1
|
Zarate D, Gary J, Li J. Flexibility in coral-algal symbiosis is positively correlated with the host geographic range. Ecol Lett 2024; 27:e14374. [PMID: 38361467 DOI: 10.1111/ele.14374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2023] [Revised: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
Generalists are thought to adapt to broader ecological conditions compared to less flexible specialists. However, few studies have systematically tested what ecological or life-history traits are associated with organisms' ecological flexibility. Here, we used stony corals to test the relative effects of host traits and ecological factors on corals' flexibility to form photosymbioses with algae. We analysed data from 211 stony coral species to test if coral's geographic distribution, depth range, symbiont transmission mode or colony morphology predict coral-algal flexibility. We report a novel positive correlation between coral-algal flexibility and coral species' geographic range. Symbiont transmission mode was also a predictor of flexibility, albeit the result is less robust against sampling bias. Coral depth range and morphology did not show significant effects. We highlight that host-symbiont dispersal abilities, interactions and evolutionary histories likely contribute to the observed patterns. We urge conservation efforts to consider the ecological implications of coral-algal flexibility.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Zarate
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, USA
| | - Jaclyn Gary
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, USA
| | - Jingchun Li
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, USA
- Museum of Natural History, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Godefroid M, Vandendriessche M, Todinanahary GGB, Ransquin I, Dubois P. Thermal sensitivity of black corals (Antipatharia: Hexacorallia): Comparisons between sympatric species from a thermally fluctuating site in Madagascar and between allopatric congenerics. Sci Total Environ 2024; 908:168311. [PMID: 37926267 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2022] [Revised: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
This study investigated factors shaping the thermal sensitivity in antipatharians, a taxon whose members form dense aggregations in all oceans, harbouring a high biodiversity. First, we tested the thermal responses of five sympatric species (Antipathes grandis, Cupressopathes abies, Stichopathes cf. maldivensis, Cirrhipathes anguina and Cirrhipathes cf. spiralis) from the Great Reef of Toliara (Madagascar), using an acute ramping methodology. We then compared the thermal performance curves (TPCs) for oxygen consumption of these five species. Results indicated that phylogeny alone does not explain differences in thermal sensitivity (Antipathidae vs. Myriopathidae). On the contrary, morphology (branched vs. unbranched) appeared as a key factor, with unbranched species (S. cf. maldivensis, C. anguina, C. cf. spiralis) being more tolerant to thermal stress than branched ones (A. grandis and C. abies). Several hypothesis could explain these variations in thermal tolerance across morphology, such as tissue thickness, surface/volume ratio or mass-transfer efficiency. Secondly, we compared the TPC of Stichopathes from Madagascar with those previously obtained in congenerics from the Canary Islands and French Polynesia. This revealed a higher thermal tolerance in the two former than in the latter. It is proposed that it is linked to higher annual temperature variability (but not daily variability) in these two sites compared to French Polynesia. It is concluded that thermal sensitivity in antipatharians is linked to their morphology influencing their physiology and to their thermal history. Phylogeny at the family level plays a less important role in explaining differences in thermal sensitivity in antipatharians.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mathilde Godefroid
- Marine Biology Laboratory, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Av. F.D. Roosevelt 50, CP160/15, 1050 Brussels, Belgium.
| | - Mathilde Vandendriessche
- Marine Biology Laboratory, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Av. F.D. Roosevelt 50, CP160/15, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Gildas Georges Boleslas Todinanahary
- Belaza Marine Station, Institut Halieutique et des Sciences Marines (IH.SM), Université de Toliara, Rue Dr Rabesandratana HD, P.O. Box 141, 601 Toliara, Madagascar
| | - Ignace Ransquin
- Institute of Mechanics, Materials and Civil Engineering, Université Catholique de Louvain, Place du Levant 2, B-1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | - Philippe Dubois
- Marine Biology Laboratory, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Av. F.D. Roosevelt 50, CP160/15, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Liberman R, Benayahu Y, Huchon D. Octocorals in the Gulf of Aqaba exhibit high photosymbiont fidelity. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:1005471. [PMID: 36504779 PMCID: PMC9732034 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.1005471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 10/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Symbiotic associations, widespread in terrestrial and marine ecosystems, are of considerable ecological importance. Many tropical coral species are holobionts, formed by the obligate association between a cnidarian host and endosymbiotic dinoflagellates of the family Symbiodiniaceae. The latter are abundant on coral reefs from very shallow water down to the upper mesophotic zone (30-70 m). The research on scleractinians has revealed that the photosymbiont lineages present in the cnidarian host play an important role in the coral's ability to thrive under different environmental conditions, such as light regime and temperature. However, little is known regarding octocoral photosymbionts, and in particular regarding those found deeper than 30 m. Here, we used ribosomal (ITS2) and chloroplast (23S) markers to uncover, for the first time, the dominant Symbiodiniaceae taxa present in 19 mesophotic octocoral species (30-70 m depth) from the Gulf of Aqaba/Eilat (northern Red Sea). In addition, using high-throughput sequencing of the ITS2 region we characterized both the dominant and the rare Symbiodiniaceae lineages found in several species across depth. The phylogenetic analyses of both markers were in agreement and revealed that most of the studied mesophotic octocorals host the genus Cladocopium. Litophyton spp. and Klyxum utinomii were exceptions, as they harbored Symbiodinium and Durusdinium photosymbionts, respectively. While the dominant algal lineage of each coral species did not vary across depth, the endosymbiont community structure significantly differed between host species, as well as between different depths for some host species. The findings from this study contribute to the growing global-catalogue of Cnidaria-Symbiodiniaceae associations. Unravelling the Symbiodiniaceae composition in octocoral holobionts across environmental gradients, depth in particular, may enable a better understanding of how specialized those associations are, and to what extent coral holobionts are able to modify their photosymbionts.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ronen Liberman
- School of Zoology, The George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel,The Interuniversity Institute for Marine Sciences, Eilat, Israel,*Correspondence: Ronen Liberman,
| | - Yehuda Benayahu
- School of Zoology, The George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Dorothée Huchon
- School of Zoology, The George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel,The Steinhardt Museum of Natural History and National Research Center, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Nitschke MR, Rosset SL, Oakley CA, Gardner SG, Camp EF, Suggett DJ, Davy SK. The diversity and ecology of Symbiodiniaceae: A traits-based review. Adv Mar Biol 2022; 92:55-127. [PMID: 36208879 DOI: 10.1016/bs.amb.2022.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Among the most successful microeukaryotes to form mutualisms with animals are dinoflagellates in the family Symbiodiniaceae. These photosynthetic symbioses drive significant primary production and are responsible for the formation of coral reef ecosystems but are particularly sensitive when environmental conditions become extreme. Annual episodes of widespread coral bleaching (disassociation of the mutualistic partnership) and mortality are forecasted from the year 2060 under current trends of ocean warming. However, host cnidarians and dinoflagellate symbionts display exceptional genetic and functional diversity, and meaningful predictions of the future that embrace this biological complexity are difficult to make. A recent move to trait-based biology (and an understanding of how traits are shaped by the environment) has been adopted to move past this problem. The aim of this review is to: (1) provide an overview of the major cnidarian lineages that are symbiotic with Symbiodiniaceae; (2) summarise the symbiodiniacean genera associated with cnidarians with reference to recent changes in taxonomy and systematics; (3) examine the knowledge gaps in Symbiodiniaceae life history from a trait-based perspective; (4) review Symbiodiniaceae trait variation along three abiotic gradients (light, nutrients, and temperature); and (5) provide recommendations for future research of Symbiodiniaceae traits. We anticipate that a detailed understanding of traits will further reveal basic knowledge of the evolution and functional diversity of these mutualisms, as well as enhance future efforts to model stability and change in ecosystems dependent on cnidarian-dinoflagellate organisms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Matthew R Nitschke
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand; Climate Change Cluster, University of Technology Sydney, Broadway, NSW, Australia.
| | - Sabrina L Rosset
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Clinton A Oakley
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Stephanie G Gardner
- Center for Marine Science and Innovation, University of New South Wales Sydney, Kensington, NSW, Australia
| | - Emma F Camp
- Climate Change Cluster, University of Technology Sydney, Broadway, NSW, Australia
| | - David J Suggett
- Climate Change Cluster, University of Technology Sydney, Broadway, NSW, Australia
| | - Simon K Davy
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Strumpen NF, Rädecker N, Pogoreutz C, Meibom A, Voolstra CR. High light quantity suppresses locomotion in symbiotic Aiptasia. Symbiosis. [DOI: 10.1007/s13199-022-00841-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
AbstractMany cnidarians engage in endosymbioses with microalgae of the family Symbiodiniaceae. In this association, the fitness of the cnidarian host is closely linked to the photosynthetic performance of its microalgal symbionts. Phototaxis may enable semi-sessile cnidarians to optimize the light regime for their microalgal symbionts. Indeed, phototaxis and phototropism have been reported in the photosymbiotic sea anemone Aiptasia. However, the influence of light quantity on the locomotive behavior of Aiptasia remains unknown. Here we show that light quantity and the presence of microalgal symbionts modulate the phototactic behavior in Aiptasia. Although photosymbiotic Aiptasia were observed to move in seemingly random directions along an experimental light gradient, their probability of locomotion depended on light quantity. As photosymbiotic animals were highly mobile in low light but almost immobile at high light quantities, photosymbiotic Aiptasia at low light quantities exhibited an effective net movement towards light levels sufficient for positive net photosynthesis. In contrast, aposymbiotic Aiptasia exhibited greater mobility than their photosymbiotic counterparts, regardless of light quantity. Our results suggest that photosynthetic activity of the microalgal symbionts suppresses locomotion in Aiptasia, likely by supporting a positive energy balance in the host. We propose that motile photosymbiotic organisms can develop phototactic behavior as a consequence of starvation linked to symbiotic nutrient cycling.
