Abstract. Understanding the response of marine organisms to expected future warming is
essential. Large benthic foraminifera (LBF) are symbiont-bearing protists
considered to be major carbonate producers and ecosystem engineers. We
examined the thermal tolerance of two main types of LBF holobionts
characterized by different algal symbionts and shell types (resulting from
alternative biomineralization mechanisms): the hyaline diatom-bearing
Amphistegina lobifera and the porcellaneous-dinoflagellate-bearing Sorites orbiculus. In order to assess the
holobiont thermal tolerance we separately evaluated foraminiferal
calcification rates and symbionts' net photosynthesis under present-day and
future warming scenarios. Our results show that both holobionts exhibit
progressive loss-of-life functions between 32 and
35 ∘C. This sensitivity differs in the magnitude of their
response: calcification of A. lobifera was drastically reduced compared with S. orbiculus. Thus,
future warming may significantly shift the relative contribution of the two
species as carbonate producers. Moreover, A. lobifera exhibited a synchronous response
of calcification and net photosynthesis. In contrast, in S. orbiculus the symbionts
decreased net photosynthesis prior to calcification. This implies that algal
symbionts limit the resilience of the halobiont.