1
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Johnston EC, Caruso C, Mujica E, Walker NS, Drury C. Complex parental effects impact variation in larval thermal tolerance in a vertically transmitting coral. Heredity (Edinb) 2024; 132:275-283. [PMID: 38538721 PMCID: PMC11167003 DOI: 10.1038/s41437-024-00681-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Revised: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Coral populations must be able to adapt to changing environmental conditions for coral reefs to persist under climate change. The adaptive potential of these organisms is difficult to forecast due to complex interactions between the host animal, dinoflagellate symbionts and the environment. Here we created 26 larval families from six Montipora capitata colonies from a single reef, showing significant, heritable variation in thermal tolerance. Our results indicate that 9.1% of larvae are expected to exhibit four times the thermal tolerance of the general population. Differences in larval thermotolerance were driven mainly by maternal contributions, but we found no evidence that these effects were driven by symbiont identity despite vertical transmission from the dam. We also document no evidence of reproductive incompatibility attributable to symbiont identity. These data demonstrate significant genetic variation within this population which provides the raw material upon which natural selection can act.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erika C Johnston
- Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawai'i, Kāne'ohe, HI, USA.
| | - Carlo Caruso
- Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawai'i, Kāne'ohe, HI, USA
| | - Elena Mujica
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Nia S Walker
- Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawai'i, Kāne'ohe, HI, USA
| | - Crawford Drury
- Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawai'i, Kāne'ohe, HI, USA
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2
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Chen JZ, Kwong Z, Gerardo NM, Vega NM. Ecological drift during colonization drives within-host and between-host heterogeneity in an animal-associated symbiont. PLoS Biol 2024; 22:e3002304. [PMID: 38662791 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Revised: 05/07/2024] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Specialized host-microbe symbioses canonically show greater diversity than expected from simple models, both at the population level and within individual hosts. To understand how this heterogeneity arises, we utilize the squash bug, Anasa tristis, and its bacterial symbionts in the genus Caballeronia. We modulate symbiont bottleneck size and inoculum composition during colonization to demonstrate the significance of ecological drift, the noisy fluctuations in community composition due to demographic stochasticity. Consistent with predictions from the neutral theory of biodiversity, we found that ecological drift alone can account for heterogeneity in symbiont community composition between hosts, even when 2 strains are nearly genetically identical. When acting on competing strains, ecological drift can maintain symbiont genetic diversity among different hosts by stochastically determining the dominant strain within each host. Finally, ecological drift mediates heterogeneity in isogenic symbiont populations even within a single host, along a consistent gradient running the anterior-posterior axis of the symbiotic organ. Our results demonstrate that symbiont population structure across scales does not necessarily require host-mediated selection, as it can emerge as a result of ecological drift acting on both isogenic and unrelated competitors. Our findings illuminate the processes that might affect symbiont transmission, coinfection, and population structure in nature, which can drive the evolution of host-microbe symbioses and microbe-microbe interactions within host-associated microbiomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason Z Chen
- Department of Biology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Zeeyong Kwong
- Laboratory of Bacteriology, National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Hamilton, Montana, United States of America
| | - Nicole M Gerardo
- Department of Biology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Nic M Vega
- Department of Biology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
- Department of Physics, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
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3
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Breusing C, Xiao Y, Russell SL, Corbett-Detig RB, Li S, Sun J, Chen C, Lan Y, Qian PY, Beinart RA. Ecological differences among hydrothermal vent symbioses may drive contrasting patterns of symbiont population differentiation. mSystems 2023; 8:e0028423. [PMID: 37493648 PMCID: PMC10469979 DOI: 10.1128/msystems.00284-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The intra-host composition of horizontally transmitted microbial symbionts can vary across host populations due to interactive effects of host genetics, environmental, and geographic factors. While adaptation to local habitat conditions can drive geographic subdivision of symbiont strains, it is unknown how differences in ecological characteristics among host-symbiont associations influence the genomic structure of symbiont populations. To address this question, we sequenced metagenomes of different populations of the deep-sea mussel Bathymodiolus septemdierum, which are common at Western Pacific deep-sea hydrothermal vents and show characteristic patterns of niche partitioning with sympatric gastropod symbioses. Bathymodiolus septemdierum lives in close symbiotic relationship with sulfur-oxidizing chemosynthetic bacteria but supplements its symbiotrophic diet through filter-feeding, enabling it to occupy ecological niches with little exposure to geochemical reductants. Our analyses indicate that symbiont populations associated