Collapse
|
6
|
Godefroid M, Hédouin L, Mercière A, Dubois P. Thermal stress responses of the antipatharian Stichopathes sp. from the mesophotic reef of Mo'orea, French Polynesia. Sci Total Environ 2022; 820:153094. [PMID: 35051469 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.153094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Revised: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 01/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Antipatharians, also called black corals, are present in almost all oceans of the world, until extreme depths. In several regions, they aggregate in higher densities to form black coral beds that support diverse animal communities and create biodiversity hotspots. These recently discovered ecosystems are currently threatened by fishing activities and illegal harvesting for commercial purposes. Despite this, studies dedicated to the physiology of antipatharians are scarce and their responses to global change stressors have remained hardly explored since recently. Here, we present the first study on the physiological responses of a mesophotic antipatharian Stichopathes sp. (70-90 m) to thermal stress through a 16-d laboratory exposure (from 26 to 30.5 °C). Oxygen consumption measurements allowed identifying the physiological tipping point of Stichopathes sp. (Topt = 28.3 °C; 2.7 °C above mean ambient condition). Our results follow theoretical predictions as performances start to decrease beyond Topt, with lowered oxygen consumption rates, impairment of the healing capacities, increased probability of tissue necrosis and stress responses activated as a function of temperature (i.e. increase in mucocyte density and total antioxidant capacity). Altogether, our work indicates that Stichopathes sp. lives at suboptimal performances during the coldest months of the year, but also that it is likely to have low acclimatization capacity and a narrow thermal breadth.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mathilde Godefroid
- Laboratoire de Biologie marine, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Avenue F.D. Roosevelt 50, CP160/15, 1050 Bruxelles, Belgium.
| | - Laetitia Hédouin
- PSL Research University: EPHE-CNRS-UPVD, USR 3278 CRIOBE, BP 1013, 98729 Papetoai, Mo'orea, French Polynesia; Laboratoire d'Excellence « CORAIL», Mo'orea, French Polynesia
| | - Alexandre Mercière
- PSL Research University: EPHE-CNRS-UPVD, USR 3278 CRIOBE, BP 1013, 98729 Papetoai, Mo'orea, French Polynesia; Laboratoire d'Excellence « CORAIL», Mo'orea, French Polynesia
| | - Philippe Dubois
- Laboratoire de Biologie marine, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Avenue F.D. Roosevelt 50, CP160/15, 1050 Bruxelles, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Abstract
Coral reefs are constructed by calcifying coral animals that engage in a symbiosis with dinoflagellate microalgae harboured in their tissue. The symbiosis takes place in the presence of steep and dynamic gradients of light, temperature and chemical species that are affected by the structural and optical properties of the coral and their interaction with incident irradiance and water flow. Microenvironmental analyses have enabled quantification of such gradients and bulk coral tissue and skeleton optical properties, but the multi-layered nature of corals and its implications for the optical, thermal and chemical microenvironment remains to be studied in more detail. Here, we present a multiphysics modelling approach, where three-dimensional Monte Carlo simulations of the light field in a simple coral slab morphology with multiple tissue layers were used as input for modelling the heat dissipation and photosynthetic oxygen production driven by photon absorption. By coupling photon, heat and mass transfer, the model predicts light, temperature and O2 gradients in the coral tissue and skeleton, under environmental conditions simulating, for example, tissue contraction/expansion, symbiont loss via coral bleaching or different distributions of coral host pigments. The model reveals basic structure-function mechanisms that shape the microenvironment and ecophysiology of the coral symbiosis in response to environmental change.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shannara Kayleigh Taylor Parkins
- Department of Biotechnology, Delft University of Technology, Van der Maasweg 9, 2629 HZ Delft, The Netherlands.,The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, Kemitorvet 220, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Swathi Murthy
- Marine Biology Section, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Strandpromenaden 5, 3000 Helsingør, Denmark
| | - Cristian Picioreanu
- Department of Biotechnology, Delft University of Technology, Van der Maasweg 9, 2629 HZ Delft, The Netherlands.,Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering Division, Water Desalination and Reuse Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Michael Kühl
- Marine Biology Section, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Strandpromenaden 5, 3000 Helsingør, Denmark.,Climate Change Cluster, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, New South Wales 2007, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Shlesinger T, Loya Y. Depth-dependent parental effects create invisible barriers to coral dispersal. Commun Biol 2021; 4:202. [PMID: 33589736 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-021-01727-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2020] [Accepted: 01/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Historically, marine populations were considered to be interconnected across large geographic regions due to the lack of apparent physical barriers to dispersal, coupled with a potentially widely dispersive pelagic larval stage. Recent studies, however, are providing increasing evidence of small-scale genetic segregation of populations across habitats and depths, separated in some cases by only a few dozen meters. Here, we performed a series of ex-situ and in-situ experiments using coral larvae of three brooding species from contrasting shallow- and deep-water reef habitats, and show that their settlement success, habitat choices, and subsequent survival are substantially influenced by parental effects in a habitat-dependent manner. Generally, larvae originating from deep-water corals, which experience less variable conditions, expressed more specific responses than shallow-water larvae, with a higher settlement success in simulated parental-habitat conditions. Survival of juvenile corals experimentally translocated to the sea was significantly lower when not at parental depths. We conclude that local adaptations and parental effects alongside larval selectivity and phenotype-environment mismatches combine to create invisible semipermeable barriers to coral dispersal and connectivity, leading to habitat-dependent population segregation. Tom Shlesinger and Yossi Loya use ex-situ and in-situ experiments with coral larvae of three brooding species from contrasting shallow- and deep-water habitats and show that larvae originating from deep-water corals have narrower tolerances and higher habitat-specificity in simulated parental-habitat conditions. They also show that survival of juvenile corals experimentally translocated to the sea was significantly lower when not at parental depths. Together these results demonstrate that local adaptations and parental effects interact with larval selectivity and phenotype-environment mismatches to create semipermeable barriers to coral dispersal and connectivity.
Collapse
|
9
|
Jain SS, Afiq-Rosli L, Feldman B, Levy O, Phua JW, Wainwright BJ, Huang D. Homogenization of Endosymbiont Communities Hosted by Equatorial Corals during the 2016 Mass Bleaching Event. Microorganisms 2020; 8:microorganisms8091370. [PMID: 32906741 PMCID: PMC7564173 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8091370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2020] [Revised: 08/31/2020] [Accepted: 09/04/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Thermal stress drives the bleaching of reef corals, during which the endosymbiotic relationship between Symbiodiniaceae microalgae and the host breaks down. The endosymbiont communities are known to shift in response to environmental disturbances, but how they respond within and between colonies during and following bleaching events remains unclear. In 2016, a major global-scale bleaching event hit countless tropical reefs. Here, we investigate the relative abundances of Cladocopium LaJeunesse & H.J.Jeong, 2018 and Durusdinium LaJeunesse, 2018 within and among Pachyseris speciosa colonies in equatorial Singapore that are known to host both these Symbiodiniaceae clades. Bleached and unbleached tissues from bleaching colonies, as well as healthy colonies, during and following the bleaching event were sampled and analyzed for comparison. The nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions were separately amplified and quantified using a SYBR Green-based quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) method and Illumina high-throughput sequencing. We found Cladocopium to be highly abundant relative to Durusdinium. The relative abundance of Durusdinium, known to be thermally tolerant, was highest in post-bleaching healthy colonies, while bleached and unbleached tissues from bleaching colonies as well as tissue from healthy colonies during the event had depressed proportions of Durusdinium. Given the importance of Durusdinium for thermal tolerance and stress response, it is surprising that bleached tissue showed limited change over healthy tissue during the bleaching event. Moreover, colonies were invariably dominated by Cladocopium during bleaching, but a minority of colonies were Durusdinium-dominant during non-bleaching times. The detailed characterization of Symbiodiniaceae in specific colonies during stress and recovery will provide insights into this crucial symbiosis, with implications for their responses during major bleaching events.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sudhanshi S. Jain
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, 16 Science Drive 4, Singapore 117558, Singapore; (L.A.-R.); (J.W.P.)
- Correspondence: (S.S.J.); (D.H.)
| | - Lutfi Afiq-Rosli
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, 16 Science Drive 4, Singapore 117558, Singapore; (L.A.-R.); (J.W.P.)
- Tropical Marine Science Institute, National University of Singapore, 18 Kent Ridge Road, Singapore 119227, Singapore
| | - Bar Feldman
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan 5290002, Israel; (B.F.); (O.L.)
| | - Oren Levy
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan 5290002, Israel; (B.F.); (O.L.)
| | - Jun Wei Phua
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, 16 Science Drive 4, Singapore 117558, Singapore; (L.A.-R.); (J.W.P.)
| | - Benjamin J. Wainwright
- Yale-NUS College, National University of Singapore, 16 College Avenue West, Singapore 138527, Singapore;
| | - Danwei Huang
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, 16 Science Drive 4, Singapore 117558, Singapore; (L.A.-R.); (J.W.P.)
