Table S1 The wet weight and surface area of four Acropora downingi nubbins from coral patches at Hengam Island. Surface areas were assessed using the foil wrapping technique (Marsh 1970)

Wet weight (g) / Surface area (cm2)
1 / 5.12937 / 42.71282051
2 / 9.22867 / 76.25384615
3 / 5.5466 / 58.7025641
4 / 12.9478 / 87.35897436

Table S2 Monthly composite Aqua MODIS surface photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) of the grid closest to the study site at Hengam Island(26.64°N, 55.93°E) for the time period April 2014 to March 2015 (data from NOAA coast watch online data source: http://coastwatch.pfeg.noaa.gov/erddap) and monthly mean underwater PAR estimated using Kz

Season / Month / Monthly composite surface PAR
(mol photon m-2 d-1) / Mean seasonal surface PAR / Estimated monthly mean underwater PAR
Spring / Apr-14 / 52.85 / 57 / 7.15
May-14 / 57.63 / 7.80
Jun-14 / 59.30 / 8.03
Summer / Jul-14 / 57.63 / 54 / 7.80
Aug-14 / 54.35 / 7.36
Sep-14 / 49.04 / 6.64
Fall / Oct-14 / 42.30 / 35 / 5.72
Nov-14 / 32.23 / 4.36
Dec-14 / 29.70 / 4.02
Winter / Jan-15 / 30.97 / 35 / 4.19
Feb-15 / 37.20 / 5.04
Mar-15 / 36.87 / 4.99

ESM Table S4Data used for the estimation ofKz. Monthly composite Aqua MODIS surface PAR data of the grid closest to Hengam Island(26.64°N, 55.93°E) were downloaded from NOAA coastwatch online data source: http://coastwatch.pfeg.noaa.gov/erddap. Underwater PAR data were obtained by converting light intensity data previously collected at our study site (data were recorded using HOBO pendant temperature/light loggers at time periods of 27 June–5 July, 21 and 26 August, 9–10 September 2012, 7–12 and 14–24 January 2013; ESM Table S3) to underwater PAR (µmol photon m-2 s-1) using the following approximation: 1 µmol photon m-2 s-1= 51.2 lux (Valiela 1984).(See materials and methods for detailed description of the estimation procedure)

Month / Monthly composite surface PAR (mol photon m-2 d-1) / Mean surface PAR over the period / Mean underwater PAR over the period
Jun-12 / 58.646362 / 54.7113125 / 7.437899541
Jul-12 / 57.11958
Aug-12 / 54.38633
Sep-12 / 48.692978
Jan-13 / 31.566711 / 31.566711 / 4.121886146

ESM Table S5Environmental data collected by fieldsamplingin twosites located onHengam Island’s coral patches, N: 26.66726°N, 055.91325°E and S: 26.65875°N, 055.91652°E.D&T: date and approximate time of field sampling.Procedures of sampling and analyses are described inmaterials and methods