with B. septemdierum show structuring by geographic location, but that the dominant symbiont strain is uncorrelated with vent site. These patterns are in contrast to co-occurring Alviniconcha and Ifremeria gastropod symbioses that exhibit greater symbiont nutritional dependence and occupy habitats with higher spatial variability in environmental conditions. Our results suggest that relative habitat homogeneity combined with sufficient symbiont dispersal and genomic mixing might promote persistence of similar symbiont strains across geographic locations, while mixotrophy might decrease selective pressures on the host to affiliate with locally adapted symbiont strains. Overall, these data contribute to our understanding of the potential mechanisms influencing symbiont population structure across a spectrum of marine microbial symbioses that occupy contrasting ecological niches. IMPORTANCE Beneficial relationships between animals and microbial organisms (symbionts) are ubiquitous in nature. In the ocean, microbial symbionts are typically acquired from the environment and their composition across geographic locations is often shaped by adaptation to local habitat conditions. However, it is currently unknown how generalizable these patterns are across symbiotic systems that have contrasting ecological characteristics. To address this question, we compared symbiont population structure between deep-sea hydrothermal vent mussels and co-occurring but ecologically distinct snail species. Our analyses show that mussel symbiont populations are less partitioned by geography and do not demonstrate evidence for environmental adaptation. We posit that the mussel's mixotrophic feeding mode may lower its need to affiliate with locally adapted symbiont strains, while microhabitat stability and symbiont genomic mixing likely favors persistence of symbiont strains across geographic locations. Altogether, these findings further our understanding of the mechanisms shaping symbiont population structure in marine environmentally transmitted symbioses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Corinna Breusing
- Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island, Narragansett, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Yao Xiao
- Department of Ocean Science, Division of Life Science and Hong Kong Branch of the Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, China
- The Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Nansha, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shelbi L. Russell
- Department of Biomolecular Engineering, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California, USA
| | - Russell B. Corbett-Detig
- Department of Biomolecular Engineering, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California, USA
| | - Sixuan Li
- Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island, Narragansett, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Jin Sun
- Institute of Evolution & Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Chong Chen
- X-STAR, Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC), Yokosuka, Japan
| | - Yi Lan
- Department of Ocean Science, Division of Life Science and Hong Kong Branch of the Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, China
- The Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Nansha, Guangzhou, China
| | - Pei-Yuan Qian
- Department of Ocean Science, Division of Life Science and Hong Kong Branch of the Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, China
- The Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Nansha, Guangzhou, China
| | - Roxanne A. Beinart
- Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island, Narragansett, Rhode Island, USA
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4
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Davies SW, Gamache MH, Howe-Kerr LI, Kriefall NG, Baker AC, Banaszak AT, Bay LK, Bellantuono AJ, Bhattacharya D, Chan CX, Claar DC, Coffroth MA, Cunning R, Davy SK, del Campo J, Díaz-Almeyda EM, Frommlet JC, Fuess LE, González-Pech RA, Goulet TL, Hoadley KD, Howells EJ, Hume BCC, Kemp DW, Kenkel CD, Kitchen SA, LaJeunesse TC, Lin S, McIlroy SE, McMinds R, Nitschke MR, Oakley CA, Peixoto RS, Prada C, Putnam HM, Quigley K, Reich HG, Reimer JD, Rodriguez-Lanetty M, Rosales SM, Saad OS, Sampayo EM, Santos SR, Shoguchi E, Smith EG, Stat M, Stephens TG, Strader ME, Suggett DJ, Swain TD, Tran C, Traylor-Knowles N, Voolstra CR, Warner ME, Weis VM, Wright RM, Xiang T, Yamashita H, Ziegler M, Correa AMS, Parkinson JE. Building consensus around the assessment and interpretation of Symbiodiniaceae diversity. PeerJ 2023; 11:e15023. [PMID: 37151292 PMCID: PMC10162043 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.15023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Within microeukaryotes, genetic variation and functional variation sometimes accumulate more quickly than morphological differences. To understand the evolutionary history and ecology of such lineages, it is key to examine diversity at multiple levels of organization. In the dinoflagellate family Symbiodiniaceae, which can form endosymbioses with cnidarians (e.g., corals, octocorals, sea anemones, jellyfish), other marine invertebrates (e.g., sponges, molluscs, flatworms), and protists (e.g., foraminifera), molecular data have been used extensively over the past three decades to describe phenotypes and to make evolutionary and ecological inferences. Despite advances in Symbiodiniaceae genomics, a lack of consensus among researchers with respect to interpreting genetic data has slowed progress in the field and acted as a barrier to reconciling observations. Here, we identify key challenges regarding the assessment and interpretation of Symbiodiniaceae genetic diversity across three levels: species, populations, and communities. We summarize areas of agreement and highlight techniques and approaches that are broadly accepted. In areas where debate remains, we identify unresolved issues and discuss technologies and approaches that can help to fill knowledge gaps related to genetic and phenotypic diversity. We also discuss ways to stimulate progress, in particular by fostering a more inclusive and collaborative research community. We hope that this perspective will inspire and accelerate coral reef science by serving as a resource to those designing experiments, publishing research, and applying for funding related to Symbiodiniaceae and their symbiotic partnerships.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah W. Davies
- Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Matthew H. Gamache
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, United States
| | | | | | - Andrew C. Baker
- Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science, University of Miami, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Anastazia T. Banaszak
- Unidad Académica de Sistemas Arrecifales, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Puerto Morelos, Mexico
| | - Line Kolind Bay
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Australia
| | - Anthony J. Bellantuono
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Debashish Bhattacharya
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, United States
| | - Cheong Xin Chan
- Australian Centre for Ecogenomics, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Danielle C. Claar
- Nearshore Habitat Program, Washington State Department of Natural Resources, Olympia, WA, USA
| | | | - Ross Cunning
- Daniel P. Haerther Center for Conservation and Research, John G. Shedd Aquarium, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Simon K. Davy
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Javier del Campo
- Institut de Biologia Evolutiva (CSIC - Universitat Pompeu Fabra), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | | | - Jörg C. Frommlet
- Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Lauren E. Fuess
- Department of Biology, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX, United States
| | - Raúl A. González-Pech
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, United States
- Department of Biology, Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA, United States
| | - Tamar L. Goulet
- Department of Biology, University of Mississippi, University, MS, United States
| | - Kenneth D. Hoadley
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alabama—Tuscaloosa, Tuscaloosa, AL, United States
| | - Emily J. Howells
- National Marine Science Centre, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Southern Cross University, Coffs Harbour, NSW, Australia
| | | | - Dustin W. Kemp
- Department of Biology, University of Alabama—Birmingham, Birmingham, Al, United States
| | - Carly D. Kenkel
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Sheila A. Kitchen
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, United States
| | - Todd C. LaJeunesse
- Department of Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States
| | - Senjie Lin
- Department of Marine Sciences, University of Connecticut, Mansfield, CT, United States
| | - Shelby E. McIlroy
- Swire Institute of Marine Science, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
| | - Ryan McMinds
- Center for Global Health and Infectious Disease Research, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, United States
| | | | - Clinton A. Oakley
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Raquel S. Peixoto
- Red Sea Research Center (RSRC), Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Carlos Prada
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United States
| | - Hollie M. Putnam
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United States
| | | | - Hannah G. Reich
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United States
| | - James Davis Reimer
- Department of Biology, Chemistry and Marine Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Okinawa, Japan
| | | | - Stephanie M. Rosales
- The Cooperative Institute For Marine and Atmospheric Studies, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Osama S. Saad
- Department of Biological Oceanography, Red Sea University, Port-Sudan, Sudan
| | - Eugenia M. Sampayo
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Scott R. Santos
- Department of Biological Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, United States
| | - Eiichi Shoguchi
- Marine Genomics Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Edward G. Smith
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
| | - Michael Stat
- School of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
| | - Timothy G. Stephens
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, United States
| | - Marie E. Strader
- Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - David J. Suggett
- Red Sea Research Center (RSRC), Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
- Climate Change Cluster, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, Australia
| | - Timothy D. Swain
- Department of Marine and Environmental Science, Nova Southeastern University, Dania Beach, FL, United States
| | - Cawa Tran
- Department of Biology, University of San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Nikki Traylor-Knowles
- Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science, University of Miami, Miami, FL, United States
| | | | - Mark E. Warner
- School of Marine Science and Policy, University of Delaware, Lewes, DE, United States
| | - Virginia M. Weis
- Department of Integrative Biology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, United States
| | - Rachel M. Wright
- Department of Biological Sciences, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX, United States
| | - Tingting Xiang
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
| | - Hiroshi Yamashita
- Fisheries Technology Institute, Japan Fisheries Research and Education Agency, Ishigaki, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Maren Ziegler
- Department of Animal Ecology & Systematics, Justus Liebig University Giessen (Germany), Giessen, Germany
| | | | - John Everett Parkinson