- Tropical Marine Science Institute, National University of Singapore, 18 Kent Ridge Road, Singapore 119227, Singapore
- Correspondence: (S.S.J.); (D.H.)
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Studivan MS, Voss JD. Transcriptomic plasticity of mesophotic corals among natural populations and transplants of
Montastraea cavernosa
in the Gulf of Mexico and Belize. Mol Ecol 2020; 29:2399-2415. [DOI: 10.1111/mec.15495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2019] [Revised: 05/14/2020] [Accepted: 05/28/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Michael S. Studivan
- Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute Florida Atlantic University Fort Pierce FL USA
- Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Studies University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences Miami FL USA
| | - Joshua D. Voss
- Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute Florida Atlantic University Fort Pierce FL USA
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Eckert RJ, Reaume AM, Sturm AB, Studivan MS, Voss JD. Depth Influences Symbiodiniaceae Associations Among Montastraea cavernosa Corals on the Belize Barrier Reef. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:518. [PMID: 32328040 PMCID: PMC7160519 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.00518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2019] [Accepted: 03/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
In Belize, shallow populations (10 and 16 m) of the coral species Montastraea cavernosa from the back reef and reef crest are genetically differentiated from deeper populations on the fore reef and reef wall (25 and 35 m). Like many species of scleractinian corals, M. cavernosa has an obligate symbiosis with dinoflagellate microalgae from the family Symbiodiniaceae. Here, we describe the Symbiodiniaceae taxa found within previously sampled and genotyped M. cavernosa populations along a depth gradient on the Belize Barrier Reef by implementing high-throughput sequencing of the ITS2 region of Symbiodiniaceae ribosomal DNA and the SymPortal analysis framework. While Symbiodiniaceae ITS2 type profiles across all sampling depths were almost entirely (99.99%) from the genus Cladocopium (formerly Symbiodinium Clade C), shallow (10 and 16 m) populations had a greater diversity of ITS2 type profiles in comparison to deeper (25 and 35 m) populations. Permutational multivariate analysis of variance (PERMANOVA) confirmed significant differences in ITS2 type profiles between shallow and deep sample populations. Overall Symbiodiniaceae communities changed significantly with depth, following patterns similar to the coral host's population genetic structure. Though physiological differences among species in the cosmopolitan genus Cladocopium are not well-described, our results suggest that although some members of Cladocopium are depth-generalists, shallow M. cavernosa populations in Belize may harbor shallow-specialized Symbiodiniaceae not found in deeper populations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ryan J. Eckert
- Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL, United States
| | | | | | | | - Joshua D. Voss
- Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL, United States
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Kang JH, Jang JE, Kim JH, Kim S, Keshavmurthy S, Agostini S, Reimer JD, Chen CA, Choi KS, Park SR, Lee HJ. The Origin of the Subtropical Coral Alveopora japonica (Scleractinia: Acroporidae) in High-Latitude Environments. Front Ecol Evol 2020. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2020.00012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
|
13
|
Wall CB, Kaluhiokalani M, Popp BN, Donahue MJ, Gates RD. Divergent symbiont communities determine the physiology and nutrition of a reef coral across a light-availability gradient. ISME J 2020; 14:945-958. [PMID: 31900444 PMCID: PMC7082336 DOI: 10.1038/s41396-019-0570-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2019] [Revised: 11/25/2019] [Accepted: 12/11/2019] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Reef corals are mixotrophic organisms relying on symbiont-derived photoautotrophy and water column heterotrophy. Coral endosymbionts (Family: Symbiodiniaceae), while typically considered mutualists, display a range of species-specific and environmentally mediated opportunism in their interactions with coral hosts, potentially requiring corals to rely more on heterotrophy to avoid declines in performance. To test the influence of symbiont communities on coral physiology (tissue biomass, symbiont density, photopigmentation) and nutrition (δ13C, δ15N), we sampled Montipora capitata colonies dominated by a specialist symbiont Cladocopium spp. or a putative opportunist Durusdinium glynnii (hereafter, C- or D-colonies) from Kāne‘ohe Bay, Hawai‘i, across gradients in photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) during summer and winter. We report for the first time that isotope values of reef corals are influenced by Symbiodiniaceae communities, indicative of different autotrophic capacities among symbiont species. D-colonies had on average 56% higher symbiont densities, but lower photopigments per symbiont cell and consistently lower δ13C values in host and symbiont tissues; this pattern in isotope values is consistent with lower symbiont carbon assimilation and translocation to the host. Neither C- nor D-colonies showed signs of greater heterotrophy or nutritional plasticity; instead changes in δ13C values were driven by PAR availability and photoacclimation attributes that differed between symbiont communities. Together, these results reveal Symbiodiniaceae functional diversity produces distinct holobionts with different capacities for autotrophic nutrition, and energy tradeoffs from associating with opportunist symbionts are not met with increased heterotrophy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christopher B Wall
- Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, PO Box 1346, Kāne'ohe, HI, 96744, USA. .,Pacific Biosciences Research Center, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, 1993 East-West Road, Honolulu, HI, 96822, USA.
| | - Mario Kaluhiokalani
- Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, PO Box 1346, Kāne'ohe, HI, 96744, USA
| | - Brian N Popp
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, 1680 East-West Rd, POST 701, Honolulu, HI, 96822, USA
| | - Megan J Donahue
- Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, PO Box 1346, Kāne'ohe, HI, 96744, USA
| | - Ruth D Gates
- Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, PO Box 1346, Kāne'ohe, HI, 96744, USA
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Affiliation(s)
- Raz Tamir
- School of Zoology George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences Tel Aviv University Tel Aviv Israel
- The Interuniversity Institute for Marine Sciences in Eilat Eilat Israel
| | - Gal Eyal
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies School of Biological Sciences The University of Queensland St. Lucia Queensland 4072 Australia
- The Mina & Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences Bar Ilan University Ramat Gan Israel
| | - Netanel Kramer
- School of Zoology George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences Tel Aviv University Tel Aviv Israel
| | - Jack H. Laverick
- Department of Zoology University of Oxford South Parks Road Oxford OX1 3PS UK
| | - Yossi Loya
- School of Zoology George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences Tel Aviv University Tel Aviv Israel
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Radice VZ, Brett MT, Fry B, Fox MD, Hoegh-Guldberg O, Dove SG. Evaluating coral trophic strategies using fatty acid composition and indices. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0222327. [PMID: 31509600 PMCID: PMC6739055 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0222327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2019] [Accepted: 08/27/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The ecological success of shallow water reef-building corals has been linked to the symbiosis between the coral host and its dinoflagellate symbionts (herein ‘symbionts’). As mixotrophs, symbiotic corals depend on nutrients 1) transferred from their photosynthetic symbionts (autotrophy) and 2) acquired by host feeding on particulate organic resources (heterotrophy). However, coral species differ in the extent to which they depend on heterotrophy for nutrition and these differences are typically poorly defined. Here, a multi-tracer fatty acid approach was used to evaluate the trophic strategies of three species of common reef-building coral (Galaxea fascicularis, Pachyseris speciosa, and Pocillopora verrucosa) whose trophic strategies had previously been identified using carbon stable isotopes. The composition and various indices of fatty acids were compared to examine the relative contribution of symbiont autotrophy and host heterotrophy in coral energy acquisition. A linear discriminant analysis (LDA) was used to estimate the contribution of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) derived from various potential sources to the coral hosts. The total fatty acid composition and fatty acid indices revealed differences between the more heterotrophic (P. verrucosa) and more autotrophic (P. speciosa) coral hosts, with the coral host G. fascicularis showing overlap with the other two species and greater variability overall. For the more heterotrophic P. verrucosa, the fatty acid indices and LDA results both indicated a greater proportion of copepod-derived fatty acids compared to the other coral species. Overall, the LDA estimated that PUFA derived from particulate resources (e.g., copepods and diatoms) comprised a greater proportion of coral host PUFA in contrast to the lower proportion of symbiont-derived PUFA. These estimates provide insight into the importance of heterotrophy in coral nutrition, especially in productive reef systems. The study supports carbon stable isotope results and demonstrates the utility of fatty acid analyses for exploring the trophic strategies of reef-building corals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Veronica Z Radice
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia.,School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Michael T Brett
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Brian Fry
- Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland, Australia
| | - Michael D Fox
- Department of Geology and Geophysics, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Ove Hoegh-Guldberg
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia.,School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Sophie G Dove
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia.,School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Zhou Z, Zhao S, Tang J, Liu Z, Wu Y, Wang Y, Lin S. Altered Immune Landscape and Disrupted Coral- Symbiodinium Symbiosis in the Scleractinian Coral Pocillopora damicornis by Vibrio coralliilyticus Challenge. Front Physiol 2019; 10:366. [PMID: 31001143 PMCID: PMC6454040 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2019.00366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2018] [Accepted: 03/15/2019] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Vibrio coralliilyticus is known to cause coral diseases, especially under environmental perturbation, but its impact on coral physiology and underpinning mechanism is poorly understood. In the present study, we investigated cytological, immunological, and metatranscriptomic responses of the scleractinian coral Pocillopora damicornis to V. coralliilyticus infection. The density and chlorophyll content of symbiotic zooxanthellae decreased significantly at 12 and 24 h after Vibrio challenge. The activities of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase and catalase, nitric oxide synthase, phenoloxidase (PO), and the activation level of caspase3 all rose significantly in P. damicornis after Vibrio challenge. In the metatranscriptomic analysis, we found 10 significantly upregulated genes in the symbionts at 24 h after the challenge, which were mostly involved in the metabolism of nucleic acid and polysaccharide, and 133 significantly down-regulated symbiont genes, which were mainly related to amino acid catabolism and transport. Meanwhile, 1432 significantly upregulated coral genes were revealed, highly overrepresented in GO terms that are mostly related to the regulation of immune response, the regulation of cytokine production, and innate immune response. Furthermore, at 24 h after Vibrio challenge, 890 coral genes were significantly downregulated, highly overrepresented in four GO terms implicated in defense response. These results in concert suggest that V. coralliilyticus infection triggered the innate immune response including the redox, PO, and apoptosis systems, but repressed the response of the complement system in the scleractinian coral P. damicornis, accompanied by symbiont density decrease and symbiosis collapse through disordering the metabolism of the symbionts. These findings shed light on the molecular regulatory processes underlying bleaching and degradation of P. damicornis resulting from the infection of V. coralliilyticus.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhi Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Biological Resources of Ministry of Education, Hainan University, Haikou, China.,Liaoning Key Laboratory of Marine Animal Immunology and Disease Control, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, China
