1
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Lamb AM, Peplow LM, Dungan AM, Ferguson SN, Harrison PL, Humphrey CA, McCutchan GA, Nitschke MR, van Oppen MJH. Interspecific hybridisation provides a low-risk option for increasing genetic diversity of reef-building corals. Biol Open 2024; 13:bio060482. [PMID: 39207257 PMCID: PMC11381923 DOI: 10.1242/bio.060482] [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: 04/14/2024] [Accepted: 07/08/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Interspecific hybridisation increases genetic diversity and has played a significant role in the evolution of corals in the genus Acropora. In vitro fertilisation can be used to increase the frequency of hybridisation among corals, potentially enhancing their ability to adapt to climate change. Here, we assessed the field performance of hybrids derived from the highly cross-fertile coral species Acropora sarmentosa and Acropora florida from the Great Barrier Reef. Following outplanting to an inshore reef environment, the 10-month survivorship of the hybrid offspring groups was intermediate between that of the purebred groups, although not all pairwise comparisons were statistically significant. The A. florida purebreds, which had the lowest survivorship, were significantly larger at 10 months post-deployment compared to the other three groups. The four offspring groups harboured the same intracellular photosymbiont communities (Symbiodiniaceae), indicating that observed performance differences were due to the coral host and not photosymbiont communities. The limited differences in the performance of the groups and the lack of outbreeding depression of the F1 hybrids in the field suggest that interspecific hybridisation may be a useful method to boost the genetic diversity, and as such increase the adaptive capacity, of coral stock for restoration of degraded and potentially genetically eroded populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annika M Lamb
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, 1526 Cape Cleveland Road, Cape Cleveland 4810, Queensland, Australia
- School of Biosciences, The University of Melbourne, Grattan Street, Parkville VIC 3010
- AIMS@JCU - James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
| | - Lesa M Peplow
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, 1526 Cape Cleveland Road, Cape Cleveland 4810, Queensland, Australia
| | - Ashley M Dungan
- School of Biosciences, The University of Melbourne, Grattan Street, Parkville VIC 3010
| | - Sophie N Ferguson
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, 1526 Cape Cleveland Road, Cape Cleveland 4810, Queensland, Australia
| | - Peter L Harrison
- Marine Ecology Research Centre - Southern Cross University, Lismore, NSW 2480
| | - Craig A Humphrey
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, 1526 Cape Cleveland Road, Cape Cleveland 4810, Queensland, Australia
| | - Guy A McCutchan
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, 1526 Cape Cleveland Road, Cape Cleveland 4810, Queensland, Australia
| | - Matthew R Nitschke
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, 1526 Cape Cleveland Road, Cape Cleveland 4810, Queensland, Australia
| | - Madeleine J H van Oppen
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, 1526 Cape Cleveland Road, Cape Cleveland 4810, Queensland, Australia
- School of Biosciences, The University of Melbourne, Grattan Street, Parkville VIC 3010
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2
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Deore P, Tsang Min Ching SJ, Nitschke MR, Rudd D, Brumley DR, Hinde E, Blackall LL, van Oppen MJH. Unique photosynthetic strategies employed by closely related Breviolum minutum strains under rapid short-term cumulative heat stress. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2024; 75:4005-4023. [PMID: 38636949 PMCID: PMC11233414 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erae170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024]
Abstract
The thermal tolerance of symbiodiniacean photo-endosymbionts largely underpins the thermal bleaching resilience of their cnidarian hosts such as corals and the coral model Exaiptasia diaphana. While variation in thermal tolerance between species is well documented, variation between conspecific strains is understudied. We compared the thermal tolerance of three closely related strains of Breviolum minutum represented by two internal transcribed spacer region 2 profiles (one strain B1-B1o-B1g-B1p and the other two strains B1-B1a-B1b-B1g) and differences in photochemical and non-photochemical quenching, de-epoxidation state of photopigments, and accumulation of reactive oxygen species under rapid short-term cumulative temperature stress (26-40 °C). We found that B. minutum strains employ distinct photoprotective strategies, resulting in different upper thermal tolerances. We provide evidence for previously unknown interdependencies between thermal tolerance traits and photoprotective mechanisms that include a delicate balancing of excitation energy and its dissipation through fast relaxing and state transition components of non-photochemical quenching. The more thermally tolerant B. minutum strain (B1-B1o-B1g-B1p) exhibited an enhanced de-epoxidation that is strongly linked to the thylakoid membrane melting point and possibly membrane rigidification minimizing oxidative damage. This study provides an in-depth understanding of photoprotective mechanisms underpinning thermal tolerance in closely related strains of B. minutum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pranali Deore
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Victoria, Australia
| | | | - Matthew R Nitschke
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville 4810, Queensland, Australia
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington 6102, New Zealand
| | - David Rudd
- Drug Delivery, Disposition and Dynamics, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Douglas R Brumley
- School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Victoria, Australia
| | - Elizabeth Hinde
- School of Physics, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Victoria, Australia
| | - Linda L Blackall
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Victoria, Australia
| | - Madeleine J H van Oppen
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Victoria, Australia
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville 4810, Queensland, Australia
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3
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Kawiyani R, Ben-Hasan A, Mohsen K, Almojil D. Status, threats, and conservation considerations of selected marine habitats and organisms in the Arabian/Persian Gulf. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 198:106556. [PMID: 38761491 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2024.106556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2023] [Revised: 04/25/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/20/2024]
Abstract
Many studies indicated that marine habitats and organisms in the Arabian/Persian Gulf ('Gulf') are broadly deteriorating. However, this likely results from the generalization of a few declining habitats or organisms in some locations. Here, we conduct a review to evaluate the status of selected habitats (mangroves, seagrasses, and coral reefs) and organisms (exploited bony fish, sharks, rays, dolphins, whales, and dugongs) and identify major threats to them in each Gulf country (except Iraq and Oman). We show that out of 52 habitats and organisms in the six countries, the predominant status (63.5%) is "Data-deficient", followed by "Decline" (21.2%) and "Increase-stable" (15.4%). The major threats to these habitats and organisms are coastal development, desalination plants, climate change, and fishing. However, our findings differentiate that some of these threats are causing severe degradation (i.e., have "Observed" impacts) while other threats, such as desalination plants, have potential impacts that are derived from laboratory experiments or modelling work. Our results can be used to guide conservation efforts in the region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reem Kawiyani
- Marine Science Department, College of Science, Kuwait University, Kuwait.