Sites (N&S),
days (1-4) / Ωarag
Aug-12 / Sep-12 / Jan-13 / Mar-13 / Mar-14 / D&T / Jun-14 / D&T / Aug-14 / D&T / Oct-14 / D&T / Jan-15 / D&T / Apr-15 / D&T
N1 / 4.39 / 4.51 / 3.13 / 3.22 / 3.286 / 3/7/14 11:17 / 4.175 / 6/25/14 10:37 / 4.576 / 8/15/14 13:00 / 4.257 / 10/4/14 13:28 / 3.406 / 1/14/15 17:16 / 3.315 / 4/19/15 11:55
S1 / 4.44 / 4.75 / 2.93 / 3.35 / 3.164 / 3/7/14 12:48 / 4.226 / 6/25/14 14:13 / 4.994 / 8/15/14 12:30 / 4.421 / 10/4/14 12:53 / 3.38 / 1/14/15 16:05 / 3.302 / 4/19/15 11:32
N2 / 4.73 / 4.73 / 3.12 / 3.21 / 3.464 / 3/8/14 14:48 / 4.503 / 6/26/14 15:53 / 4.999 / 8/16/14 13:00 / 4.264 / 10/5/14 11:57 / 3.652 / 1/15/15 14:10 / 3.246 / 4/20/15 11:56
S2 / 5.02 / 4.85 / 2.93 / 3.56 / 3.181 / 3/8/14 10:52 / 4.154 / 6/26/14 14:01 / 4.938 / 8/16/14 12:30 / 4.184 / 10/5/14 11:27 / 3.362 / 1/15/15 13:31 / 3.201 / 4/20/15 11:30
N3 / 4.76 / 4.44 / 3.09 / 3.33 / 3.425 / 3/9/14 12:11 / 4.121 / 6/27/14 12:41 / 4.145 / 10/6/14 12:36 / 3.25 / 1/16/15 11:36
S3 / 4.68 / 2.88 / 3.35 / 3.915 / 3/9/14 15:42 / 4.345 / 6/27/14 11:45 / 4.179 / 10/6/14 12:06 / 3.159 / 1/16/15 11:07
N4 / 4.66 / 3.623 / 3/10/14 10:53 / 4.49 / 6/28/14 12:30 / 3.901 / 10/7/14 14:36
S4 / 4.46 / 4.041 / 3/10/14 11:41 / 4.484 / 6/28/14 11:59 / 4.154 / 10/7/14 14:10
Mean / 4.6425 / 4.656 / 3.01 / 3.34 / 3.512375 / 4.31225 / 4.87675 / 4.188125 / 3.368167 / 3.266
SD / 0.20831 / 0.173147 / 0.112288 / 0.125188 / 0.326493 / 0.163203 / 0.202398 / 0.14653 / 0.167263 / 0.052669
Total alkalinity (mmol kgH2O-1)
Aug-12 / Sep-12 / Jan-13 / Mar-13 / Mar-14 / Jun-14 / Aug-14 / Oct-14 / Jan-15 / Apr-15
N1 / 2435.104 / 2427.9 / 2444.726 / 2427 / 2412.655 / 2475.243 / 2463.488 / 2457.768 / 2418.63 / 2441.933
S1 / 2429.928 / 2433.766 / 2453.272 / 2414 / 2411.627 / 2474.245 / 2459.693 / 2443.598 / 2423.645 / 2439.735
N2 / 2430.408 / 2433.579 / 2436.13 / 2427 / 2410.988 / 2477.474 / 2459.783 / 2451.155 / 2423.526 / 2437.38
S2 / 2435.897 / 2434.234 / 2458.761 / 2435 / 2412.694 / 2475.491 / 2457.93 / 2443.75 / 2423.322 / 2429.149
N3 / 2446.917 / 2429.96 / 2456.21 / 2425 / 2403.847 / 2479.976 / 2451.988 / 2427.301
S3 / 2441.385 / 2457.736 / 2424 / 2411.734 / 2479.084 / 2445.394 / 2426.474
N4 / 2435.348 / 2413.733 / 2460.228 / 2452.505
S4 / 2436.278 / 2410.645 / 2461.767 / 2444.792
Mean / 2436.408 / 2431.888 / 2451.139 / 2425.333 / 2410.991 / 2472.939 / 2460.224 / 2449.451 / 2423.285 / 2437.049
SD / 5.558838 / 2.806849 / 8.924875 / 6.772493 / 3.054444 / 7.632346 / 2.337834 / 5.339341 / 3.081679 / 5.585122
Salinity (ppt)
Aug-12 / Sep-12 / Jan-13 / Mar-13 / Mar-14 / Jun-14 / Aug-4 / Oct-14 / Jan-15 / Apr-15
N1 / 37 / 37 / 37 / 37 / 36.6 / 38 / 37.2 / 37 / 36.9 / 36.6
S1 / 37.9 / 37.2 / 37 / 37 / 36.7
N2 / 37.2 / 37.1 / 36.6 / 36.9 / 36.7
S2 / 37.9 / 37.3 / 36.9 / 37 / 36.7
N3 / 38.2 / 36.7 / 36.8
S3 / 38 / 37.1 / 36.8
N4 / 37.3 / 36.7
S4 / 37.3 / 36.8
pH NBS scale (mol kgH2O-1)
Aug-12 / Sep-12 / Jan-13 / Mar-13 / Mar-14 / Jun-14 / Aug-14 / Oct-14 / Jan-15 / Apr-15
N1 / 8.16 / 8.19 / 8.14 / 8.124 / 8.144 / 8.162 / 8.192 / 8.159 / 8.169286 / 8.115
S1 / 8.167 / 8.22 / 8.1 / 8.147 / 8.124 / 8.164 / 8.247 / 8.182 / 8.179 / 8.10975
N2 / 8.206 / 8.22 / 8.14 / 8.134333 / 8.181 / 8.2 / 8.248 / 8.1652 / 8.164 / 8.105533
S2 / 8.242 / 8.23 / 8.1 / 8.1764 / 8.13 / 8.155 / 8.24 / 8.156 / 8.210667 / 8.103571
N3 / 8.206 / 8.18 / 8.13 / 8.1518 / 8.178 / 8.152 / 8.1478 / 8.14775
S3 / 8.197 / 8.09 / 8.148333 / 8.25 / 8.172 / 8.1508 / 8.1375
N4 / 8.195 / 8.199 / 8.2 / 8.119
S4 / 8.257 / 8.193 / 8.1505
Mean / 8.196143 / 8.208 / 8.116667 / 8.146978 / 8.182875 / 8.17475 / 8.23175 / 8.153788 / 8.168034 / 8.108464
SD / 0.027248 / 0.021679 / 0.022509 / 0.017769 / 0.050795 / 0.020005 / 0.026738 / 0.017825 / 0.025688 / 0.005063
Underwater temperature (°C)
Aug-12 / Sep-12 / Jan-13 / Mar-13 / Mar-14 / Jun-14 / Aug-14 / Oct-14 / Jan-15 / Apr-15
N1 / 33 / 32.2 / 21.9 / 24.1 / 23.95385 / 30.02143 / 32 / 31.50 / 23.4 / 25.655
S1 / 33 / 32.2 / 22 / 24.3 / 23.91667 / 30.4 / 32 / 31.70 / 22.4 / 25.85
N2 / 33 / 32.1 / 21.9 / 23.4 / 23.5 / 30.65385 / 32 / 31.40 / 22.58333 / 25.55333
S2 / 33 / 32.4 / 22 / 24.2 / 23.7 / 30.30714 / 32 / 31.30 / 23.16667 / 25.31429
N3 / 33 / 32.2 / 21.9 / 23.6 / 23.39375 / 30.05 / 31.40 / 23.025
S3 / 33 / 22 / 24 / 23.55 / 30.83 / 31.50 / 22.7
N4 / 33 / 23.91818 / 30.8 / 31.00
S4 / 33 / 24.3 / 31.1625 / 31.40
Mean / 33.00 / 32.22 / 21.95 / 23.93 / 23.78 / 30.53 / 32.00 / 31.40 / 22.88 / 25.59