| | - Shuimiao Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Biological Resources of Ministry of Education, Hainan University, Haikou, China
| | - Jia Tang
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Biological Resources of Ministry of Education, Hainan University, Haikou, China
| | - Zhaoqun Liu
- Liaoning Key Laboratory of Marine Animal Immunology and Disease Control, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, China
| | - Yibo Wu
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Biological Resources of Ministry of Education, Hainan University, Haikou, China
| | - Yan Wang
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Biological Resources of Ministry of Education, Hainan University, Haikou, China
| | - Senjie Lin
- Department of Marine Sciences, University of Connecticut, Groton, CT, United States
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Radice VZ, Hoegh‐Guldberg O, Fry B, Fox MD, Dove SG. Upwelling as the major source of nitrogen for shallow and deep reef‐building corals across an oceanic atoll system. Funct Ecol 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.13314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Veronica Z. Radice
- School of Biological Sciences The University of Queensland St. Lucia Queensland Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies The University of Queensland St. Lucia Queensland Australia
- Global Change Institute The University of Queensland St. Lucia Queensland Australia
| | - Ove Hoegh‐Guldberg
- School of Biological Sciences The University of Queensland St. Lucia Queensland Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies The University of Queensland St. Lucia Queensland Australia
- Global Change Institute The University of Queensland St. Lucia Queensland Australia
| | - Brian Fry
- Australian Rivers Institute Griffith University Nathan Queensland Australia
| | - Michael D. Fox
- Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Woods Hole Massachusetts USA
| | - Sophie G. Dove
- School of Biological Sciences The University of Queensland St. Lucia Queensland Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies The University of Queensland St. Lucia Queensland Australia
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Eyal G, Cohen I, Eyal-Shaham L, Ben-Zvi O, Tikochinski Y, Loya Y. Photoacclimation and induction of light-enhanced calcification in the mesophotic coral Euphyllia paradivisa. R Soc Open Sci 2019; 6:180527. [PMID: 30891251 PMCID: PMC6408387 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.180527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2018] [Accepted: 01/07/2019] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Corals and their photosymbionts experience inherent changes in light along depth gradients, leading them to have evolved several well-investigated photoacclimation strategies. As coral calcification is influenced by light (a process described as LEC-'light-enhanced calcification'), studies have sought to determine the link between photosynthesis and calcification, but many puzzling aspects still persist. Here, we examine the physiology of Euphyllia paradivisa, a coral species found at a wide range of depths but that is strictly mesophotic in the Red Sea; and also examines the coupling between photosynthesis and LEC by investigating the response of the coral under several controlled light regimes during a long-term experiment. E. paradivisa specimens were collected from 40 to 50 m depth and incubated under three light conditions for a period of 1 year: full-spectrum shallow-water light (approx. 3 m, e.g. shallow-light treatment); blue deep-water light (approx. 40 m, e.g. mesophotic-light treatment) or total darkness (e.g. dark treatment). Net photosynthesis remained similar in the shallow-light-treated corals compared to the mesophotic-light-treated corals, under both low and high light. However, calcification increased dramatically with increasing light intensity in the shallow-light-treated corals, suggesting a decoupling between these processes. Photoacclimation to shallow-water conditions was indicated by enhanced respiration, a higher density of zooxanthellae per polyp and lower chlorophyll a content per cell. The dark-treated corals became completely bleached but did not lower their metabolism below that of the mesophotic-light-treated corals. No Symbiodinium clade shift was found following the year-long light treatments. We conclude that E. paradivisa, and its original symbiont clade, can adapt to various light conditions by controlling its metabolic rate and growth energy investment, and consequently induce LEC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gal Eyal
- School of Zoology, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
- The Interuniversity Institute for Marine Sciences of Eilat, Eilat 88103, Israel
- The Steinhardt Museum of Natural History, Israel National Center for Biodiversity Studies, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Itay Cohen
- The Interuniversity Institute for Marine Sciences of Eilat, Eilat 88103, Israel
- The Institute of Earth Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9190401, Israel
| | - Lee Eyal-Shaham
- School of Zoology, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
- The Interuniversity Institute for Marine Sciences of Eilat, Eilat 88103, Israel
| | - Or Ben-Zvi
- School of Zoology, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Yaron Tikochinski
- School of Marine Sciences, Ruppin Academic Center, Michmoret 40297, Israel
| | - Yossi Loya
- School of Zoology, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Kahng SE, Akkaynak D, Shlesinger T, Hochberg EJ, Wiedenmann J, Tamir R, Tchernov D. Light, Temperature, Photosynthesis, Heterotrophy, and the Lower Depth Limits of Mesophotic Coral Ecosystems. Coral Reefs of the World 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-92735-0_42] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
|
20
|
Shlesinger T, Loya Y. Sexual Reproduction of Scleractinian Corals in Mesophotic Coral Ecosystems vs. Shallow Reefs. Coral Reefs of the World 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-92735-0_35] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
|
21
|
Abstract
Mesophotic coral reefs, currently defined as deep reefs between 30 and 150 m, are linked physically and biologically to their shallow water counterparts, have the potential to be refuges for shallow coral reef taxa such as coral and sponges, and might be a source of larvae that could contribute to the resiliency of shallow water reefs. Mesophotic coral reefs are found worldwide, but most are undescribed and understudied. Here, we review our current knowledge of mesophotic coral reefs and their functional ecology as it relates to their geomorphology, changes in the abiotic environment along depth gradients, trophic ecology, their reproduction, and their connectivity to shallow depths. Understanding the ecology of mesophotic coral reefs, and the connectivity between them and their shallow water counterparts, is now a primary focus for many reef studies as the worldwide degradation of shallow coral reefs, and the ecosystem services they provide, continues unabated.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michael P. Lesser
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, and School of Marine Science and Ocean Engineering, University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire 03824, USA
| | - Marc Slattery
- Department of BioMolecular Science, University of Mississippi, Oxford, Mississippi 38677, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
22
|
Shlesinger T, Grinblat M, Rapuano H, Amit T, Loya Y. Can mesophotic reefs replenish shallow reefs? Reduced coral reproductive performance casts a doubt. Ecology 2018; 99:421-437. [PMID: 29205289 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.2098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2017] [Revised: 11/12/2017] [Accepted: 11/17/2017] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Mesophotic coral ecosystems (i.e., deep coral reefs at 30-120 m depth) appear to be thriving while many shallow reefs in the world are declining. Amid efforts to understand and manage their decline, it was suggested that mesophotic reefs might serve as natural refuges and a possible source of propagules for the shallow reefs. However, our knowledge of how reproductive performance of corals alters with depth is sparse. Here, we present a comprehensive study of the reproductive phenology, fecundity, and abundance of seven reef-building conspecific corals in shallow and mesophotic habitats. Significant differences were found in the synchrony and timing of gametogenesis and spawning between shallow and mesophotic coral populations. Thus, mesophotic populations exhibited delayed or protracted spawning events, which led to spawning of the mesophotic colonies in large proportions at times where the shallow ones had long been depleted of reproductive material. All species investigated demonstrated a substantial reduction in fecundity and/or oocyte sizes at mesophotic depths (40-60 m). Two species (Seriatopora hystrix and Galaxea fascicularis) displayed a reduction in both fecundity and oocyte size at mesophotic depths. Turbinaria reniformis had only reduced fecundity and Acropora squarrosa and Acropora valida only reduced oocyte size. In Montipora verrucosa, reduced fecundity was found during one annual reproductive season while, in the following year, only reduced oocyte size was found. In contrast, reduced oocyte size in mesophotic populations of Acropora squarrosa was consistent along three studied years. One species, Acropora pharaonis, was found to be infertile at mesophotic depths along two studied years. This indicates that reproductive performance decreases with depth; and that although some species are capable of reproducing at mesophotic depths, their contribution to the replenishment of shallow reefs may be inconsequential. Reduced reproductive performance with depth, combined with the possible narrower tolerance to environmental factors, further suggests that mesophotic corals may in fact be more vulnerable than previously conceived. Furthermore, we posit that the observed temporal segregation in reproduction could lead to assortative mating, and this, in turn, may facilitate adaptive divergence across depth.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tom Shlesinger
- The George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, School of Zoology, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, 69978, Israel
| | - Mila Grinblat
- The George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, School of Zoology, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, 69978, Israel
| | - Hanna Rapuano
- The George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, School of Zoology, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, 69978, Israel
| | - Tal Amit
- The George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, School of Zoology, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, 69978, Israel.,The School of Marine Sciences, Ruppin Academic Center, Michmoret, 40297, Israel
| | - Yossi Loya
- The George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, School of Zoology, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, 69978, Israel
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Ziegler M, Eguíluz VM, Duarte CM, Voolstra CR. Rare symbionts may contribute to the resilience of coral-algal assemblages. ISME J 2018; 12:161-72. [PMID: 29192903 DOI: 10.1038/ismej.2017.151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2017] [Revised: 08/02/2017] [Accepted: 08/14/2017] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
The association between corals and photosynthetic dinoflagellates (Symbiodinium spp.) is the key to the success of reef ecosystems in highly oligotrophic environments, but it is also their Achilles‘ heel due to its vulnerability to local stressors and the effects of climate change. Research during the last two decades has shaped a view that coral host–Symbiodinium pairings are diverse, but largely exclusive. Deep sequencing has now revealed the existence of a rare diversity of cryptic Symbiodinium assemblages within the coral holobiont, in addition to one or a few abundant algal members. While the contribution of the most abundant resident Symbiodinium species to coral physiology is widely recognized, the significance of the rare and low abundant background Symbiodinium remains a matter of debate. In this study, we assessed how coral–Symbiodinium communities assemble and how rare and abundant components together constitute the Symbiodinium community by analyzing 892 coral samples comprising >110 000 unique Symbiodinium ITS2 marker gene sequences. Using network modeling, we show that host–Symbiodinium communities assemble in non-random ‘clusters‘ of abundant and rare symbionts. Symbiodinium community structure follows the same principles as bacterial communities, for which the functional significance of rare members (the ‘rare bacterial biosphere’) has long been recognized. Importantly, the inclusion of rare Symbiodinium taxa in robustness analyses revealed a significant contribution to the stability of the host–symbiont community overall. As such, it highlights the potential functions rare symbionts may provide to environmental resilience of the coral holobiont.