| | | | - Kawthar Mohsen
- Marine Science Department, College of Science, Kuwait University, Kuwait
| | - Dareen Almojil
- New York University Abu Dhabi, Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
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4
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Castillo KD, Bove CB, Hughes AM, Powell ME, Ries JB, Davies SW. Gene expression plasticity facilitates acclimatization of a long-lived Caribbean coral across divergent reef environments. Sci Rep 2024; 14:7859. [PMID: 38570591 PMCID: PMC10991280 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-57319-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 03/17/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Local adaptation can increase fitness under stable environmental conditions. However, in rapidly changing environments, compensatory mechanisms enabled through plasticity may better promote fitness. Climate change is causing devastating impacts on coral reefs globally and understanding the potential for adaptive and plastic responses is critical for reef management. We conducted a four-year, three-way reciprocal transplant of the Caribbean coral Siderastrea siderea across forereef, backreef, and nearshore populations in Belize to investigate the potential for environmental specialization versus plasticity in this species. Corals maintained high survival within forereef and backreef environments, but transplantation to nearshore environments resulted in high mortality, suggesting that nearshore environments present strong environmental selection. Only forereef-sourced corals demonstrated evidence of environmental specialization, exhibiting the highest growth in the forereef. Gene expression profiling 3.5 years post-transplantation revealed that transplanted coral hosts exhibited profiles more similar to other corals in the same reef environment, regardless of their source location, suggesting that transcriptome plasticity facilitates acclimatization to environmental change in S. siderea. In contrast, algal symbiont (Cladocopium goreaui) gene expression showcased functional variation between source locations that was maintained post-transplantation. Our findings suggest limited acclimatory capacity of some S. siderea populations under strong environmental selection and highlight the potential limits of coral physiological plasticity in reef restoration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karl D Castillo
- Department of Earth, Marine and Environmental Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
- Environment, Ecology and Energy Program, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
| | - Colleen B Bove
- Environment, Ecology and Energy Program, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
- Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA.
| | | | - Maya E Powell
- Environment, Ecology and Energy Program, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Justin B Ries
- Department of Marine and Environmental Sciences, Marine Sciences Center, Northeastern University, Nahant, MA, USA
| | - Sarah W Davies
- Environment, Ecology and Energy Program, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
- Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA.
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5
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Belser C, Poulain J, Labadie K, Gavory F, Alberti A, Guy J, Carradec Q, Cruaud C, Da Silva C, Engelen S, Mielle P, Perdereau A, Samson G, Gas S, Voolstra CR, Galand PE, Flores JM, Hume BCC, Perna G, Ziegler M, Ruscheweyh HJ, Boissin E, Romac S, Bourdin G, Iwankow G, Moulin C, Paz García DA, Agostini S, Banaigs B, Boss E, Bowler C, de Vargas C, Douville E, Forcioli D, Furla P, Gilson E, Lombard F, Pesant S, Reynaud S, Sunagawa S, Thomas OP, Troublé R, Thurber RV, Zoccola D, Scarpelli C, Jacoby EK, Oliveira PH, Aury JM, Allemand D, Planes S, Wincker P. Integrative omics framework for characterization of coral reef ecosystems from the Tara Pacific expedition. Sci Data 2023; 10:326. [PMID: 37264047 DOI: 10.1038/s41597-023-02204-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Coral reef science is a fast-growing field propelled by the need to better understand coral health and resilience to devise strategies to slow reef loss resulting from environmental stresses. Key to coral resilience are the symbiotic interactions established within a complex holobiont, i.e. the multipartite assemblages comprising the coral host organism, endosymbiotic dinoflagellates, bacteria, archaea, fungi, and viruses. Tara Pacific is an ambitious project built upon the experience of previous Tara Oceans expeditions, and leveraging state-of-the-art sequencing technologies and analyses to dissect the biodiversity and biocomplexity of the coral holobiont screened across most archipelagos spread throughout the entire Pacific Ocean. Here we detail the Tara Pacific workflow for multi-omics data generation, from sample handling to nucleotide sequence data generation and deposition. This unique multidimensional framework also includes a large amount of concomitant metadata collected side-by-side that provide new assessments of coral reef biodiversity including micro-biodiversity and shape future investigations of coral reef dynamics and their fate in the Anthropocene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Belser
- Génomique Métabolique, Genoscope, Institut François Jacob, CEA, CNRS, Univ Evry, Université Paris-Saclay, Evry, France.
- Research Federation for the study of Global Ocean Systems Ecology and Evolution, FR2022/ Tara Oceans-GOSEE, 3 rue Michel-Ange, 75016, Paris, France.
| | - Julie Poulain
- Génomique Métabolique, Genoscope, Institut François Jacob, CEA, CNRS, Univ Evry, Université Paris-Saclay, Evry, France
- Research Federation for the study of Global Ocean Systems Ecology and Evolution, FR2022/ Tara Oceans-GOSEE, 3 rue Michel-Ange, 75016, Paris, France
| | - Karine Labadie
- Genoscope, Institut François Jacob, Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique (CEA), Université Paris-Saclay, 2 Rue Gaston Crémieux, 91057, Evry, France
| | - Frederick Gavory
- Génomique Métabolique, Genoscope, Institut François Jacob, CEA, CNRS, Univ Evry, Université Paris-Saclay, Evry, France
- Research Federation for the study of Global Ocean Systems Ecology and Evolution, FR2022/ Tara Oceans-GOSEE, 3 rue Michel-Ange, 75016, Paris, France
| | - Adriana Alberti
- Génomique Métabolique, Genoscope, Institut François Jacob, CEA, CNRS, Univ Evry, Université Paris-Saclay, Evry, France
- Research Federation for the study of Global Ocean Systems Ecology and Evolution, FR2022/ Tara Oceans-GOSEE, 3 rue Michel-Ange, 75016, Paris, France
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), 91198, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Julie Guy
- Genoscope, Institut François Jacob, Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique (CEA), Université Paris-Saclay, 2 Rue Gaston Crémieux, 91057, Evry, France
| | - Quentin Carradec
- Génomique Métabolique, Genoscope, Institut François Jacob, CEA, CNRS, Univ Evry, Université Paris-Saclay, Evry, France
- Research Federation for the study of Global Ocean Systems Ecology and Evolution, FR2022/ Tara Oceans-GOSEE, 3 rue Michel-Ange, 75016, Paris, France
| | - Corinne Cruaud
- Genoscope, Institut François Jacob, Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique (CEA), Université Paris-Saclay, 2 Rue Gaston Crémieux, 91057, Evry, France
| | - Corinne Da Silva
- Génomique Métabolique, Genoscope, Institut François Jacob, CEA, CNRS, Univ Evry, Université Paris-Saclay, Evry, France
- Research Federation for the study of Global Ocean Systems Ecology and Evolution, FR2022/ Tara Oceans-GOSEE, 3 rue Michel-Ange, 75016, Paris, France
| | - Stefan Engelen
- Génomique Métabolique, Genoscope, Institut François Jacob, CEA, CNRS, Univ Evry, Université Paris-Saclay, Evry, France
