppt - ok at all time points / ok at 27.9ppt for 48 hrs / Vaughan 1914
Pocilloporidae / Stylophora pistillata / 35, GBR Lizard Island / 7 hrs / 30 ppt / No change in zoox density, pigment, or expulsion rate / All colonies dead after 36 hrs at 23ppt / Hoegh-Guldberg and Smith 1989
Pocilloporidae / Seriatopora hystrix / 35, GBR Lizard Island / 8 hrs / 30 ppt / No change in zoox density, pigment, or expulsion rate / All colonies dead after 36 hrs at 23ppt / Hoegh-Guldberg and Smith 1989
Pocilloporidae / Pocillopora meandrina / 35, Hawaii / 31, 49, 70, 100 hrs, 7d, 30d, 4mo / 23 ppt; 26 ppt / 23ppt - dead after 31hrs; 26ppt - not recorded / At 17 ppt - dead after 23h / Edmondson 1928
Pocilloporidae / Pocillopora ligulata / 35, Hawaii / 31, 49, 70, 100 hrs, 7d, 30d, 4mo / 23 ppt; 26 ppt / 23ppt - dead after 31hrs; same at 26ppt / At 17 ppt - dead after 23h / Edmondson 1928
Pocilloporidae / Pocillopora cespitosa / 35, Hawaii / 31, 49, 70, 100 hrs, 7d, 30d, 4mo / 23 ppt; 26 ppt / 23ppt - dead after 49hrs; same at 26ppt / At 17 ppt - dead after 39h / Edmondson 1928
Poritidae / Porites evermanni / 35, Hawaii / 31, 49, 70, 100 hrs, 7d, 30d, 4mo / 23 ppt; 26 ppt / 23ppt - dead after 31hrs; same at 26ppt / At 17 ppt - dead after 26h / Edmondson 1928
Poritidae / Porites lobata / 35, Hawaii / 31, 49, 70, 100 hrs, 7d, 30d, 4mo / 23 ppt; 26 ppt / 23ppt - dead after 31hrs; same at 26ppt / At 17 ppt - dead after 23h / Edmondson 1928
Poritidae / Porites compressa / 35, Hawaii / 31, 49, 70, 100 hrs, 7d, 30d, 4mo / 23 ppt; 26 ppt / 23ppt - dead after 31hrs; 26ppt - dead after 70 hrs / At 17 ppt - dead after 23h / Edmondson 1928
Acroporidae / Montipora verrucosa / 35, Hawaii / 31, 49, 70, 100 hrs, 7d, 30d, 4mo / 23 ppt; 26 ppt / 23ppt - dead after 31hrs; 26ppt - dead after 70 hrs / At 17 ppt - dead after 26h / Edmondson 1928
Acroporidae / Montipora flabellata / 35, Hawaii / 31, 49, 70, 100 hrs, 7d, 30d, 4mo / 23 ppt; 26 ppt / 23ppt - ok after 7 d, dead after 30 d; 26ppt - ok after 30d, dead after 55d / At 17 ppt - dead after 39h / Edmondson 1928
Acroporidae / Montipora verilli / 35, Hawaii / 31, 49, 70, 100 hrs, 7d, 30d, 4mo / 23 ppt; 26 ppt / 23ppt - ok after 100 h, dead after 7 d; at 26ppt dead after 100h / At 17 ppt - dead after 23h / Edmondson 1928
Acroporidae / Montipora patula / 35, Hawaii / 31, 49, 70, 100 hrs, 7d, 30d, 4mo / 23 ppt; 26 ppt / 23ppt - dead after 49hrs; 26ppt - dead after 31h / At 17 ppt - dead after 26h / Edmondson 1928
Siderastreidae / Stephanaria stellata (Psammocora stellata) / 35, Hawaii / 31, 49, 70, 100 hrs, 7d, 30d, 4mo / 23 ppt; 26 ppt / 23ppt - ok after 4 mo; same at 26ppt / At 17 ppt - ok at 5d, dead after 6d / Edmondson 1928
Faviidae / Cyphastrea ocellina / 35, Hawaii / 31, 49, 70, 100 hrs, 7d, 30d, 4mo / 23 ppt; 26 ppt / 23ppt - ok after 70 h, dead after 100 h; 26ppt - ok after 100h, dead after 7d / At 17 ppt - dead after 23h / Edmondson 1928
Agariciidae / Pavona varians / 35, Hawaii / 31, 49, 70, 100 hrs, 7d, 30d, 4mo / 23 ppt; 26 ppt / 23ppt - ok after 4 mo; same at 26ppt / At 17 ppt - dead after 39h / Edmondson 1928
Faviidae / Favia hawaiiensis (Leptoseris hawaiiensis) / 35, Hawaii / 31, 49, 70, 100 hrs, 7d, 30d, 4mo / 23 ppt; 26 ppt / 23ppt - ok after 4 mo; same at 26ppt / At 17 ppt - ok at 5d, dead after 6d / Edmondson 1928
Faviidae / Leptastrea agassizi (Cyphastrea agassizi) / 35, Hawaii / 31, 49, 70, 100 hrs, 7d, 30d, 4mo / 23 ppt; 26 ppt / 23ppt - ok after 4 mo; same at 26ppt / At 17 ppt - ok at 39h, dead after 53h / Edmondson 1928