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, United States
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5
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McIlroy SE, terHorst CP, Teece M, Coffroth MA. Nutrient dynamics in coral symbiosis depend on both the relative and absolute abundance of Symbiodiniaceae species. MICROBIOME 2022; 10:192. [PMID: 36336686 PMCID: PMC9639324 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-022-01382-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2022] [Accepted: 09/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Symbionts provide a variety of reproductive, nutritional, and defensive resources to their hosts, but those resources can vary depending on symbiont community composition. As genetic techniques open our eyes to the breadth of symbiont diversity within myriad microbiomes, symbiosis research has begun to consider what ecological mechanisms affect the identity and relative abundance of symbiont species and how this community structure impacts resource exchange among partners. Here, we manipulated the in hospite density and relative ratio of two species of coral endosymbionts (Symbiodinium microadriaticum and Breviolum minutum) and used stable isotope enrichment to trace nutrient exchange with the host, Briareum asbestinum. RESULTS The patterns of uptake and translocation of carbon and nitrogen varied with both density and ratio of symbionts. Once a density threshold was reached, carbon acquisition decreased with increasing proportions of S. microadriaticum. In hosts dominated by B. minutum, nitrogen uptake was density independent and intermediate. Conversely, for those corals dominated by S. microadriaticum, nitrogen uptake decreased as densities increased, and as a result, these hosts had the overall highest (at low density) and lowest (at high density) nitrogen enrichment. CONCLUSIONS Our findings show that the uptake and sharing of nutrients was strongly dependent on both the density of symbionts within the host, as well as which symbiont species was dominant. Together, these complex interactive effects suggest that host regulation and the repression of in hospite symbiont competition can ultimately lead to a more productive mutualism. Video Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shelby E McIlroy
- School of Biological Sciences, Swire Institute of Marine Science, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
- Graduate Program in Evolution, Ecology and Behaviour, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 14260, USA.
| | - Casey P terHorst
- Department of Biology, California State University, Northridge, CA, 91330, USA
| | - Mark Teece
- Department of Chemistry, State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, NY, 13210, USA
| | - Mary Alice Coffroth
- Graduate Program in Evolution, Ecology and Behaviour, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 14260, USA
- Department of Geology University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 14260, USA
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6
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Brown AL, Pfab F, Baxter EC, Detmer AR, Moeller HV, Nisbet RM, Cunning R. Analysis of a mechanistic model of corals in association with multiple symbionts: within-host competition and recovery from bleaching. CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY 2022; 10:coac066. [PMID: 36247693 PMCID: PMC9558299 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/coac066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2021] [Revised: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 09/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Coral reefs are increasingly experiencing stressful conditions, such as high temperatures, that cause corals to undergo bleaching, a process where they lose their photosynthetic algal symbionts. Bleaching threatens both corals' survival and the health of the reef ecosystems they create. One possible mechanism for corals to resist bleaching is through association with stress-tolerant symbionts, which are resistant to bleaching but may be worse partners in mild conditions. Some corals have been found to associate with multiple symbiont species simultaneously, which potentially gives them access to the benefits of both stress-sensitive and -tolerant symbionts. However, within-host competition between symbionts may lead to competitive exclusion of one partner, and the consequences of associating with multiple partners simultaneously are not well understood. We modify a mechanistic model of coral-algal symbiosis to investigate the effect of environmental conditions on within-host competitive dynamics between stress-sensitive and -tolerant symbionts and the effect of access to a tolerant symbiont on the dynamics of recovery from bleaching. We found that the addition of a tolerant symbiont can increase host survival and recovery from bleaching in high-light conditions. Competitive exclusion of the tolerant symbiont occurred slowly at intermediate light levels. Interestingly, there were some cases of post-bleaching competitive exclusion after the tolerant symbiont had helped the host recover.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Lynne Brown
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA
| | - Ferdinand Pfab
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA
| | - Ethan C Baxter
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA
| | - A Raine Detmer
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA
| | - Holly V Moeller
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA
| | - Roger M Nisbet
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA
| | - Ross Cunning
- Daniel P. Haerther Center for Conservation and Research, John G. Shedd Aquarium, Chicago, IL 60605, USA
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7