- Research Federation for the study of Global Ocean Systems Ecology and Evolution, FR2022/ Tara Oceans-GOSEE, 3 rue Michel-Ange, 75016, Paris, France
| | - Paul Mielle
- Centre National de Recherche en Génomique Humaine (CNRGH), Institut de Biologie François Jacob, CEA, Université Paris-Saclay, 91000, Evry, France
| | - Aude Perdereau
- Genoscope, Institut François Jacob, Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique (CEA), Université Paris-Saclay, 2 Rue Gaston Crémieux, 91057, Evry, France
| | - Gaelle Samson
- Genoscope, Institut François Jacob, Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique (CEA), Université Paris-Saclay, 2 Rue Gaston Crémieux, 91057, Evry, France
| | - Shahinaz Gas
- Genoscope, Institut François Jacob, Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique (CEA), Université Paris-Saclay, 2 Rue Gaston Crémieux, 91057, Evry, France
| | | | - Pierre E Galand
- Research Federation for the study of Global Ocean Systems Ecology and Evolution, FR2022/ Tara Oceans-GOSEE, 3 rue Michel-Ange, 75016, Paris, France
- Laboratoire d'Ecogéochimie des Environnements Benthiques (LECOB), Observatoire Océanologique de Banyuls, Banyuls/Mer, France
| | - J Michel Flores
- Weizmann Institute of Science, Dept. Earth and Planetary Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Benjamin C C Hume
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, 78457, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Gabriela Perna
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, 78457, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Maren Ziegler
- Department of Animal Ecology & Systematics, Justus Liebig University Giessen, 35392, Giessen, Germany
| | - Hans-Joachim Ruscheweyh
- Department of Biology, Institute of Microbiology and Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, ETH Zürich, Zürich, 8093, Switzerland
| | - Emilie Boissin
- PSL Research University: EPHE-UPVD-CNRS, USR 3278 CRIOBE, Laboratoire d'Excellence CORAIL, Université de Perpignan, 52 Avenue Paul Alduy, 66860, Perpignan Cedex, France
| | - Sarah Romac
- Research Federation for the study of Global Ocean Systems Ecology and Evolution, FR2022/ Tara Oceans-GOSEE, 3 rue Michel-Ange, 75016, Paris, France
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Station Biologique de Roscoff, AD2M, UMR 7144, ECOMAP, Roscoff, France
| | | | - Guillaume Iwankow
- PSL Research University: EPHE-UPVD-CNRS, USR 3278 CRIOBE, Laboratoire d'Excellence CORAIL, Université de Perpignan, 52 Avenue Paul Alduy, 66860, Perpignan Cedex, France
| | - Clémentine Moulin
- Fondation Tara Océan, Base Tara, 8 rue de Prague, 75 012, Paris, France
| | - David A Paz García
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste (CIBNOR), Av. IPN 195, Col. Playa Palo de Santa Rita Sur, La Paz, 23096, Baja California Sur, México
| | - Sylvain Agostini
- Shimoda Marine Research Center, University of Tsukuba, 5-10-1, Shimoda, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Bernard Banaigs
- PSL Research University: EPHE-UPVD-CNRS, USR 3278 CRIOBE, Laboratoire d'Excellence CORAIL, Université de Perpignan, 52 Avenue Paul Alduy, 66860, Perpignan Cedex, France
| | - Emmanuel Boss
- School of Marine Sciences, University of Maine, Orono, USA
| | - Chris Bowler
- Research Federation for the study of Global Ocean Systems Ecology and Evolution, FR2022/ Tara Oceans-GOSEE, 3 rue Michel-Ange, 75016, Paris, France
- Institut de Biologie de l'Ecole Normale Supérieure (IBENS), Ecole normale supérieure, CNRS, INSERM, Université PSL, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Colomban de Vargas
- Research Federation for the study of Global Ocean Systems Ecology and Evolution, FR2022/ Tara Oceans-GOSEE, 3 rue Michel-Ange, 75016, Paris, France
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Station Biologique de Roscoff, AD2M, UMR 7144, ECOMAP, Roscoff, France
| | - Eric Douville
- Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l'Environnement, LSCE/IPSL, CEA-CNRS-UVSQ, Université Paris-Saclay, F-91191, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Didier Forcioli
- Université Côte d'Azur, CNRS, Inserm, IRCAN, Nice, France
- LIA ROPSE, Laboratoire International Associé Université Côte d'Azur - Centre Scientifique de Monaco, Monaco, France
| | - Paola Furla
- Université Côte d'Azur, CNRS, Inserm, IRCAN, Nice, France
- LIA ROPSE, Laboratoire International Associé Université Côte d'Azur - Centre Scientifique de Monaco, Monaco, France
| | - Eric Gilson
- Université Côte d'Azur, CNRS, Inserm, IRCAN, Nice, France
- LIA ROPSE, Laboratoire International Associé Université Côte d'Azur - Centre Scientifique de Monaco, Monaco, France
- Department of Medical Genetics, CHU of Nice, Nice, France
| | - Fabien Lombard
- Research Federation for the study of Global Ocean Systems Ecology and Evolution, FR2022/ Tara Oceans-GOSEE, 3 rue Michel-Ange, 75016, Paris, France
- Sorbonne Université, Institut de la Mer de Villefranche sur mer, Laboratoire d' Océanographie de Villefranche, F-06230, Villefranche-sur-Mer, France
- Institut Universitaire de France, 75231, Paris, France
| | - Stéphane Pesant
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, CB10 1SD, UK
| | - Stéphanie Reynaud
- LIA ROPSE, Laboratoire International Associé Université Côte d'Azur - Centre Scientifique de Monaco, Monaco, France
- Centre Scientifique de Monaco, 8 Quai Antoine Ier, MC-98000, Monaco, Principality of Monaco
| | - Shinichi Sunagawa
- Department of Biology, Institute of Microbiology and Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, ETH Zürich, Zürich, 8093, Switzerland
| | - Olivier P Thomas
- School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Ryan Institute, University of Galway, University Road, H91 TK33, Galway, Ireland
| | - Romain Troublé
- Fondation Tara Océan, Base Tara, 8 rue de Prague, 75 012, Paris, France
| | - Rebecca Vega Thurber
- Oregon State University, Department of Microbiology, 220 Nash Hall, 97331, Corvallis, OR, USA
| | - Didier Zoccola
- LIA ROPSE, Laboratoire International Associé Université Côte d'Azur - Centre Scientifique de Monaco, Monaco, France
- Centre Scientifique de Monaco, 8 Quai Antoine Ier, MC-98000, Monaco, Principality of Monaco
| | - Claude Scarpelli
- Genoscope, Institut François Jacob, Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique (CEA), Université Paris-Saclay, 2 Rue Gaston Crémieux, 91057, Evry, France
| | - E' Krame Jacoby
- Genoscope, Institut François Jacob, Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique (CEA), Université Paris-Saclay, 2 Rue Gaston Crémieux, 91057, Evry, France
| | - Pedro H Oliveira
- Génomique Métabolique, Genoscope, Institut François Jacob, CEA, CNRS, Univ Evry, Université Paris-Saclay, Evry, France
- Research Federation for the study of Global Ocean Systems Ecology and Evolution, FR2022/ Tara Oceans-GOSEE, 3 rue Michel-Ange, 75016, Paris, France
| | - Jean-Marc Aury
- Génomique Métabolique, Genoscope, Institut François Jacob, CEA, CNRS, Univ Evry, Université Paris-Saclay, Evry, France
- Research Federation for the study of Global Ocean Systems Ecology and Evolution, FR2022/ Tara Oceans-GOSEE, 3 rue Michel-Ange, 75016, Paris, France
| | - Denis Allemand
- LIA ROPSE, Laboratoire International Associé Université Côte d'Azur - Centre Scientifique de Monaco, Monaco, France
- Centre Scientifique de Monaco, 8 Quai Antoine Ier, MC-98000, Monaco, Principality of Monaco
| | - Serge Planes
- PSL Research University: EPHE-UPVD-CNRS, USR 3278 CRIOBE, Laboratoire d'Excellence CORAIL, Université de Perpignan, 52 Avenue Paul Alduy, 66860, Perpignan Cedex, France
| | - Patrick Wincker
- Génomique Métabolique, Genoscope, Institut François Jacob, CEA, CNRS, Univ Evry, Université Paris-Saclay, Evry, France
- Research Federation for the study of Global Ocean Systems Ecology and Evolution, FR2022/ Tara Oceans-GOSEE, 3 rue Michel-Ange, 75016, Paris, France
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6