Collapse
|
24
|
Klueter A, Trapani J, Archer FI, McIlroy SE, Coffroth MA. Comparative growth rates of cultured marine dinoflagellates in the genus Symbiodinium and the effects of temperature and light. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0187707. [PMID: 29186143 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0187707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2017] [Accepted: 10/24/2017] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Many dinoflagellate microalgae of the genus Symbiodinium form successful symbioses with a large group of metazoans and selected protists. Yet knowledge of growth kinetics of these endosymbionts and their ecological and evolutionary implications is limited. We used a Bayesian biphasic generalized logistic model to estimate key parameters of the growth of five strains of cultured Symbiodinium, S. microadriaticum (cp-type A194; strain 04–503), S. microadriaticum (cp-type A194; strain CassKB8), S. minutum (cp-type B184; strain Mf 1.05b.01.SCI.01), S. psygmophilum (cp-type B224; strain Mf 11.05b.01) and S. trenchii (cp-type D206; strain Mf 2.2b), grown in four different combinations of temperature and light. Growth kinetics varied among Symbiodinium strains and across treatments. Biphasic growth was especially evident for S. minutum and S. psygmophilum across all treatments. Monophasic growth was more common when final asymptotic densities were relatively low (~ 200 million cells ml-1). All species tended to grow faster and / or reached a higher asymptote at 26°C than at 18°C. The fastest growth was exhibited by S. minutum, with an approximate four-fold increase in estimated cell density after 60 days. The strongest effect of light was seen in S. trenchii, in which increasing light levels resulted in a decrease in initial growth rate, and an increase in asymptotic density, time when growth rate was at its maximum, final growth rate, and maximum growth rate. Results suggest that Symbiodinium species have different photokinetic and thermal optima, which may affect their growth-related nutritional physiology and allow them to modify their response to environmental changes.
Collapse
|
25
|
Prasetia R, Sinniger F, Hashizume K, Harii S. Reproductive biology of the deep brooding coral Seriatopora hystrix: Implications for shallow reef recovery. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0177034. [PMID: 28510601 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0177034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2017] [Accepted: 04/20/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Mesophotic coral ecosystems (MCEs, between 30 and 150 m depth) are hypothesized to contribute to the recovery of degraded shallow reefs through sexually produced larvae (referred to as Deep Reef Refuge Hypothesis). In Okinawa, Japan, the brooder coral Seriatopora hystrix was reported to be locally extinct in a shallow reef while it was found abundant at a MCE nearby. In this context, S. hystrix represents a key model to test the Deep Reef Refuge Hypothesis and to understand the potential contribution of mesophotic corals to shallow coral reef recovery. However, the reproductive biology of mesophotic S. hystrix and its potential to recolonize shallow reefs is currently unknown. This study reports for the first time, different temporal scales of reproductive periodicity and larval settlement of S. hystrix from an upper mesophotic reef (40 m depth) in Okinawa. We examined reproductive seasonality, lunar, and circadian periodicity (based on polyp dissection, histology, and ex situ planula release observations) and larval settlement rates in the laboratory. Mesophotic S. hystrix reproduced mainly in July and early August, with a small number of planulae being released at the end of May, June and August. Compared to shallow colonies in the same region, mesophotic S. hystrix has a 4-month shorter reproductive season, similar circadian periodicity, and smaller planula size. In addition, most of the planulae settled rapidly, limiting larval dispersal potential. The shorter reproductive season and smaller planula size may result from limited energy available for reproduction at deeper depths, while the similar circadian periodicity suggests that this reproductive aspect is not affected by environmental conditions differing with depth. Overall, contribution of mesophotic S. hystrix to shallow reef rapid recovery appears limited, although they may recruit to shallow reefs through a multistep process over a few generations or through random extreme mixing such as typhoons.
Collapse
|
26
|
Brandtneris VW, Brandt ME, Glynn PW, Gyory J, Smith TB. Seasonal Variability in Calorimetric Energy Content of Two Caribbean Mesophotic Corals. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0151953. [PMID: 27050430 PMCID: PMC4822962 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0151953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2015] [Accepted: 03/07/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Energetic responses of zooxanthellate reef corals along depth gradients have relevance to the refugia potential of mesophotic coral ecosystems (MCEs). Previous observations suggested that MCEs in the Caribbean are thermally buffered during the warmest parts of the year and occur within or just below the chlorophyll maximum, suggesting abundant trophic resources. However, it is not known if mesophotic corals can maintain constant energy needs throughout the year with changing environmental and biological conditions. The energetic content of tissues from the stony coral species Orbicella faveolata and Agaricia lamarcki was measured on the southern insular shelf of St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands (USVI), using micro-bomb calorimetry. Three sites for each species, at depths of 6m, 25m, 38m and 63m, were selected to capture energetic differences across the major vertical range extent of both species in the USVI—and sampled over five periods from April 2013 to April 2014. Mesophotic colonies of O. faveolata exhibited a significant reduction in energetic content during the month of September 2013 compared to mid-depth and shallow colonies (p = 0.032), whereas A. lamarcki experienced similar energetic variability, but with a significant reduction in energy content that occurred in July 2013 for colonies at sites deeper than 25m (p = 0.014). The results of calorimetric analyses indicate that O. faveolata may be at risk during late summer stress events, possibly due to the timing of reproductive activities. The low-point of A. lamarcki energy content, which may also coincide with reproduction, occurs prior to seasonal stress events, indicating contrasting, species-specific responses to environmental variability on MCEs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Viktor W. Brandtneris
- Center for Marine and Environmental Studies, University of the Virgin Islands, St. Thomas, United States Virgin Islands
- * E-mail:
| | - Marilyn E. Brandt
- Center for Marine and Environmental Studies, University of the Virgin Islands, St. Thomas, United States Virgin Islands
| | - Peter W. Glynn
- Rosenstiel School for Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, United States of America
| | - Joanna Gyory
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Tyler B. Smith
- Center for Marine and Environmental Studies, University of the Virgin Islands, St. Thomas, United States Virgin Islands
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Lichtenberg M, Larkum AWD, Kühl M. Photosynthetic Acclimation of Symbiodinium in hospite Depends on Vertical Position in the Tissue of the Scleractinian Coral Montastrea curta. Front Microbiol 2016; 7:230. [PMID: 26955372 PMCID: PMC4768073 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2016.00230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2016] [Accepted: 02/12/2016] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Coral photophysiology has been studied intensively from the colony scale down to the scale of single fluorescent pigment granules as light is one of the key determinants for coral health. We studied the photophysiology of the oral and aboral symbiont band of scleractinian coral Montastrea curta to investigate if different acclimation to light exist in hospite on a polyp scale. By combined use of electrochemical and fiber-optic microsensors for O2, scalar irradiance and variable chlorophyll fluorescence, we could characterize the physical and chemical microenvironment experienced by the symbionts and, for the first time, estimate effective quantum yields of PSII photochemistry and rates of electron transport at the position of the zooxanthellae corrected for the in-tissue gradient of scalar irradiance. The oral- and aboral Symbiodinium layers received ∼71% and ∼33% of surface scalar irradiance, respectively, and the two symbiont layers experience considerable differences in light exposure. Rates of gross photosynthesis did not differ markedly between the oral- and aboral layer and curves of PSII electron transport rates corrected for scalar irradiance in hospite, showed that the light use efficiency under sub-saturating light conditions were similar between the two layers. However, the aboral Symbiodinium band did not experience photosynthetic saturation, even at the highest investigated irradiance where the oral layer was clearly saturated. We thus found a different light acclimation response for the oral and aboral symbiont bands in hospite, and discuss whether such response could be shaped by spectral shifts caused by tissue gradients of scalar irradiance. Based on our experimental finding, combined with previous knowledge, we present a conceptual model on the photophysiology of Symbiodinium residing inside living coral tissue under natural gradients of light and chemical parameters.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mads Lichtenberg