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Coffroth MA, Leigh NJ, McIlroy SE, Miller MW, Sheets HD. Genetic structure of dinoflagellate symbionts in coral recruits differs from that of parental or local adults. Ecol Evol 2022; 12:e9312. [PMID: 36188517 PMCID: PMC9484304 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.9312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Revised: 08/09/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The symbiotic relationship between dinoflagellate algae in the family Symbiodiniaceae and scleractinian corals forms the base of the tropical reef ecosystem. In scleractinian corals, recruits acquire symbionts either "vertically" from the maternal colony or initially lack symbionts and acquire them "horizontally" from the environment. Regardless of the mode of acquisition, coral species and individual colonies harbor only a subset of the highly diverse complex of species/taxa within the Symbiodiniaceae. This suggests a genetic basis for specificity, but local environmental conditions and/or symbiont availability may also play a role in determining which symbionts within the Symbiodiniaceae are initially taken up by the host. To address the relative importance of genetic and environmental drivers of symbiont uptake/establishment, we examined the acquisition of these dinoflagellate symbionts in one to three-month-old recruits of Orbicella faveolata to compare symbiont types present in recruits to those of parental populations versus co-occurring adults in their destination reef. Variation in chloroplast 23S ribosomal DNA and in three polymorphic microsatellite loci was examined. We found that, in general, symbiont communities within adult colonies differed between reefs, suggesting that endemism is common among symbiont populations of O. faveolata on a local scale. Among recruits, initial symbiont acquisition was selective. O. faveolata recruits only acquired a subset of locally available symbionts, and these generally did not reflect symbiont populations in adults at either the parental or the outplant reef. Instead, symbiont communities within new recruits at a given outplant site and region tended to be similar to each other, regardless of parental source population. These results suggest temporal variation in the local symbiont source pool, although other possible drivers behind the distinct difference between symbionts within O. faveolata adults and new generations of recruits may include different ontogenetic requirements and/or reduced host selectivity in early ontogeny.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Noel J. Leigh
- Graduate Program in Evolution, Ecology and BehaviorUniversity at BuffaloBuffaloNew YorkUSA
| | - Shelby E. McIlroy
- Graduate Program in Evolution, Ecology and BehaviorUniversity at BuffaloBuffaloNew YorkUSA
- Present address:
School of Biological Sciences, The Swire Institute of Marine ScienceThe University of Hong KongHong KongChina
| | - Margaret W. Miller
- NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science CenterMiamiFloridaUSA
- Present address:
SECORE International, Inc.MiamiFloridaUSA
| | - H. David Sheets
- Department of GeologyUniversity at BuffaloBuffaloNew YorkUSA
- Graduate Program in Data AnalyticsCanisius CollegeBuffaloNew YorkUSA
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8
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Matsuda SB, Chakravarti LJ, Cunning R, Huffmyer AS, Nelson CE, Gates RD, van Oppen MJH. Temperature-mediated acquisition of rare heterologous symbionts promotes survival of coral larvae under ocean warming. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2022; 28:2006-2025. [PMID: 34957651 PMCID: PMC9303745 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.16057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2021] [Revised: 12/04/2021] [Accepted: 12/07/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Reef-building corals form nutritional symbioses with endosymbiotic dinoflagellates (Symbiodiniaceae), a relationship that facilitates the ecological success of coral reefs. These symbionts are mostly acquired anew each generation from the environment during early life stages ("horizontal transmission"). Symbiodiniaceae species exhibit trait variation that directly impacts the health and performance of the coral host under ocean warming. Here, we test the capacity for larvae of a horizontally transmitting coral, Acropora tenuis, to establish symbioses with Symbiodiniaceae species in four genera that have varying thermal thresholds (the common symbiont genera, Cladocopium and Durusdinium, and the less common Fugacium and Gerakladium). Over a 2-week period in January 2018, a series of both no-choice and four-way choice experiments were conducted at three temperatures (27, 30, and 31°C). Symbiont acquisition success and cell proliferation were measured in individual larvae. Larvae successfully acquired and maintained symbionts of all four genera in no-choice experiments, and >80% of larvae were infected with at least three genera when offered a four-way choice. Unexpectedly, Gerakladium symbionts increased in dominance over time, and at high temperatures outcompeted Durusdinium, which is regarded as thermally tolerant. Although Fugacium displayed the highest thermal tolerance in culture and reached similar cell densities to the other three symbionts at 31°C, it remained a background symbiont in choice experiments, suggesting host preference for other symbiont species. Larval survivorship at 1 week was highest in larvae associated with Gerakladium and Fugacium symbionts at 27 and 30°C, however at 31°C, mortality was similar for all treatments. We hypothesize that symbionts that are currently rare in corals (e.g., Gerakladium) may become more common and widespread in early life stages under climate warming. Uptake of such symbionts may function as a survival strategy in the wild, and has implications for reef restoration practices that use sexually produced coral stock.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shayle B. Matsuda
- Hawai‘i Institute of Marine BiologyUniversity of Hawai‘i at MānoaKāne‘oheHawai‘iUSA
| | | | - Ross Cunning
- Daniel P. Haerther Center for Conservation and ResearchJohn G. Shedd AquariumChicagoIllinoisUSA
