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Williams TJ, Basford PJ, Katsamenis OL, Solan M, Foster GL, Standish C, Godbold JA, Archambault P. Three-dimensional reconstruction of high latitude bamboo coral via X-ray microfocus Computed Tomography. Sci Data 2024; 11:602. [PMID: 38849366 PMCID: PMC11161459 DOI: 10.1038/s41597-024-03396-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/09/2024] Open
Abstract
The skeletons of long-lived bamboo coral (Family Keratoisididae) are promising archives for deep-water palaeoceanographic reconstructions as they can record environmental variation at sub-decadal resolution in locations where in-situ measurements lack temporal coverage. Yet, detailed three dimensional (3D) characterisations of bamboo coral skeletal architecture are not routinely available and non-destructive investigations into microscale variations in calcification are rare. Here, we provide high-resolution micro-focus computed tomography (µCT) data of skeletal density for two species of bamboo coral (Acanella arbuscula: 5 specimens, voxel size, 15 µm (central branch scans) and 50 µm (complete structure scan); Keratoisis sp.: 4 specimens, voxel size, 15 µm) collected from the Labrador Sea and Baffin Bay deep-water basins, Eastern Canadian Arctic. These data provide reference models useful for developing methods to assess structural integrity and other fine-scale complexities in many biological, geological, and industrial systems. This will be of wider value to those investigating structural composition, arrangement and/or composition of complex architecture within the fields and subdisciplines of biology, ecology, medicine, environmental geology, and structural engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas J Williams
- School of Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre Southampton, University of Southampton, Waterfront Campus, European Way, Southampton, SO14 3ZH, UK.
| | - Philip J Basford
- µ-VIS X-ray Imaging Centre, Building 5, University of Southampton, Highfield Campus, University Road, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK
| | - Orestis L Katsamenis
- µ-VIS X-ray Imaging Centre, Building 5, University of Southampton, Highfield Campus, University Road, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK
| | - Martin Solan
- School of Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre Southampton, University of Southampton, Waterfront Campus, European Way, Southampton, SO14 3ZH, UK
| | - Gavin L Foster
- School of Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre Southampton, University of Southampton, Waterfront Campus, European Way, Southampton, SO14 3ZH, UK
| | - Christopher Standish
- School of Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre Southampton, University of Southampton, Waterfront Campus, European Way, Southampton, SO14 3ZH, UK
| | - Jasmin A Godbold
- School of Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre Southampton, University of Southampton, Waterfront Campus, European Way, Southampton, SO14 3ZH, UK
| | - Philippe Archambault
- ArcticNet, Québec Océan, Takuvik Joint International Laboratory CNRS, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada
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Li Y, Liao X, Wang X, Li Y, Zhao H, Zhao Y, Chen J, He C, Lu Z. Polyp-Canal Reconstruction Reveals Evolution Toward Complexity in Corals. RESEARCH (WASHINGTON, D.C.) 2023; 6:0166. [PMID: 37287887 PMCID: PMC10243894 DOI: 10.34133/research.0166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2022] [Accepted: 05/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Modern scleractinian corals are classified into robust, complex, and basal clades through comparative molecular studies. However, only few morphological or biological criteria can systematically determine the evolutionary trajectories of these major scleractinian coral clades. Here, we obtained the structural information of 21 scleractinian coral species representing robust and complex clades: High-resolution micro-computed tomography was used to reconstruct the polyp-canal systems in their colonies and to visualize the dynamic polyp growth processes. We found that the emergence of mesh-like canals may distinguish representatives of complex and robust clades. The differences in polyp-canal connections suggest distinct evolutionary trajectories among coral species: The formation of the canal network promoted the development of more complex coral structures, and coral polyps within this network formed calices of very similar volume, following precise axial growth directions. The influence of individual polyps on the coral colony becomes less significant as coral structures become more complex, and coral species with more complicated polyp-canal systems occupied niches more efficiently. This work supplements current evolutionary studies on reef-building corals, providing insight for further studies on coral growth patterns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yixin Li
- State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering,
Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China
- State Key Laboratory of Coastal and Offshore Engineering,
Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
| | - Xin Liao
- Guangxi Key Lab of Mangrove Conservation and Utilization, Guangxi Mangrove Research Center,
Guangxi Academy of Sciences, Beihai 536000, China
| | - Xin Wang
- Guangxi Key Lab of Mangrove Conservation and Utilization, Guangxi Mangrove Research Center,
Guangxi Academy of Sciences, Beihai 536000, China
| | - Yuanchao Li
- Hainan Academy of Ocean and Fishery Sciences, Haikou 571126, China.