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Doering T, Maire J, Chan WY, Perez-Gonzalez A, Meyers L, Sakamoto R, Buthgamuwa I, Blackall LL, van Oppen MJH. Comparing the Role of ROS and RNS in the Thermal Stress Response of Two Cnidarian Models, Exaiptasia diaphana and Galaxea fascicularis. Antioxidants (Basel) 2023; 12:antiox12051057. [PMID: 37237923 DOI: 10.3390/antiox12051057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Revised: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 04/29/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Coral reefs are threatened by climate change, because it causes increasingly frequent and severe summer heatwaves, resulting in mass coral bleaching and mortality. Coral bleaching is believed to be driven by an excess production of reactive oxygen (ROS) and nitrogen species (RNS), yet their relative roles during thermal stress remain understudied. Here, we measured ROS and RNS net production, as well as activities of key enzymes involved in ROS scavenging (superoxide dismutase and catalase) and RNS synthesis (nitric oxide synthase) and linked these metrics to physiological measurements of cnidarian holobiont health during thermal stress. We did this for both an established cnidarian model, the sea anemone Exaiptasia diaphana, and an emerging scleractinian model, the coral Galaxea fascicularis, both from the Great Barrier Reef (GBR). Increased ROS production was observed during thermal stress in both species, but it was more apparent in G. fascicularis, which also showed higher levels of physiological stress. RNS did not change in thermally stressed G. fascicularis and decreased in E. diaphana. Our findings in combination with variable ROS levels in previous studies on GBR-sourced E. diaphana suggest G. fascicularis is a more suitable model to study the cellular mechanisms of coral bleaching.
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Affiliation(s)
- Talisa Doering
- School of Biosciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Justin Maire
- School of Biosciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Wing Yan Chan
- School of Biosciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Alexis Perez-Gonzalez
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne at the Peter Doherty Institute of Infection and Immunity, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
- Melbourne Cytometry Platform, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Luka Meyers
- School of Biosciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Rumi Sakamoto
- School of Biosciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Isini Buthgamuwa
- School of Biosciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Linda L Blackall
- School of Biosciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Madeleine J H van Oppen
- School of Biosciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, QLD 4810, Australia
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7
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Keshavmurthy S, Chen TR, Liu PJ, Wang JT, Chen CA. Learning from the past is not enough to survive present and future bleaching threshold temperatures. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 852:158379. [PMID: 36055494 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.158379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Revised: 08/24/2022] [Accepted: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
In the past decade, the frequency of mass coral bleaching events has increased due to seawater temperature anomalies persisting for longer periods. Coral survival from temperature anomalies has been based on how each species in each location responds to stress, which is unique to individual species and may be due to the way stressful experiences accumulate through time in the form of ecological and physiological memory. A deeper understanding of ecological and physiological memory in corals is necessary to understand their survival strategies into the future. Laboratory experiments can help us simulate seawater temperatures experienced by corals in the past and compare their responses to those of the present and future. In this study, we sampled corals with different life history traits from one location perturbed by seawater temperature incursions (variable site) and from a second, relatively undisturbed location (stable site). We sampled across two seasons to observe the responses to bleaching threshold temperatures in the past (1998-29 °C), present (2018-31 °C), and future (2050-33 °C). Corals were healthy at 29 °C and 31 °C, but a fast-growing, temperature-susceptible coral species experienced high mortality at 33 °C compared to a slow-growing, temperature-resistant coral species. Moreover, corals from the variable site and during the spring season fared better under temperature stress. The results of this study provide insight into the possible role of life-history traits on coral's response to seasons and locations in terms of memory to long-term and short-term thermal anomalies and climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ting-Ru Chen
- Biodiversity Research Centre, Academia Sinica, Nangang, Taipei 115, Taiwan; Institute of Oceanography, National Taiwan University, Taipei 106, Taiwan
| | - Pei-Jen Liu
- Institute of Marine Biology, National Dong Hwa University, Hualien 974, Taiwan
| | - Jih-Terng Wang
- Department of Oceanography, National Sun Yat-Sen University, Kaohsiung 804, Taiwan
| | - Chaolun Allen Chen
- Biodiversity Research Centre, Academia Sinica, Nangang, Taipei 115, Taiwan; Department of Life Science, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei 106, Taiwan; Department of Life Science, Tunghai University, Taichung 404, Taiwan.
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8
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LaJeunesse TC, Casado-Amezúa P, Hume BCC, Butler CC, Mordret S, Piredda R, De Luca P, Pannone R, Sarno D, Wiedenmann J, D’Ambra I. Mutualistic dinoflagellates with big disparities in ribosomal DNA variation may confound estimates of symbiont diversity and ecology in the jellyfish Cotylorhiza tuberculata. Symbiosis 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s13199-022-00880-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
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9
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Alderdice R, Perna G, Cárdenas A, Hume BCC, Wolf M, Kühl M, Pernice M, Suggett DJ, Voolstra CR. Deoxygenation lowers the thermal threshold of coral bleaching. Sci Rep 2022; 12:18273. [PMID: 36316371 PMCID: PMC9622859 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-22604-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Exposure to deoxygenation from climate warming and pollution is emerging as a contributing factor of coral bleaching and mortality. However, the combined effects of heating and deoxygenation on bleaching susceptibility remain unknown. Here, we employed short-term thermal stress assays to show that deoxygenated seawater can lower the thermal limit of an Acropora coral by as much as 1 °C or 0.4 °C based on bleaching index scores or dark-acclimated photosynthetic efficiencies, respectively. Using RNA-Seq, we show similar stress responses to heat with and without deoxygenated seawater, both activating putative key genes of the hypoxia-inducible factor response system indicative of cellular hypoxia. We also detect distinct deoxygenation responses, including a disruption of O2-dependent photo-reception/-protection, redox status, and activation of an immune response prior to the onset of bleaching. Thus, corals are even more vulnerable when faced with heat stress in deoxygenated waters. This highlights the need to integrate dissolved O2 measurements into global monitoring programs of coral reefs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel Alderdice
- Climate Change Cluster, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, 2007, Australia.