- Marine Biological Section, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen Helsingør, Denmark
| | - Anthony W D Larkum
- Plant Functional Biology and Climate Change Cluster (C3), University of Technology Sydney Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Michael Kühl
- Marine Biological Section, Department of Biology, University of CopenhagenHelsingør, Denmark; Plant Functional Biology and Climate Change Cluster (C3), University of Technology SydneySydney, NSW, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Karim W, Seidi A, Hill R, Chow WS, Minagawa J, Hidaka M, Takahashi S. Novel Characteristics of Photodamage to PSII in a High-Light-Sensitive Symbiodinium Phylotype. Plant Cell Physiol 2015; 56:1162-1171. [PMID: 25759327 DOI: 10.1093/pcp/pcv040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2014] [Accepted: 03/02/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Dinoflagellates from the genus Symbiodinium form symbiotic relationships with many marine invertebrates, including reef-building corals. Symbiodinium is genetically diverse, and acquiring suitable Symbiodinium phylotypes is crucial for the host to survive in habitat environments, such as high-light conditions. The sensitivity of Symbiodinium to high light differs among Symbiodinium phylotypes, but the mechanism that controls light sensitivity has not yet been fully resolved. In the present study using high-light-tolerant and -sensitive Symbiodinium phylotypes, we examined what determines sensitivity to high light. In growth experiments under different light intensities, Symbiodinium CS-164 (clade B1) and CCMP2459 (clade B2) were identified as high-light-tolerant and -sensitive phylotypes, respectively. Measurements of the maximum quantum yield of photosystem II (PSII) and the maximum photosynthetic oxygen production rate after high-light exposure demonstrated that CCMP2459 is more sensitive to photoinhibition of PSII than CS-164, and tends to lose maximum photosynthetic activity faster. Measurement of photodamage to PSII under light of different wavelength ranges demonstrated that PSII in both Symbiodinium phylotypes was significantly more sensitive to photodamage under shorter wavelength regions of light spectra (<470 nm). Importantly, PSII in CCMP2459, but not CS-164, was also sensitive to photodamage under the regions of light spectra around 470-550 and 630-710 nm, where photosynthetic antenna proteins of Symbiodinium have light absorption peaks. This finding indicates that the high-light-sensitive CCMP2459 has an extra component of photodamage to PSII, resulting in higher sensitivity to high light. Our results demonstrate that sensitivity of PSII to photodamage differs among Symbiodinium phylotypes and this determines their sensitivity to high light.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Widiastuti Karim
- Graduate School of Engineering and Science, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Okinawa, 903-0213 Japan These authors contributed equally to this work
| | - Azadeh Seidi
- Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, ACTON, Australian Capital Territory 2601, Australia These authors contributed equally to this work
| | - Ross Hill
- Centre for Marine Bio-Innovation and Sydney Institute of Marine Science, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Wah S Chow
- Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, ACTON, Australian Capital Territory 2601, Australia
| | - Jun Minagawa
- Division of Environmental Photobiology, National Institute for Basic Biology, Nishigonaka 38, Myodaiji, Okazaki, 444-8585 Japan
| | - Michio Hidaka
- Graduate School of Engineering and Science, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Okinawa, 903-0213 Japan
| | - Shunichi Takahashi
- Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, ACTON, Australian Capital Territory 2601, Australia Division of Environmental Photobiology, National Institute for Basic Biology, Nishigonaka 38, Myodaiji, Okazaki, 444-8585 Japan
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
D Ainsworth T, Krause L, Bridge T, Torda G, Raina JB, Zakrzewski M, Gates RD, Padilla-Gamiño JL, Spalding HL, Smith C, Woolsey ES, Bourne DG, Bongaerts P, Hoegh-Guldberg O, Leggat W. The coral core microbiome identifies rare bacterial taxa as ubiquitous endosymbionts. ISME J 2015; 9:2261-74. [PMID: 25885563 PMCID: PMC4579478 DOI: 10.1038/ismej.2015.39] [Citation(s) in RCA: 307] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2014] [Revised: 02/02/2015] [Accepted: 02/12/2015] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Despite being one of the simplest metazoans, corals harbor some of the most highly diverse and abundant microbial communities. Differentiating core, symbiotic bacteria from this diverse host-associated consortium is essential for characterizing the functional contributions of bacteria but has not been possible yet. Here we characterize the coral core microbiome and demonstrate clear phylogenetic and functional divisions between the micro-scale, niche habitats within the coral host. In doing so, we discover seven distinct bacterial phylotypes that are universal to the core microbiome of coral species, separated by thousands of kilometres of oceans. The two most abundant phylotypes are co-localized specifically with the corals' endosymbiotic algae and symbiont-containing host cells. These bacterial symbioses likely facilitate the success of the dinoflagellate endosymbiosis with corals in diverse environmental regimes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tracy D Ainsworth
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Lutz Krause
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Thomas Bridge
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Gergely Torda
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia.,School of Pharmacy and Molecular Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Jean-Baptise Raina
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia.,School of Pharmacy and Molecular Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Martha Zakrzewski
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Ruth D Gates
- Hawaii Institute for Marine Biology, University of Hawai'i, Mānoa, HI, USA
| | - Jacqueline L Padilla-Gamiño
- Hawaii Institute for Marine Biology, University of Hawai'i, Mānoa, HI, USA.,Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
| | | | - Celia Smith
- Department of Botany, University of Hawai'i, Mānoa, HI, USA
| | - Erika S Woolsey
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - David G Bourne
- Australian Institute for Marine Science, PMB 3, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Pim Bongaerts
- The Global Change Institute, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Ove Hoegh-Guldberg
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia.,The Global Change Institute, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - William Leggat
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia.,School of Pharmacy and Molecular Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Klueter A, Crandall JB, Archer FI, Teece MA, Coffroth MA. Taxonomic and environmental variation of metabolite profiles in marine dinoflagellates of the genus symbiodinium. Metabolites 2015; 5:74-99. [PMID: 25693143 DOI: 10.3390/metabo5010074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2014] [Revised: 02/04/2015] [Accepted: 02/09/2015] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Microorganisms in terrestrial and marine ecosystems are essential to environmental sustainability. In the marine environment, invertebrates often depend on metabolic cooperation with their endosymbionts. Coral reefs, one of the most important marine ecosystems, are based on the symbiosis between a broad diversity of dinoflagellates of the genus Symbiodinium and a wide phyletic diversity of hosts (i.e., cnidarian, molluscan, poriferan). This diversity is reflected in the ecology and physiology of the symbionts, yet the underlying biochemical mechanisms are still poorly understood. We examined metabolite profiles of four cultured species of Symbiodinium known to form viable symbioses with reef-building corals, S. microadriaticum (cp-type A194), S. minutum (cp-type B184), S. psygmophilum (cp-type B224) and S. trenchii (cp-type D206). Metabolite profiles were shown to differ among Symbiodinium species and were found to be affected by their physiological response to growth in different temperatures and light regimes. A combined Random Forests and Bayesian analysis revealed that the four Symbiodinium species examined primarily differed in their production of sterols and sugars, including a C29 stanol and the two sterols C28Δ5 and C28Δ5,22, as well as differences in metabolite abundances of a hexose and inositol. Inositol levels were also strongly affected by changes in temperature across all Symbiodinium species. Our results offer a detailed view of the metabolite profile characteristic of marine symbiotic dinoflagellates of the genus Symbiodinium, and identify patterns of metabolites related to several growth conditions.
