Coral-associated denitrification is seasonally variable and species-specific.

Coral-associated denitrification varies seasonally and species-specifically, with rates up to 2.0 nmol N cm−2 h−1 in Dendrophylliidae indet corals.

• Why it matters: Understanding denitrification in corals is crucial because excess nitrogen disrupts coral-algal symbiosis, yet its regulation and variability remain poorly quantified, especially under changing environmental conditions.
• What they did: Researchers measured denitrification over a year in four Red Sea coral species using acetylene inhibition assays, alongside environmental and physiological data, revealing seasonal patterns and environmental drivers.
• The result: Findings show denitrification is higher in warmer seasons and in heterotrophic corals, driven by temperature, DOC, and nitrate, which underscores its vulnerability to environmental change and its role in nitrogen regulation.