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, 78457, Konstanz, Germany.
| | - Gabriela Perna
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, 78457, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Anny Cárdenas
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, 78457, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Benjamin C C Hume
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, 78457, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Martin Wolf
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, 78457, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Michael Kühl
- Marine Biology Section, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Strandpromenaden 5, 3000, Helsingør, Denmark
| | - Mathieu Pernice
- Climate Change Cluster, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, 2007, Australia
| | - David J Suggett
- Climate Change Cluster, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, 2007, Australia
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10
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Al-Hammady MA, Silva TF, Hussein HN, Saxena G, Modolo LV, Belasy MB, Westphal H, Farag MA. How do algae endosymbionts mediate for their coral host fitness under heat stress? A comprehensive mechanistic overview. ALGAL RES 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.algal.2022.102850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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11
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Nitschke MR, Rosset SL, Oakley CA, Gardner SG, Camp EF, Suggett DJ, Davy SK. The diversity and ecology of Symbiodiniaceae: A traits-based review. ADVANCES IN MARINE BIOLOGY 2022; 92:55-127. [PMID: 36208879 DOI: 10.1016/bs.amb.2022.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [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.
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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
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12
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Photophysiological response of Symbiodiniaceae single cells to temperature stress. THE ISME JOURNAL 2022; 16:2060-2064. [PMID: 35474114 PMCID: PMC9296599 DOI: 10.1038/s41396-022-01243-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2021] [Revised: 04/05/2022] [Accepted: 04/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Photosynthetic dinoflagellates in the family Symbiodiniaceae engage in symbiosis with scleractinian corals. As coral ‘bleaching’ is partly governed by the thermal sensitivity of different Symbiodiniaceae lineages, numerous studies have investigated their temperature sensitivity. However, the systematic identification of single-cells with increased temperature resistance among these dinoflagellates has remained inaccessible, mostly due to a lack of technologies operating at the microscale. Here, we employed a unique combination of microfluidics, miniaturized temperature control, and chlorophyll fluorometry to characterize the single-cell heterogeneity among five representative species within the Symbiodiniaceae family under temperature stress. We monitored single-cell maximum quantum yields (Fv/Fm) of photosystem (PS) II under increasing temperature stress (22‒39 °C, + 1 °C every 15 min), and detected a significant Fv/Fm reduction at lineage-specific temperatures ranging from 28 °C to 34 °C alongside a 40- to 180- fold increase in intraspecific heterogeneity under elevated temperatures (>31 °C). We discovered that the initial Fv/Fm of a cell could predict the same cell’s ability to perform PSII photochemistry under moderate temperature stress (<32 °C), suggesting its use as a proxy for measuring the thermal sensitivity among Symbiodiniaceae. In combination, our study highlights the heterogeneous thermal sensitivity among photosynthetic Symbiodiniaceae and adds critical resolution to our understanding of temperature-induced coral bleaching.
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13
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Siro G, Pipite A, Christi K, Srinivasan S, Subramani R. Marine Actinomycetes Associated with Stony Corals: A Potential Hotspot for Specialized Metabolites. Microorganisms 2022; 10:1349. [PMID: 35889068 PMCID: PMC9319285 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10071349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2022] [Revised: 06/29/2022] [Accepted: 07/02/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Microbial secondary metabolites are an important source of antibiotics currently available for combating drug-resistant pathogens. These important secondary metabolites are produced by various microorganisms, including Actinobacteria. Actinobacteria have a colossal genome with a wide array of genes that code for several bioactive metabolites and enzymes. Numerous studies have reported the isolation and screening of millions of strains of actinomycetes from various habitats for specialized metabolites worldwide. Looking at the extent of the importance of actinomycetes in various fields, corals are highlighted as a potential hotspot for untapped secondary metabolites and new bioactive metabolites. Unfortunately, knowledge about the diversity, distribution and biochemistry of marine actinomycetes compared to hard corals is limited. In this review, we aim to summarize the recent knowledge on the isolation, diversity, distribution and discovery of natural compounds from marine actinomycetes associated with hard corals. A total of 11 new species of actinomycetes, representing nine different families of actinomycetes, were recovered from hard corals during the period from 2007 to 2022. In addition, this study examined a total of 13 new compounds produced by five genera of actinomycetes reported from 2017 to 2022 with antibacterial, antifungal and cytotoxic activities. Coral-derived actinomycetes have different mechanisms of action against their competitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Galana Siro
- School of Agriculture, Geography, Environment, Ocean and Natural Sciences (SAGEONS), The University of the South Pacific, Laucala Campus, Suva, Fiji; (G.S.); (K.C.); (R.S.)
| | - Atanas Pipite
- School of Agriculture, Geography, Environment, Ocean and Natural Sciences (SAGEONS), The University of the South Pacific, Laucala Campus, Suva, Fiji; (G.S.); (K.C.); (R.S.)
| | - Ketan Christi
- School of Agriculture, Geography, Environment, Ocean and Natural Sciences (SAGEONS), The University of the South Pacific, Laucala Campus, Suva, Fiji; (G.S.); (K.C.); (R.S.)
| | - Sathiyaraj Srinivasan
- Department of Bio & Environmental Technology, Division of Environmental & Life Science, College of Natural Science, Seoul Women’s University, 623 Hwarangno, Nowon-gu, Seoul 01797, Korea
| | - Ramesh Subramani
- School of Agriculture, Geography, Environment, Ocean and Natural Sciences (SAGEONS), The University of the South Pacific, Laucala Campus, Suva, Fiji; (G.S.); (K.C.); (R.S.)