Collapse
|
31
|
Pochon X, Forsman ZH, Spalding HL, Padilla-Gamiño JL, Smith CM, Gates RD. Depth specialization in mesophotic corals (Leptoseris spp.) and associated algal symbionts in Hawai'i. R Soc Open Sci 2015; 2:140351. [PMID: 26064599 PMCID: PMC4448807 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.140351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2014] [Accepted: 01/07/2015] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Corals at the lower limits of mesophotic habitats are likely to have unique photosynthetic adaptations that allow them to persist and dominate in these extreme low light ecosystems. We examined the host-symbiont relationships from the dominant coral genus Leptoseris in mesophotic environments from Hawai'i collected by submersibles across a depth gradient of 65-125 m. Coral and Symbiodinium genotypes were compared with three distinct molecular markers including coral (COX1-1-rRNA intron) and Symbiodinium (COI) mitochondrial markers and nuclear ITS2. The phylogenetic reconstruction clearly resolved five Leptoseris species, including one species (Leptoseris hawaiiensis) exclusively found in deeper habitats (115-125 m). The Symbiodinium mitochondrial marker resolved three unambiguous haplotypes in clade C, which were found at significantly different frequencies between host species and depths, with one haplotype exclusively found at the lower mesophotic extremes (95-125 m). These patterns of host-symbiont depth specialization indicate that there are limits to connectivity between upper and lower mesophotic zones, suggesting that niche specialization plays a critical role in host-symbiont evolution at mesophotic extremes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- X. Pochon
- Environmental Technologies, Coastal and Freshwater Group, Cawthron Institute, Nelson, New Zealand
- Institute of Marine Science, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
- Author for correspondence: X. Pochon e-mail:
| | - Z. H. Forsman
- Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawai'i, Kaneohe, HI, USA
| | - H. L. Spalding
- Department of Botany, University of Hawai'i at Mnoa, Honolulu, HI, USA
| | - J. L. Padilla-Gamiño
- Department of Biology, California State University Dominguez Hills, Carson, CA, USA
| | - C. M. Smith
- Department of Botany, University of Hawai'i at Mnoa, Honolulu, HI, USA
| | - R. D. Gates
- Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawai'i, Kaneohe, HI, USA
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Bongaerts P, Carmichael M, Hay KB, Tonk L, Frade PR, Hoegh-Guldberg O. Prevalent endosymbiont zonation shapes the depth distributions of scleractinian coral species. R Soc Open Sci 2015; 2:140297. [PMID: 26064597 PMCID: PMC4448818 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.140297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2014] [Accepted: 01/13/2015] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Bathymetric distributions of photosynthetic marine invertebrate species are relatively well studied, however the importance of symbiont zonation (i.e. hosting of distinct algal endosymbiont communities over depth) in determining these depth distributions still remains unclear. Here, we assess the prevalence of symbiont zonation in tropical scleractinian corals by genotyping the Symbiodinium of the 25 most common species over a large depth range (down to 60 m) on a Caribbean reef. Symbiont depth zonation was found to be common on a reef-wide scale (11 out of 25 coral species), and a dominant feature in species with the widest depth distributions. With regards to reproductive strategy, symbiont zonation was more common in broadcasting species, which also exhibited a higher level of polymorphism in the symbiont zonation (i.e. number of different Symbiodinium profiles involved). Species with symbiont zonation exhibited significantly broader depth distributions than those without, highlighting the role of symbiont zonation in shaping the vertical distributions of the coral host. Overall, the results demonstrate that coral reefs can consist of highly structured communities over depth when considering both the coral host and their obligate photosymbionts, which probably has strong implications for the extent of connectivity between shallow and mesophotic habitats.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pim Bongaerts
- Global Change Institute, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia
- CARMABI, Piscaderabaai z/n, PO Box 2090, Willemstad, Curaçao
| | - Margaux Carmichael
- Global Change Institute, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Kyra B. Hay
- Global Change Institute, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Linda Tonk
- Global Change Institute, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Pedro R. Frade
- CARMABI, Piscaderabaai z/n, PO Box 2090, Willemstad, Curaçao
- Department of Limnology and Bio-Oceanography, Division of Marine Biology, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, Vienna 1090, Austria
| | - Ove Hoegh-Guldberg
- Global Change Institute, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Wangpraseurt D, Tamburic B, Szabó M, Suggett D, Ralph PJ, Kühl M. Spectral effects on Symbiodinium photobiology studied with a programmable light engine. PLoS One 2014; 9:e112809. [PMID: 25389753 PMCID: PMC4229233 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0112809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2014] [Accepted: 10/16/2014] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The spectral light field of Symbiodinium within the tissue of the coral animal host can deviate strongly from the ambient light field on a coral reef and that of artificial light sources used in lab studies on coral photobiology. Here, we used a novel approach involving light microsensor measurements and a programmable light engine to reconstruct the spectral light field that Symbiodinium is exposed to inside the coral host and the light field of a conventional halogen lamp in a comparative study of Symbiodinium photobiology. We found that extracellular gross photosynthetic O2 evolution was unchanged under different spectral illumination, while the more red-weighted halogen lamp spectrum decreased PSII electron transport rates and there was a trend towards increased light-enhanced dark respiration rates under excess irradiance. The approach provided here allows for reconstructing and comparing intra-tissue coral light fields and other complex spectral compositions of incident irradiance. This novel combination of sensor technologies provides a framework to studying the influence of macro- and microscale optics on Symbiodinium photobiology with unprecedented spectral resolution.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Wangpraseurt
- Plant Functional Biology and Climate Change Cluster, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Bojan Tamburic
- Plant Functional Biology and Climate Change Cluster, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Milán Szabó
- Plant Functional Biology and Climate Change Cluster, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - David Suggett
- Plant Functional Biology and Climate Change Cluster, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Peter J. Ralph
- Plant Functional Biology and Climate Change Cluster, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Michael Kühl
- Plant Functional Biology and Climate Change Cluster, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, Australia
- Marine Biological Section, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Helsingør, Denmark
- Singapore Centre on Environmental Life Sciences Engineering, School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Schrameyer V, Wangpraseurt D, Hill R, Kühl M, Larkum AWD, Ralph PJ. Light respiratory processes and gross photosynthesis in two scleractinian corals. PLoS One 2014; 9:e110814. [PMID: 25360746 PMCID: PMC4216011 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0110814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2014] [Accepted: 09/25/2014] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The light dependency of respiratory activity of two scleractinian corals was examined using O2 microsensors and CO2 exchange measurements. Light respiration increased strongly but asymptotically with elevated irradiance in both species. Light respiration in Pocillopora damicornis was higher than in Pavona decussata under low irradiance, indicating species-specific differences in light-dependent metabolic processes. Overall, the coral P. decussata exhibited higher CO2 uptake rates than P. damicornis over the experimental irradiance range. P. decussata also harboured twice as many algal symbionts and higher total protein biomass compared to P. damicornis, possibly resulting in self-shading of the symbionts and/or changes in host tissue specific light distribution. Differences in light respiration and CO2 availability could be due to host-specific characteristics that modulate the symbiont microenvironment, its photosynthesis, and hence the overall performance of the coral holobiont.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Verena Schrameyer
- Plant Functional Biology and Climate Change Cluster, School of the Environment, University of Technology, Sydney, Ultimo, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Daniel Wangpraseurt
- Plant Functional Biology and Climate Change Cluster, School of the Environment, University of Technology, Sydney, Ultimo, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Ross Hill
- Plant Functional Biology and Climate Change Cluster, School of the Environment, University of Technology, Sydney, Ultimo, New South Wales, Australia
- Centre for Marine Bio-Innovation and Sydney Institute of Marine Science, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Michael Kühl
- Plant Functional Biology and Climate Change Cluster, School of the Environment, University of Technology, Sydney, Ultimo, New South Wales, Australia
- Marine Biological Section, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Helsingør, Denmark
- Singapore Centre on Environmental Life Sciences Engineering, School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Anthony W. D. Larkum
- Plant Functional Biology and Climate Change Cluster, School of the Environment, University of Technology, Sydney, Ultimo, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Peter J. Ralph
- Plant Functional Biology and Climate Change Cluster, School of the Environment, University of Technology, Sydney, Ultimo, New South Wales, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Tamburic B, Szabó M, Tran NAT, Larkum AWD, Suggett DJ, Ralph PJ. Action spectra of oxygen production and chlorophyll a fluorescence in the green microalga Nannochloropsis oculata. Bioresour Technol 2014; 169:320-327. [PMID: 25063974 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2014.07.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2014] [Revised: 06/30/2014] [Accepted: 07/01/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
The first complete action spectrum of oxygen evolution and chlorophyll a fluorescence was measured for the biofuel candidate alga Nannochloropsis oculata. A novel analytical procedure was used to generate a representative and reproducible action spectrum for microalgal cultures. The action spectrum was measured at 14 discrete wavelengths across the visible spectrum, at an equivalent photon flux density of 60 μmol photon sm(-2) s(-1). Blue light (∼ 414 nm) was absorbed more efficiently and directed to photosystem II more effectively than red light (∼ 679 nm) at light intensities below the photosaturation limit. Conversion of absorbed photons into photosynthetic oxygen evolution was maximised at 625 nm; however, this maximum is unstable since neighbouring wavelengths (646 nm) resulted in the lowest photosystem II operating efficiency. Identifying the wavelength-dependence of photosynthesis has clear implications to optimising growth efficiency and hence important economic implications to the algal biofuels and bioproducts industries.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bojan Tamburic
- Plant Functional Biology and Climate Change Cluster (C3), University of Technology, Sydney, Broadway NSW 2007, Australia.