Fungiidae / Fungia scutaria / 35, Hawaii / 31, 49, 70, 100 hrs, 7d, 30d, 4mo / 23 ppt; 26 ppt / 23ppt - ok after 4 mo; same at 26ppt / At 17 ppt - dead after 30h / Edmondson 1928
Pocilloporidae / Stylophora pistillata / 37, Heron Is / 12hrs / 37, 33.5, 29.5, 26, 22, 18.5 ppt / After 6 days recovery from stress, all colonies PAM'd ok, but bleaching in colonies at treatment <29.5ppt / Bleaching in light and dark treatments NS / Kerswell and Jones 2003
Pocilloporidae / Stylophora pistillata / 37, Heron Is / 12d / 37,33.5, 29.5, 26, 20.5 ppt / Zoox density ok at 33.5ppt, slightly lower at 29.5 ppt but NS. However 90% decline at 26ppt / 20.5ppt treatment not PAM'd but rest PAM'd ok throughout, although colonies at 26 ppt were slightly lower / Kerswell and Jones 2003
Alcyoniidae / Sarcophyton sp / 31-35, Thailand / 12d / 20, 30 ppt / ok at 30 ppt, at 20ppt bleaching commenced after 4 days and colonies completely bleached. / Chavanich et al 2009
Plexauridae / Eunicea calyculata / 31-35, Florida / 1- 7d / 36 -25ppt / > 31ppt optimal, 31 - 26.5 ppt marginal / Marginal=sub-lethal effects noticeable / Goldberg 1973
Gorgonidae / Gorgonia ventalina / 31-35, Florida / 1- 7d / 36 -25ppt / > 29.5ppt optimal, 29.5 - 26.5 ppt marginal / Marginal=sub-lethal effects noticeable / Goldberg 1973
Plexauridae / Muricea muricata / 31-35, Florida / 1- 7d / 36 -25ppt / > 30ppt optimal, 30 - 25 ppt marginal / Marginal=sub-lethal effects noticeable / Goldberg 1973
Plexauridae / Plexaura flexuosa / 31-35, Florida / 1- 7d / 36 -25ppt / > 31.5ppt optimal, 31.5 - 28.5 ppt marginal / Marginal=sub-lethal effects noticeable / Goldberg 1973
Gorgonidae / Psuedopterogorgia americana / 31-35, Florida / 1- 7d / 36 -25ppt / > 30ppt optimal, 30 - 28 ppt marginal / Marginal=sub-lethal effects noticeable / Goldberg 1973
Gorgonidae / Psuedopterogorgia rigida / 31-35, Florida / 1- 7d / 36 -25ppt / > 30.5ppt optimal, 30.5 - 28.5 ppt marginal / Marginal=sub-lethal effects noticeable / Goldberg 1973
Poritidae / Porites lutea / 30-35, Thailand / 1hr / 10, 20, 30 ppt / 25% decline in P/R ratio at 20ppt and 52% decline in P/R ratio at 10ppt c.f. 30ppt. / Nyström et al 1997
Pocilloporidae / Pocillopora damicornis / 30-35, Thailand / 1hr / 10, 20, 30 ppt / 40% decline in P/R ratio at 20ppt and 74% decline in P/R ratio at 10ppt c.f. 30ppt. / P. damicornis is more sensitive to salinity than Porites / Nyström et al 1997
Poritidae / Porites cylindrica / 33-35, Japan / 24, 48hrs / 18, 19, 21, 24, 27, 33 ppt / No mortality after 48hrs at 27 ppt and another 2 days recovery. At 24ppt 4% mortality after the recovery phase and at 21 ppt 98% mortality. / Rapid increase in rate of mucus sheet formation (sign of stress) at 27 ppt / Kato, 1987
Dendrophylliidae / Turbinaria mesenterina / 30, Vietnam / 1, 24 hrs / 30, 20ppt / At 20ppt with ambient temp and low nutrients, no effect on P/R ratio, respiration or gross production rate. Some effect of nutrients with low salinity but most effect if combined with high temps. / All corals dead within 24hrs in the high temp, high nutrient and low salinity treatment. / Faxneld et al. 2010
Pocilloporidae / Pocillopora damicornis / 35, Hawaii / 0.5, 1, 2.5 and 12 min, then return to normal seawater / 0 ppt / With 0.5min exposure, recovery after 24 hr; with 1min exposure, no recovery / Planulae experiments / Edmondson 1946