| | - Hongwei Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Resources Utilization in South China Sea,
Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
| | - Yunpeng Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Coastal and Offshore Engineering,
Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
| | - Junyuan Chen
- Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 39 East Beijing Road, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Chunpeng He
- State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering,
Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China
| | - Zuhong Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering,
Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China
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Full-Length Transcriptome Maps of Reef-Building Coral Illuminate the Molecular Basis of Calcification, Symbiosis, and Circa-Dian Genes. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms231911135. [PMID: 36232445 PMCID: PMC9570262 DOI: 10.3390/ijms231911135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Revised: 09/08/2022] [Accepted: 09/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Coral transcriptomic data largely rely on short-read sequencing, which severely limits the understanding of coral molecular mechanisms and leaves many important biological questions unresolved. Here, we sequence the full-length transcriptomes of four common and frequently dominant reef-building corals using the PacBio Sequel II platform. We obtain information on reported gene functions, structures, and expression profiles. Among them, a comparative analysis of biomineralization-related genes provides insights into the molecular basis of coral skeletal density. The gene expression profiles of the symbiont Symbiodiniaceae are also isolated and annotated from the holobiont sequence data. Finally, a phylogenetic analysis of key circadian clock genes among 40 evolutionarily representative species indicates that there are four key members in early metazoans, including cry genes; Clock or Npas2; cyc or Arntl; and tim, while per, as the fifth member, occurs in Bilateria. In summary, this work provides a foundation for further work on the manipulation of skeleton production or symbiosis to promote the survival of these important organisms.
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Li Y, Liao X, Bi K, Han T, Chen J, Lu J, He C, Lu Z. Micro-CT reconstruction reveals the colony pattern regulations of four dominant reef-building corals. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:16266-16279. [PMID: 34824826 PMCID: PMC8601894 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.8308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2021] [Revised: 10/19/2021] [Accepted: 10/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Colonies are the basic geometric building blocks of coral reefs. However, the forming regulations of both colonies and reefs are still not understood adequately. Therefore, in this study, we reconstructed 25 samples using high-resolution micro-computed tomography to investigate coral growth patterns and parameters. Our skeleton and canal reconstructions revealed the characteristics of different coral species, and we further visualized the growth axes and growth rings to understand the coral growth directions. We drew a skeleton grayscale map and calculated the coral skeleton void ratios to ascertain the skeletal diversity, devising a method to quantify coral growth. On the basis of the three-dimensional (3D) reconstructions and growth parameters, we investigated the growth strategies of different coral species. This research increases the breadth of knowledge on how reef-building corals grow their colonies, providing information on reef-forming regulations. The data in this paper contain a large amount of coral growth information, which can be used in further research on reef-forming patterns under different conditions. The method used in this study can also be applied to animals with porous skeletons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yixin Li
- State Key Laboratory of BioelectronicsSchool of Biological Science and Medical EngineeringSoutheast UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Xin Liao
- Guangxi Key Lab of Mangrove Conservation and UtilizationGuangxi Academy of SciencesGuangxi Mangrove Research CenterBeihaiChina
| | - Kun Bi
- State Key Laboratory of BioelectronicsSchool of Biological Science and Medical EngineeringSoutheast UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Tingyu Han
- State Key Laboratory of BioelectronicsSchool of Biological Science and Medical EngineeringSoutheast UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Junyuan Chen
- Nanjing Institute of Geology and PalaeontologyChinese Academy of SciencesNanjingChina
| | - Jing Lu
- Key Laboratory of Vertebrate Evolution and Human Origins of Chinese Academy of SciencesInstitute of Vertebrate Paleontology and PaleoanthropologyChinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
- CAS Center for Excellence in Life and PaleoenvironmentBeijingChina
| | - Chunpeng He
- State Key Laboratory of BioelectronicsSchool of Biological Science and Medical EngineeringSoutheast UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Zuhong Lu
- State Key Laboratory of BioelectronicsSchool of Biological Science and Medical EngineeringSoutheast UniversityNanjingChina
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