| | - Milán Szabó
- Plant Functional Biology and Climate Change Cluster (C3), University of Technology, Sydney, Broadway NSW 2007, Australia
| | - Nhan-An T Tran
- School of the Environment, Faculty of Science, University of Technology, Sydney, Broadway NSW 2007, Australia
| | - Anthony W D Larkum
- Plant Functional Biology and Climate Change Cluster (C3), University of Technology, Sydney, Broadway NSW 2007, Australia
| | - David J Suggett
- Plant Functional Biology and Climate Change Cluster (C3), University of Technology, Sydney, Broadway NSW 2007, Australia
| | - Peter J Ralph
- Plant Functional Biology and Climate Change Cluster (C3), University of Technology, Sydney, Broadway NSW 2007, Australia; School of the Environment, Faculty of Science, University of Technology, Sydney, Broadway NSW 2007, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Bay LK, Guérécheau A, Andreakis N, Ulstrup KE, Matz MV. Gene expression signatures of energetic acclimatisation in the reef building coral Acropora millepora. PLoS One 2013; 8:e61736. [PMID: 23671571 PMCID: PMC3650039 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0061736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2012] [Accepted: 03/13/2013] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Understanding the mechanisms by which natural populations cope with environmental stress is paramount to predict their persistence in the face of escalating anthropogenic impacts. Reef-building corals are increasingly exposed to local and global stressors that alter nutritional status causing reduced fitness and mortality, however, these responses can vary considerably across species and populations. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS We compare the expression of 22 coral host genes in individuals from an inshore and an offshore reef location using quantitative Reverse Transcription-PCR (qRT-PCR) over the course of 26 days following translocation into a shaded, filtered seawater environment. Declines in lipid content and PSII activity of the algal endosymbionts (Symbiodinium ITS-1 type C2) over the course of the experiment indicated that heterotrophic uptake and photosynthesis were limited, creating nutritional deprivation conditions. Regulation of coral host genes involved in metabolism, CO2 transport and oxidative stress could be detected already after five days, whereas PSII activity took twice as long to respond. Opposing expression trajectories of Tgl, which releases fatty acids from the triacylglycerol storage, and Dgat1, which catalyses the formation of triglycerides, indicate that the decline in lipid content can be attributed, at least in part, by mobilisation of triacylglycerol stores. Corals from the inshore location had initially higher lipid content and showed consistently elevated expression levels of two genes involved in metabolism (aldehyde dehydrogenase) and calcification (carbonic anhydrase). CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE Coral host gene expression adjusts rapidly upon change in nutritional conditions, and therefore can serve as an early signature of imminent coral stress. Consistent gene expression differences between populations indicate that corals acclimatize and/or adapt to local environments. Our results set the stage for analysis of these processes in natural coral populations, to better understand the responses of coral communities to global climate change and to develop more efficient management strategies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Line K Bay
- Climate Change and Ocean Acidification Team, Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Queensland, Australia.
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
37
|
Cooper TF, Berkelmans R, Ulstrup KE, Weeks S, Radford B, Jones AM, Doyle J, Canto M, O'Leary RA, van Oppen MJH. Environmental factors controlling the distribution of symbiodinium harboured by the coral Acropora millepora on the Great Barrier Reef. PLoS One 2011; 6:e25536. [PMID: 22065989 PMCID: PMC3204971 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0025536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2011] [Accepted: 09/06/2011] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Symbiodinium community associated with scleractinian corals is widely considered to be shaped by seawater temperature, as the coral's upper temperature tolerance is largely contingent on the Symbiodinium types harboured. Few studies have challenged this paradigm as knowledge of other environmental drivers on the distribution of Symbiodinium is limited. Here, we examine the influence of a range of environmental variables on the distribution of Symbiodinium associated with Acropora millepora collected from 47 coral reefs spanning 1,400 km on the Great Barrier Reef (GBR), Australia. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS The environmental data included Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) satellite data at 1 km spatial resolution from which a number of sea surface temperature (SST) and water quality metrics were derived. In addition, the carbonate and mud composition of sediments were incorporated into the analysis along with in situ water quality samples for a subset of locations. Analyses were conducted at three spatio-temporal scales [GBR (regional-scale), Whitsunday Islands (local-scale) and Keppel Islands/Trunk Reef (temporal)] to examine the effects of scale on the distribution patterns. While SST metrics were important drivers of the distribution of Symbiodinium types at regional and temporal scales, our results demonstrate that spatial variability in water quality correlates significantly with Symbiodinium distribution at local scales. Background levels of Symbiodinium types were greatest at turbid inshore locations of the Whitsunday Islands where SST predictors were not as important. This was not the case at regional scales where combinations of mud and carbonate sediment content coupled with SST anomalies and mean summer SST explained 51.3% of the variation in dominant Symbiodinium communities. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE Reef corals may respond to global-scale stressors such as climate change through changes in their resident symbiont communities, however, management of local-scale stressors such as altered water quality is also necessary for maintenance of coral-Symbiodinium associations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Timothy F. Cooper
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Oceans Institute, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Australia
| | - Ray Berkelmans
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Australia
| | | | - Scarla Weeks
- Centre for Spatial Environmental Research and Coral Reef Ecosystems Lab, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Australia
| | - Ben Radford
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Oceans Institute, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Australia
| | - Alison M. Jones
- Centre for Environmental Management, Central Queensland University, Rockhampton, Australia
| | - Jason Doyle
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Australia
| | - Marites Canto
- Centre for Spatial Environmental Research and Coral Reef Ecosystems Lab, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Australia
| | - Rebecca A. O'Leary
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Oceans Institute, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Australia
| | | |
Collapse
|
38
|
Bongaerts P, Riginos C, Hay KB, van Oppen MJH, Hoegh-Guldberg O, Dove S. Adaptive divergence in a scleractinian coral: physiological adaptation of Seriatopora hystrix to shallow and deep reef habitats. BMC Evol Biol 2011; 11:303. [PMID: 22004364 PMCID: PMC3203877 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2148-11-303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2011] [Accepted: 10/17/2011] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Divergent natural selection across environmental gradients has been acknowledged as a major driver of population and species divergence, however its role in the diversification of scleractinian corals remains poorly understood. Recently, it was demonstrated that the brooding coral Seriatopora hystrix and its algal endosymbionts (Symbiodinium) are genetically partitioned across reef environments (0-30 m) on the far northern Great Barrier Reef. Here, we explore the potential mechanisms underlying this differentiation and assess the stability of host-symbiont associations through a reciprocal transplantation experiment across habitats ('Back Reef', 'Upper Slope' and 'Deep Slope'), in combination with molecular (mtDNA and ITS2-DGGE) and photo-physiological analyses (respirometry and HPLC). RESULTS The highest survival rates were observed for native transplants (measured 14 months after transplantation), indicating differential selective pressures between habitats. Host-symbiont assemblages remained stable during the experimental duration, demonstrating that the ability to "shuffle" or "switch" symbionts is restricted in S. hystrix. Photo-physiological differences were observed between transplants originating from the shallow and deep habitats, with indirect evidence of an increased heterotrophic capacity in native deep-water transplants (from the 'Deep Slope' habitat). Similar photo-acclimatisation potential was observed between transplants originating from the two shallow habitats ('Back Reef' and 'Upper Slope'), highlighting that their genetic segregation over depth may be due to other, non-photo-physiological traits under selection. CONCLUSIONS This study confirms that the observed habitat partitioning of S. hystrix (and associated Symbiodinium) is reflective of adaptive divergence along a depth gradient. Gene flow appears to be reduced due to divergent selection, highlighting the potential role of ecological mechanisms, in addition to physical dispersal barriers, in the diversification of scleractinian corals and their associated Symbiodinium.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pim Bongaerts
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Cynthia Riginos
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Kyra B Hay
- Heron Island Research Station, The University of Queensland, Heron Island, QLD 4680, Australia
| | | | - Ove Hoegh-Guldberg
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
- Global Change Institute, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Sophie Dove
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Cooper TF, Lai M, Ulstrup KE, Saunders SM, Flematti GR, Radford B, van Oppen MJH. Symbiodinium genotypic and environmental controls on lipids in reef building corals. PLoS One 2011; 6:e20434. [PMID: 21637826 PMCID: PMC3102723 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0020434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2011] [Accepted: 05/02/2011] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Lipids in reef building corals can be divided into two classes; non-polar storage lipids, e.g. wax esters and triglycerides, and polar structural lipids, e.g. phospholipids and cholesterol. Differences among algal endosymbiont types are known to have important influences on processes including growth and the photobiology of scleractinian corals yet very little is known about the role of symbiont types on lipid energy reserves. Methodology/Principal Findings The ratio of storage lipid and structural lipid fractions of Scott Reef corals were determined by thin layer chromatography. The lipid fraction ratio varied with depth and depended on symbiont type harboured by two corals (Seriatopora hystrix and Pachyseris speciosa). S. hystrix colonies associated with Symbiodinium C1 or C1/C# at deep depths (>23 m) had lower lipid fraction ratios (i.e. approximately equal parts of storage and structural lipids) than those with Symbiodinium D1 in shallow depths (<23 m), which had higher lipid fraction ratios (i.e. approximately double amounts of storage relative to structural lipid). Further, there was a non-linear relationship between the lipid fraction ratio and depth for S. hystrix with a modal peak at ∼23 m coinciding with the same depth as the shift from clade D to C types. In contrast, the proportional relationship between the lipid fraction ratio and depth for P. speciosa, which exhibited high specificity for Symbiodinium C3 like across the depth gradient, was indicative of greater amounts of storage lipids contained in the deep colonies. Conclusions/Significance This study has demonstrated that Symbiodinium exert significant controls over the quality of coral energy reserves over a large-scale depth gradient. We conclude that the competitive advantages and metabolic costs that arise from flexible associations with divergent symbiont types are offset by energetic trade-offs for the coral host.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Timothy F Cooper
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, UWA Oceans Institute, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
40
|
van Oppen MJH, Bongaerts P, Underwood JN, Peplow LM, Cooper TF. The role of deep reefs in shallow reef recovery: an assessment of vertical connectivity in a brooding coral from west and east Australia. Mol Ecol 2011; 20:1647-60. [PMID: 21410573 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-294x.2011.05050.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 133] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
|