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14
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Zhu W, Liu X, Zhu M, Li X, Yin H, Huang J, Wang A, Li X. Responses of Symbiodiniaceae Shuffling and Microbial Community Assembly in Thermally Stressed Acropora hyacinthus. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:832081. [PMID: 35432258 PMCID: PMC9010789 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.832081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2021] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Although the importance of coral holobionts is widely accepted, the relationship between the flexibility of the microbial structure and the coral host is very complicated. Particularly, the community dynamics of holobionts and the stability of host–microbe interactions under different thermal stresses remain largely unknown. In the present study, we holistically explored the physiology and growth of Acropora hyacinthus in response to increased temperatures (from 26 to 33°C). We observed that bleaching corals with loss of algal symbionts reduced lipids and proteins to maintain their survival, leading to decreased tissue biomass and retarded growth. The diversity of Symbiodiniaceae and symbiont shuffling in the community structure was mainly caused by alterations in the relative abundance of the thermally sensitive but dominant clade C symbionts and low abundance of “background types.” Bacterial diversity showed a decreasing trend with increasing temperature, whereas no significant shifts were observed in the bacterial community structure. This finding might be attributed to the local adjustment of specific microbial community members that did not affect the overall metabolic state of the coral holobiont, and there was no increase in the proportion of sequences identified as typically pathogenic or opportunistic taxa. The Sloan neutral community model showed that neutral processes could explain 42.37–58.43% of bacterial community variation. The Stegen null model analysis indicates that the stochastic processes explain a significantly higher proportion of community assembly than deterministic processes when the temperature was elevated. The weak effect of temperature on the bacterial community structure and assembly might be related to an increase in stochastic dominance. The interaction of bacterial communities exhibits a fluctuating and simplistic trend with increasing temperature. Moreover, temperature increases were sufficient to establish the high stability of bacterial networks, and a non-linear response was found between the complexity and stability of the networks. Our findings collectively provide new insights into successive changes in the scleractinian coral host and holobionts in response to elevated seawater temperatures, especially the contribution of the community assembly process and species coexistence patterns to the maintenance of the coral-associated bacterial community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wentao Zhu
- College of Ecology and Environment, Hainan University, Haikou, China
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Resource Utilization in South China Sea, Hainan University, Haikou, China
| | - Xiangbo Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Resource Utilization in South China Sea, Hainan University, Haikou, China
- College of Marine Science, Hainan University, Haikou, China
| | - Ming Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Resource Utilization in South China Sea, Hainan University, Haikou, China
- College of Marine Science, Hainan University, Haikou, China
| | - Xinke Li
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Resource Utilization in South China Sea, Hainan University, Haikou, China
- College of Marine Science, Hainan University, Haikou, China
| | - Hongyang Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Resource Utilization in South China Sea, Hainan University, Haikou, China
- College of Marine Science, Hainan University, Haikou, China
| | - Jianzhong Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Resource Utilization in South China Sea, Hainan University, Haikou, China
- College of Marine Science, Hainan University, Haikou, China
| | - Aimin Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Resource Utilization in South China Sea, Hainan University, Haikou, China
- College of Marine Science, Hainan University, Haikou, China
| | - Xiubao Li
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Resource Utilization in South China Sea, Hainan University, Haikou, China
- College of Marine Science, Hainan University, Haikou, China
- *Correspondence: Xiubao Li,
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15
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Quigley KM, van Oppen MJH. Predictive models for the selection of thermally tolerant corals based on offspring survival. Nat Commun 2022; 13:1543. [PMID: 35351901 PMCID: PMC8964693 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-28956-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2020] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Finding coral reefs resilient to climate warming is challenging given the large spatial scale of reef ecosystems. Methods are needed to predict the location of corals with heritable tolerance to high temperatures. Here, we combine Great Barrier Reef-scale remote sensing with breeding experiments that estimate larval and juvenile coral survival under exposure to high temperatures. Using reproductive corals collected from the northern and central Great Barrier Reef, we develop forecasting models to locate reefs harbouring corals capable of producing offspring with increased heat tolerance of an additional 3.4° heating weeks (~3 °C). Our findings predict hundreds of reefs (~7.5%) may be home to corals that have high and heritable heat-tolerance in habitats with high daily and annual temperature ranges and historically variable heat stress. The locations identified represent targets for protection and consideration as a source of corals for use in restoration of degraded reefs given their potential to resist climate change impacts and repopulate reefs with tolerant offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- K M Quigley
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, QLD, Australia.
| | - M J H van Oppen
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, QLD, Australia
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
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16
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Dungan AM, Hartman LM, Blackall LL, van Oppen MJH. Exploring microbiome engineering as a strategy for improved thermal tolerance in Exaiptasia diaphana. J Appl Microbiol 2022; 132:2940-2956. [PMID: 35104027 PMCID: PMC9303619 DOI: 10.1111/jam.15465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2021] [Revised: 12/08/2021] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Aims Fourteen percent of all living coral, equivalent to more than all the coral on the Great Barrier Reef, has died in the past decade as a result of climate change‐driven bleaching. Inspired by the ‘oxidative stress theory of coral bleaching’, we investigated whether a bacterial consortium designed to scavenge free radicals could integrate into the host microbiome and improve thermal tolerance of the coral model, Exaiptasia diaphana. Methods and Results E. diaphana anemones were inoculated with a consortium of high free radical scavenging (FRS) bacteria, a consortium of congeneric low FRS bacteria, or sterile seawater as a control, then exposed to elevated temperature. Increases in the relative abundance of Labrenzia during the first 2 weeks following the last inoculation provided evidence for temporary inoculum integration into the E. diaphana microbiome. Initial uptake of other consortium members was inconsistent, and these bacteria did not persist either in E. diaphana’s microbiome over time. Given their non‐integration into the host microbiome, the ability of the FRS consortium to mitigate thermal stress could not be assessed. Importantly, there were no physiological impacts (negative or positive) of the bacterial inoculations on the holobiont. Conclusions The introduced bacteria were not maintained in the anemone microbiome over time, thus, their protective effect is unknown. Achieving long‐term integration of bacteria into cnidarian microbiomes remains a research priority. Significance and Impact of the Study Microbiome engineering strategies to mitigate coral bleaching may assist coral reefs in their persistence until climate change has been curbed. This study provides insights that will inform microbiome manipulation approaches in coral bleaching mitigation research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley M Dungan
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Leon M Hartman
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, VIC, Australia
| | - Linda L Blackall
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Madeleine J H van Oppen
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Australia
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17