| | - Ariana S. Huffmyer
- Department of Biological SciencesUniversity of Rhode IslandKingstonRhode IslandUSA
| | - Craig E. Nelson
- Daniel K. Inouye Center for Microbial Oceanography: Research and EducationDepartment of Oceanography and Sea Grant College ProgramUniversity of Hawai‘i at MānoaHonoluluHawai‘iUSA
| | - Ruth D. Gates
- Hawai‘i Institute of Marine BiologyUniversity of Hawai‘i at MānoaKāne‘oheHawai‘iUSA
| | - Madeleine J. H. van Oppen
- Australian Institute of Marine ScienceTownsvilleQueenslandAustralia
- School of BioSciencesThe University of MelbourneParkvilleVictoriaAustralia
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9
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Speare KE, Adam TC, Winslow EM, Lenihan HS, Burkepile DE. Size-dependent mortality of corals during marine heatwave erodes recovery capacity of a coral reef. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2022; 28:1342-1358. [PMID: 34908214 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.16000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2021] [Accepted: 10/30/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
For many long-lived taxa, such as trees and corals, older, and larger individuals often have the lowest mortality and highest fecundity. However, climate change-driven disturbances such as droughts and heatwaves may fundamentally alter typical size-dependent patterns of mortality and reproduction in these important foundation taxa. Working in Moorea, French Polynesia, we investigated how a marine heatwave in 2019, one of the most intense marine heatwaves at our sites over the past 30 years, drove patterns of coral bleaching and mortality. The marine heatwave drove island-wide mass coral bleaching that killed up to 76% and 65% of the largest individuals of the two dominant coral genera, Pocillopora and Acropora, respectively. Colonies of Pocillopora and Acropora ≥30 cm diameter were ~3.5× and ~1.3×, respectively, more likely to die than colonies <30-cm diameter. Typically, annual mortality in these corals is concentrated on the smallest size classes. Yet, this heatwave dramatically reshaped this pattern, with heat stress disproportionately killing larger coral colonies and equalizing annual mortality rates across the size spectrum. This shift in the size-mortality relationship reduced the overall fecundity of these genera by >60% because big corals are disproportionately important for reproduction on reefs. Additionally, the survivorship of microscopic coral recruits, critical for the recovery of corals following disturbances, declined to 2%, over an order of magnitude lower compared to a year without elevated thermal stress, where 33% of coral recruits survived. While other research has shown that larger corals can bleach more frequently than smaller corals, we show the severe impact this phenomenon can have at the reef-wide scale. As marine heatwaves become more frequent and intense, disproportionate mortality of the largest, most fecund corals and near-complete loss of entire cohorts of newly-settled coral recruits will likely reduce the recovery capacity of these iconic ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly E Speare
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California, USA
| | - Thomas C Adam
- Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California, USA
| | - Erin M Winslow
- Bren School of Environmental Science and Management, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California, USA
| | - Hunter S Lenihan
- Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California, USA
- Bren School of Environmental Science and Management, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California, USA
| | - Deron E Burkepile
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California, USA
- Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California, USA
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10
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Medina M, Baker DM, Baltrus DA, Bennett GM, Cardini U, Correa AMS, Degnan SM, Christa G, Kim E, Li J, Nash DR, Marzinelli E, Nishiguchi M, Prada C, Roth MS, Saha M, Smith CI, Theis KR, Zaneveld J. Grand Challenges in Coevolution. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2021.618251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
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11
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Will coral reefs survive by adaptive bleaching? Emerg Top Life Sci 2021; 6:11-15. [PMID: 34881775 DOI: 10.1042/etls20210227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Revised: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 11/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Some reef-building corals form symbioses with multiple algal partners that differ in ecologically important traits like heat tolerance. Coral bleaching and recovery can drive symbiont community turnover toward more heat-tolerant partners, and this 'adaptive bleaching' response can increase future bleaching thresholds by 1-2°C, aiding survival in warming oceans. However, this mechanism of rapid acclimatization only occurs in corals that are compatible with multiple symbionts, and only when the disturbance regime and competitive dynamics among symbionts are sufficient to bring about community turnover. The full scope of coral taxa and ecological scenarios in which symbiont shuffling occurs remains poorly understood, though its prevalence is likely to increase as warming oceans boost the competitive advantage of heat-tolerant symbionts, increase the frequency of bleaching events, and strengthen metacommunity feedbacks. Still, the constraints, limitations, and potential tradeoffs of symbiont shuffling suggest it will not save coral reef ecosystems; however, it may significantly improve the survival trajectories of some, or perhaps many, coral species. Interventions to manipulate coral symbionts and symbiont communities may expand the scope of their adaptive potential, which may boost coral survival until climate change is addressed.
