Data from: Energy acquisition and allocation strategies in scleractinian corals: Insights from intraspecific trait variability

Scleractinian species consist of physiologically heterogeneous individuals
that can opportunistically use different resources. Yet, intraspecific
variability has often been overlooked in trait-based ecology, assuming
uniformity among conspecifics. This study assessed individual
contributions to physiological proxies in energy acquisition and
allocation of seven scleractinian species collected from various latitudes
and depths and characterised collective strategies (i.e. groups of
individuals with similar physiological performance). An individual
trait-based approach using 15 skeletal, isotopic, and organismal traits
was used to describe and compare variation within and between species
physiological niches. The effect of temperature and light on the observed
variation was tested, and a k-means analysis was used to characterise the
optimal number of strategies among individuals. Significant differences
were observed among species with physiological niches displaying large
variation. This variation was partially attributed to the selected
environmental factors for two branching species but had a minor influence
on the variation among other species. Among all individuals, three
strategies were identified, with conspecifics exhibiting two or all three
strategies. These results demonstrated that individuals from various
species may converge in the use of their resources and that species may
stand along a gradient between two extremes: conspecifics displaying one
(specialists) or several strategies (generalists). This methodology, which
focuses on intraspecific variability, provides valuable insights into
resource use and a tool for future investigations on individual
performances in populations. Furthermore, this approach can be extended to
other benthic taxa, allowing for a comprehensive assessment of ecosystem
processes and ongoing changes in Anthropocene coral reefs.