ESM Table S6Mean monthly underwater temperatures and Ωaragat 4 m depth on coral patches at Hengam Island (see materials and methods for details)

Date / Monthly mean underwater temperature (°C) / Mean Ωarag
Jul-12 / 32.58006255 / -
Aug-12 / 32.98281109 / 4.64
Sep-12 / 31.91639457 / 4.65
Oct-12 / 29.77550493 / -
Nov-12 / 27.48843796 / -
Dec-12 / 24.86607874 / -
Jan-13 / 22.78506874 / 3.01
Feb-13 / 23.00506994 / -
Mar-13 / - / 3.33
Apr-13 / - / -
May-13 / - / -
Jun-13 / - / -
Jul-13 / 32.63321841 / -
Aug-13 / 31.87367932 / -
Sep-13 / 31.34173623 / -
Oct-13 / - / -
Nov-13 / - / -
Dec-13 / - / -
Jan-14 / - / -
Feb-14 / 21.5465687 / -
Mar-14 / 23.11490255 / 3.512375
Apr-14 / 25.04159606 / -
May-14 / 27.22109901 / -
Jun-14 / 29.20010269 / 4.31225
Jul-14 / 32.85903114 / -
Aug-14 / 32.78067899 / 4.87675
Sep-14 / 32.22506134 / -
Oct-14 / 30.10440374 / 4.188125
Nov-14 / 26.92532685 / -
Dec-14 / 24.57909409 / -
Jan-15 / 24.57909409 / 3.368166667
Feb-15 / 23.47645509 / -
Mar-15 / 23.22748934 / -
Apr-15 / 23.05978226 / 3.266

-: no data

ESM Table S7 Initial and final weights, estimated initial surface areas and calcification rates of Acropora downingi transplants at coral patches at Hengam Island in four successive seasons