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12
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Fujiwara Y, Kawamura I, Reimer JD, Parkinson JE. Zoantharian Endosymbiont Community Dynamics During a Stress Event. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:674026. [PMID: 34122387 PMCID: PMC8193574 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.674026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2021] [Accepted: 04/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Coral reefs are complex ecosystems composed of many interacting species. One ecologically important group consists of zoantharians, which are closely related to reef-building corals. Like corals, zoantharians form mutualistic symbioses with dinoflagellate micro-algae (family Symbiodiniaceae), but their associations remain underexplored. To examine the degree to which zoantharians exhibit altered symbiont dynamics under changing environmental conditions, we reciprocally transplanted colonies of Zoanthus sansibaricus between intertidal (2 m) and subtidal (26 m) depths within a reef in Okinawa, Japan. At this location, Z. sansibaricus can associate with three Symbiodiniaceae species from two genera distributed along a light and depth gradient. We developed species-specific molecular assays and sampled colonies pre- and post-transplantation to analyze symbiont community diversity. Despite large environmental differences across depths, we detected few symbiont compositional changes resulting from transplantation stress. Colonies sourced from the intertidal zone associated with mixtures of a "shallow" Symbiodinium sp. and a "shallow" Cladocopium sp. independent of whether they were transplanted to shallow or deep waters. Colonies sourced from the subtidal zone were dominated by a "deep" Cladocopium sp. regardless of transplant depth. Subtidal colonies brought to shallow depths did not transition to the presumably high-light adapted shallow symbionts present in the new environment, but rather bleached and died. These patterns mirror observations of highly stable coral-algal associations subjected to depth transplantation. Our results indicate that Zoanthus-Symbiodiniaceae symbioses remain stable despite stress, suggesting these important reef community members have relatively low capacity to shuffle to more stress-tolerant micro-algae in response to ongoing climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Fujiwara
- Molecular Invertebrate Systematics and Ecology Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Biology, and Marine Science, Faculty of Science, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Japan.,Nakajima Suisan Co. Ltd., Tokyo, Japan
| | - Iori Kawamura
- Molecular Invertebrate Systematics and Ecology Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Biology, and Marine Science, Faculty of Science, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Japan
| | - James Davis Reimer
- Molecular Invertebrate Systematics and Ecology Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Biology, and Marine Science, Faculty of Science, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Japan.,Tropical Biosphere Research Center, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Japan
| | - John Everett Parkinson
- Molecular Invertebrate Systematics and Ecology Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Biology, and Marine Science, Faculty of Science, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Japan.,Department of Integrative Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, United States
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13
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Temperature transcends partner specificity in the symbiosis establishment of a cnidarian. ISME JOURNAL 2020; 15:141-153. [PMID: 32934356 PMCID: PMC7852570 DOI: 10.1038/s41396-020-00768-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2020] [Revised: 08/13/2020] [Accepted: 09/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Coral reef research has predominantly focused on the effect of temperature on the breakdown of coral-dinoflagellate symbioses. However, less is known about how increasing temperature affects the establishment of new coral-dinoflagellate associations. Inter-partner specificity and environment-dependent colonization are two constraints proposed to limit the acquisition of more heat tolerant symbionts. Here, we investigated the symbiotic dynamics of various photosymbionts in different host genotypes under “optimal” and elevated temperature conditions. To do this, we inoculated symbiont-free polyps of the sea anemone Exaiptasia pallida originating from Hawaii (H2), North Carolina (CC7), and the Red Sea (RS) with the same mixture of native symbiont strains (Breviolum minutum, Symbiodinium linucheae, S. microadriaticum, and a Breviolum type from the Red Sea) at 25 and 32 °C, and assessed their ITS2 composition, colonization rates, and PSII photochemical efficiency (Fv/Fm). Symbiont communities across thermal conditions differed significantly for all hosts, suggesting that temperature rather than partner specificity had a stronger effect on symbiosis establishment. Overall, we detected higher abundances of more heat resistant Symbiodiniaceae types in the 32 °C treatments. Our data further showed that PSII photophysiology under elevated temperature improved with thermal pre-exposure (i.e., higher Fv/Fm), yet, this effect depended on host genotype and was influenced by active feeding as photochemical efficiency dropped in response to food deprivation. These findings highlight the role of temperature and partner fidelity in the establishment and performance of symbiosis and demonstrate the importance of heterotrophy for symbiotic cnidarians to endure and recover from stress.