Season / Initial weight (g) / Duration (d) / Final weight (g) / Weight increment
(g d-1) / Initial Surface Area (cm2) / Calcification rate (mg cm-2 d-1)
Spring 2014 / 4.43 / 104 / 12.41 / 0.076730769 / 44.36245076 / 1.729633235
Spring 2014 / 4.89 / 104 / 15.05 / 0.097692308 / 47.40289594 / 2.060893238
Spring 2014 / 4.98 / 104 / 16.44 / 0.110192308 / 47.98654907 / 2.296316568
Spring 2014 / 4.97 / 104 / 13.12 / 0.078365385 / 47.92187112 / 1.63527389
Spring 2014 / 5.08 / 104 / 15.58 / 0.100961538 / 48.63099786 / 2.076073758
Spring 2014 / 4.82 / 104 / 12.89 / 0.077596154 / 46.94649706 / 1.652863551
Spring 2014 / 4.36 / 104 / 14.77 / 0.100096154 / 43.89085735 / 2.280569574
Summer 2014 / 6.88 / 103 / 13.8 / 0.067184466 / 59.60744024 / 1.127115436
Summer 2014 / 5.95 / 103 / 14.05 / 0.078640777 / 54.07288158 / 1.454347806
Summer 2014 / 6.57 / 103 / 12.23 / 0.054951456 / 57.79163654 / 0.950854823
Summer 2014 / 6.04 / 103 / 12.32 / 0.060970874 / 54.62034209 / 1.116266787
Summer 2014 / 5.7 / 103 / 12.68 / 0.06776699 / 52.53765184 / 1.289874745
Summer 2014 / 5.61 / 103 / 11.31 / 0.055339806 / 51.97957328 / 1.064645251
Summer 2014 / 6.02 / 103 / 11.98 / 0.057864078 / 54.49891744 / 1.061747286
Summer 2014 / 6.1 / 103 / 13.25 / 0.069417476 / 54.98382508 / 1.262507212
Fall 2014 / 6.06 / 99 / 11.4 / 0.053939394 / 54.74163452 / 0.985344965
Fall 2014 / 4.24 / 99 / 9.41 / 0.052222222 / 43.07657047 / 1.212311511
Fall 2014 / 6.43 / 99 / 11.99 / 0.056161616 / 56.96238868 / 0.985942083
Fall 2014 / 4.36 / 99 / 7.67 / 0.033434343 / 43.89085735 / 0.761761001
Fall 2014 / 6.47 / 99 / 16.3 / 0.099292929 / 57.19991749 / 1.735892876
Fall 2014 / 6.84 / 99 / 13.11 / 0.063333333 / 59.37467894 / 1.066672435
Fall 2014 / 5.23 / 99 / 8.67 / 0.034747475 / 49.58990351 / 0.700696559
Fall 2014 / 5.05 / 99 / 9.26 / 0.042525253 / 48.43810505 / 0.877929731
Fall 2014 / 4.6 / 99 / 13.97 / 0.094646465 / 45.49766776 / 2.080248709
Fall 2014 / 4.34 / 99 / 9.45 / 0.051616162 / 43.75565995 / 1.179645369
Winter 2015 / 5.43 / 97 / 8.86 / 0.035360825 / 50.85449145 / 0.695333367
Winter 2015 / 5.49 / 97 / 8.81 / 0.034226804 / 51.23086316 / 0.668089546
Winter 2015 / 4.57 / 97 / 7.17 / 0.026804124 / 45.29835179 / 0.59172404
Winter 2015 / 4.92 / 97 / 8.09 / 0.032680412 / 47.59783662 / 0.68659449
Winter 2015 / 5.3 / 97 / 7.48 / 0.022474227 / 50.03428966 / 0.449176494
Winter 2015 / 4.96 / 97 / 10.19 / 0.053917526 / 47.85715034 / 1.126634691
Winter 2015 / 4.69 / 97 / 10.53 / 0.060206186 / 46.09306708 / 1.306187446
Winter 2015 / 4.22 / 97 / 7.06 / 0.029278351 / 42.94012305 / 0.681841328
Winter 2015 / 5.71 / 97 / 9.04 / 0.034329897 / 52.59948096 / 0.652666077

References

Marsh JA (1970) Primary productivity of reef-building calcareous red algae. Ecology 51:255–263

Valiela I (1984) Marine ecological processes, 2nd edn. Springer-Verlag, New York, p 686