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14
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McIlroy SE, Wong JCY, Baker DM. Competitive traits of coral symbionts may alter the structure and function of the microbiome. ISME JOURNAL 2020; 14:2424-2432. [PMID: 32518247 PMCID: PMC7490369 DOI: 10.1038/s41396-020-0697-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2019] [Revised: 05/06/2020] [Accepted: 05/14/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
In the face of global warming and unprecedented coral bleaching, a new avenue of research is focused on relatively rare algal symbionts and their ability to confer thermal tolerance to their host by association. Yet, thermal tolerance is just one of many physiological attributes inherent to the diversity of symbiodinians, a result of millions of years of competition and niche partitioning. Here, we revealed that competition among cocultured symbiodinians alters nutrient assimilation and compound production with species-specific responses. For Cladocopium goreaui, a species ubiquitous within stable coral associations, temperature stress increased sensitivity to competition eliciting a shift toward investment in cell replication, i.e., putative niche exploitation. Meanwhile, competition led Durusdinium trenchii, a thermally tolerant “background” symbiodinian, to divert resources from immediate growth to storage. As such, competition may be driving the dominance of C. goreaui outside of temperature stress, the destabilization of symbioses under thermal stress, the repopulation of coral tissues by D. trenchii following bleaching, and ultimately undermine the efficacy of symbiont turnover as an adaptive mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shelby E McIlroy
- The Swire Institute of Marine Science, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong, PRC.,School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong, PRC
| | - Jane C Y Wong
- The Swire Institute of Marine Science, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong, PRC.,School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong, PRC
| | - David M Baker
- The Swire Institute of Marine Science, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong, PRC. .,School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong, PRC.
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15
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Howe-Kerr LI, Bachelot B, Wright RM, Kenkel CD, Bay LK, Correa AMS. Symbiont community diversity is more variable in corals that respond poorly to stress. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2020; 26:2220-2234. [PMID: 32048447 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.14999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2019] [Revised: 12/20/2019] [Accepted: 12/27/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Coral reefs are declining globally as climate change and local water quality press environmental conditions beyond the physiological tolerances of holobionts-the collective of the host and its microbial symbionts. To assess the relationship between symbiont composition and holobiont stress tolerance, community diversity metrics were quantified for dinoflagellate endosymbionts (Family: Symbiodiniaceae) from eight Acropora millepora genets that thrived under or responded poorly to various stressors. These eight selected genets represent the upper and lower tails of the response distribution of 40 coral genets that were exposed to four stress treatments (and control conditions) in a 10-day experiment. Specifically, four 'best performer' coral genets were analyzed at the end of the experiment because they survived high temperature, high pCO2 , bacterial exposure, or combined stressors, whereas four 'worst performer' genets were characterized because they experienced substantial mortality under these stressors. At the end of the experiment, seven of eight coral genets mainly hosted Cladocopium symbionts, whereas the eighth genet was dominated by both Cladocopium and Durusdinium symbionts. Symbiodiniaceae alpha and beta diversity were higher in worst performing genets than in best performing genets. Symbiont communities in worst performers also differed more after stress exposure relative to their controls (based on normalized proportional differences in beta diversity), than did best performers. A generalized joint attribute model estimated the influence of host genet and treatment on Symbiodiniaceae community composition and identified strong associations among particular symbionts and host genet performance, as well as weaker associations with treatment. Although dominant symbiont physiology and function contribute to host performance, these findings emphasize the importance of symbiont community diversity and stochasticity as components of host performance. Our findings also suggest that symbiont community diversity metrics may function as indicators of resilience and have potential applications in diverse disciplines from climate change adaptation to agriculture and medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Carly D Kenkel
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Line K Bay
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Qld, Australia
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