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Smith EG, Hazzouri KM, Choi JY, Delaney P, Al-Kharafi M, Howells EJ, Aranda M, Burt JA. Signatures of selection underpinning rapid coral adaptation to the world's warmest reefs. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabl7287. [PMID: 35020424 PMCID: PMC10954036 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abl7287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Accepted: 11/19/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Coral populations in the world’s warmest reefs, the Persian/Arabian Gulf (PAG), represent an ideal model system to understand the evolutionary response of coral populations to past and present environmental change and to identify genomic loci that contribute to elevated thermal tolerance. Here, we use population genomics of the brain coral Platygyra daedalea to show that corals in the PAG represent a distinct subpopulation that was established during the Holocene marine transgression, and identify selective sweeps in their genomes associated with thermal adaptation. We demonstrate the presence of positive and disruptive selection and provide evidence for selection of differentially methylated haplotypes. While demographic analyses suggest limited potential for genetic rescue of neighboring Indian Ocean reefs, the presence of putative targets of selection in corals outside of the PAG offers hope that loci associated with thermal tolerance may be present in the standing genetic variation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward G. Smith
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC, USA
- Water Research Center & Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, UAE
| | - Khaled M. Hazzouri
- Water Research Center & Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, UAE
- Khalifa Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, United Arab Emirates University, Abu Dhabi, UAE
| | - Jae Young Choi
- Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, New York University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Patrice Delaney
- Water Research Center & Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, UAE
| | - Mohammed Al-Kharafi
- Department of Fisheries Resource Development, Public Authority of Agriculture and Fisheries Resources, Kuwait City, Kuwait
| | - Emily J. Howells
- Water Research Center & Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, UAE
- National Marine Science Centre, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Southern Cross University, Coffs Harbour, NSW, Australia
| | - Manuel Aranda
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - John A. Burt
- Water Research Center & Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, UAE
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18
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Turnham KE, Wham DC, Sampayo E, LaJeunesse TC. Mutualistic microalgae co-diversify with reef corals that acquire symbionts during egg development. THE ISME JOURNAL 2021; 15:3271-3285. [PMID: 34012104 PMCID: PMC8528872 DOI: 10.1038/s41396-021-01007-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2020] [Revised: 04/23/2021] [Accepted: 05/04/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
The application of molecular genetics has reinvigorated and improved how species are defined and investigated scientifically, especially for morphologically cryptic micro-organisms. Here we show how species recognition improves understanding of the ecology and evolution of mutualisms between reef-building corals and their mutualistic dinoflagellates (i.e. Symbiodiniaceae). A combination of genetic, ecological, and morphological evidence defines two sibling species of Cladocopium (formerly Symbiodinium Clade C), specific only to host corals in the common genus Pocillopora, which transmit their obligate symbionts during oogenesis. Cladocopium latusorum sp. nov. is symbiotic with P. grandis/meandrina while the smaller-celled C. pacificum sp. nov. associates with P. verrucosa. Both symbiont species form mutualisms with Pocillopora that brood their young. Populations of each species, like their hosts, are genetically well connected across the tropical and subtropical Pacific Ocean, indicating a capacity for long-range dispersal. A molecular clock approximates their speciation during the late Pliocene or early Pleistocene as Earth underwent cycles of precipitous cooling and warming; and corresponds to when their hosts were also diversifying. The long temporal and spatial maintenance of high host fidelity, as well as genetic connectivity across thousands of kilometers, indicates that distinct ecological attributes and close evolutionary histories will restrain the adaptive responses of corals and their specialized symbionts to rapid climate warming.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Drew C Wham
- Penn State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | | | - Todd C LaJeunesse
- Penn State University, University Park, PA, USA.
- Penn State Institutes of Energy and the Environment, University Park, PA, USA.
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19
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Hoadley KD, Pettay DT, Lewis A, Wham D, Grasso C, Smith R, Kemp DW, LaJeunesse T, Warner ME. Different functional traits among closely related algal symbionts dictate stress endurance for vital Indo-Pacific reef-building corals. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2021; 27:5295-5309. [PMID: 34255912 PMCID: PMC9291761 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.15799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2021] [Revised: 06/29/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Reef-building corals in the genus Porites are one of the most important constituents of Indo-Pacific reefs. Many species within this genus tolerate abnormally warm water and exhibit high specificity for particular kinds of endosymbiotic dinoflagellates that cope with thermal stress better than those living in other corals. Still, during extreme ocean heating, some Porites exhibit differences in their stress tolerance. While corals have different physiological qualities, it remains unknown whether the stability and performance of these mutualisms is influenced by the physiology and genetic relatedness of their symbionts. We investigated two ubiquitous Pacific reef corals, Porites rus and Porites cylindrica, from warmer inshore and cooler offshore reef systems in Palau. While these corals harbored a similar kind of symbiont in the genus Cladocopium (within the ITS2 C15 subclade), rapidly evolving genetic markers revealed evolutionarily diverged lineages corresponding to each Porites species living in each reef habitat. Furthermore, these closely related Cladocopium lineages were differentiated by their densities in host tissues, cell volume, chlorophyll concentration, gross photosynthesis, and photoprotective pathways. When assessed using several physiological proxies, these previously undifferentiated symbionts contrasted in their tolerance to thermal stress. Symbionts within P. cylindrica were relatively unaffected by exposure to 32℃ for 14 days, whereas P. rus colonies lost substantial numbers of photochemically compromised symbionts. Heating reduced the ability of the offshore symbiont associated with P. rus to translocate carbon to the coral. By contrast, high temperatures enhanced symbiont carbon assimilation and delivery to the coral skeleton of inshore P. cylindrica. This study indicates that large physiological differences exist even among closely related symbionts, with significant implications for thermal susceptibility among reef-building Porites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenneth D. Hoadley
- School of Marine Science and PolicyUniversity of DelawareLewesUK
- Biological SciencesUniversity of AlabamaTuscaloosaAlabamaUSA
- Dauphin Island Sea LabDauphin IslandAlabamaUSA
| | - Daniel. T. Pettay
- School of Marine Science and PolicyUniversity of DelawareLewesUK
- Present address:
University of South CarolinaBeaufortSouth CarolinaUSA
| | - Allison Lewis
- Department of BiologyPennsylvania State Institutes of Energy and the EnvironmentUniversity ParkPennsylvaniaUSA
- Present address:
National Science FoundationSilver SpringsMarylandUSA
| | - Drew Wham
- Department of BiologyPennsylvania State Institutes of Energy and the EnvironmentUniversity ParkPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Chris Grasso
- School of Marine Science and PolicyUniversity of DelawareLewesUK
| | - Robin Smith
- Science Under SailWellington ParkQLDAustralia
- Present address:
The Nature ConservancySt. CroixUS Virgin IslandsUSA
| | - Dustin W. Kemp
- Department of BiologyUniversity of AlabamaBirminghamAlabamaUSA
| | - Todd LaJeunesse
- Department of BiologyPennsylvania State Institutes of Energy and the EnvironmentUniversity ParkPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Mark E. Warner
- School of Marine Science and PolicyUniversity of DelawareLewesUK
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20
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Pazoki S, Rahimian H, Struck TH. Genetic diversity and population structure of three Hydroides species (Sedentaria, Serpulidae) in the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman, with the possible indication of heteroplasmy. SYST BIODIVERS 2021. [DOI: 10.1080/14772000.2021.1965668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Samaneh Pazoki
- Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Biology, College of Sciences, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hassan Rahimian
- Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Biology, College of Sciences, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Torsten H. Struck
- Natural History Museum, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1172, Blindern, Oslo, NO-0318, Norway
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21
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Voolstra CR, Valenzuela JJ, Turkarslan S, Cárdenas A, Hume BCC, Perna G, Buitrago-López C, Rowe K, Orellana MV, Baliga NS, Paranjape S, Banc-Prandi G, Bellworthy J, Fine M, Frias-Torres S, Barshis DJ. Contrasting heat stress response patterns of coral holobionts across the Red Sea suggest distinct mechanisms of thermal tolerance. Mol Ecol 2021; 30:4466-4480. [PMID: 34342082 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2021] [Revised: 06/04/2021] [Accepted: 06/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Corals from the northern Red Sea, in particular the Gulf of Aqaba (GoA), have exceptionally high bleaching thresholds approaching >5℃ above their maximum monthly mean (MMM) temperatures. These elevated thresholds are thought to be due to historical selection, as corals passed through the warmer Southern Red Sea during recolonization from the Arabian Sea. To test this hypothesis, we determined thermal tolerance thresholds of GoA versus central Red Sea (CRS) Stylophora pistillata corals using multi-temperature acute thermal stress assays to determine thermal thresholds. Relative thermal thresholds of GoA and CRS corals were indeed similar and exceptionally high (~7℃ above MMM). However, absolute thermal thresholds of CRS corals were on average 3℃ above those of GoA corals. To explore the molecular underpinnings, we determined gene expression and microbiome response of the coral holobiont. Transcriptomic responses differed markedly, with a strong response to the thermal stress in GoA corals and their symbiotic algae versus a remarkably muted response in CRS colonies. Concomitant to this, coral and algal genes showed temperature-induced expression in GoA corals, while exhibiting fixed high expression (front-loading) in CRS corals. Bacterial community composition of GoA corals changed dramatically under heat stress, whereas CRS corals displayed stable assemblages. We interpret the response of GoA corals as that of a resilient population approaching a tipping point in contrast to a pattern of consistently elevated thermal resistance in CRS corals that cannot further attune. Such response differences suggest distinct thermal tolerance mechanisms that may affect the response of coral populations to ocean warming.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Anny Cárdenas
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
| | | | - Gabriela Perna
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
| | | | - Katherine Rowe
- School of Science, The University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand
| | - Monica V Orellana
- Institute for Systems Biology, Seattle, USA.,Polar Science Center, University of Washington, Seattle, USA
| | - Nitin S Baliga
- Institute for Systems Biology, Seattle, USA.,Departments of Biology and Microbiology, University of Washington, Seattle, USA.,Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, University of Washington, Seattle, USA.,Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, USA
| | | | - Guilhem Banc-Prandi
- The Interuniversity Institute for Marine Sciences (IUI), Eilat, Israel.,The Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel
| | - Jessica Bellworthy
- The Interuniversity Institute for Marine Sciences (IUI), Eilat, Israel.,The Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel
| | - Maoz Fine
- The Interuniversity Institute for Marine Sciences (IUI), Eilat, Israel.,The Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel
| | | | - Daniel J Barshis
- Department of Biological Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, USA
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22
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Oladi M, Shokri MR. Multiple benthic indicators are efficient for health assessment of coral reefs subjected to petroleum hydrocarbons contamination: A case study in the Persian Gulf. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2021; 409:124993. [PMID: 33482480 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.124993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2020] [Revised: 12/11/2020] [Accepted: 12/27/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The ever-increasing anthropogenic activities have adversely impacted coral reef ecosystems and their ecological functions. This calls for an urgent assessment of the health state of these valuable ecosystems to justify the need for mitigation and proper management efforts. In this contribution, we used multiple indicators to assess the impact of intense oil-related activities on coral reefs in two near-by impacted and non-impacted islands in the northwestern Persian Gulf. The efficacy of indices was assessed using estimations of the effect size (omega-squared), precision, and decision trees (Classification and Regression Tree (CART)). The results demonstrated that the combination of bioaccumulation of ƩPAH in coral tissues, the percent of live coral cover, and the Sediment Constituent (SEDCON) Index were the most robust proxies reflecting the influence of human activities on reef's health. Based on sedimentary PAH concentration, the CART classified most of the indicators into two classes consisting of those in impacted and those in non-impacted locations, further supporting the feasibility of the employed indices. The findings of this study provided a warning of degradation in coral reefs of the island subjected to PAH pollution. This encourages decision-makers to execute routine monitoring and mitigation practices to maintain healthy reefs in the study areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahshid Oladi
- Department of Animal Sciences and Marine Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shahid Beheshti University, G.C., Evin, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Mohammad Reza Shokri
- Department of Animal Sciences and Marine Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shahid Beheshti University, G.C., Evin, Tehran, Iran.
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23
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Oladi M, Rouzbehani S, Ahmadzadeh F, Ghazilou A. Dynamics of Dipsastraea pallida-symbiont association following bleaching events across the northern Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman. Symbiosis 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s13199-021-00773-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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24
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Rossbach S, Hume BCC, Cárdenas A, Perna G, Voolstra CR, Duarte CM. Flexibility in Red Sea Tridacna maxima-Symbiodiniaceae associations supports environmental niche adaptation. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:3393-3406. [PMID: 33841792 PMCID: PMC8019035 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2020] [Revised: 01/13/2021] [Accepted: 02/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Giant clams (Tridacninae) are important members of Indo-Pacific coral reefs and among the few bivalve groups that live in symbiosis with unicellular algae (Symbiodiniaceae). Despite the importance of these endosymbiotic dinoflagellates for clam ecology, the diversity and specificity of these associations remain relatively poorly studied, especially in the Red Sea. Here, we used the internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) rDNA gene region to investigate Symbiodiniaceae communities associated with Red Sea Tridacna maxima clams. We sampled five sites spanning 1,300 km (10° of latitude, from the Gulf of Aqaba, 29°N, to the Farasan Banks, 18°N) along the Red Sea's North-South environmental gradient. We detected a diverse and structured assembly of host-associated algae with communities demonstrating region and site-specificity. Specimens from the Gulf of Aqaba harbored three genera of Symbiodiniaceae, Cladocopium, Durusdinium, and Symbiodinium, while at all other sites clams associated exclusively with algae from the Symbiodinium genus. Of these exclusively Symbiodinium-associating sites, the more northern (27° and 22°) and more southern sites (20° and 18°) formed two separate groupings despite site-specific algal genotypes being resolved at each site. These groupings were congruent with the genetic break seen across multiple marine taxa in the Red Sea at approximately 19°, and along with our documented site-specificity of algal communities, contrasted the panmictic distribution of the T. maxima host. As such, our findings indicate flexibility in T. maxima-Symbiodiniaceae associations that may explain its relatively high environmental plasticity and offers a mechanism for environmental niche adaptation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susann Rossbach
- Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering DivisionRed Sea Research Center (RSRC) and Computational Bioscience Research Center (CBRC)King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)ThuwalSaudi Arabia
| | - Benjamin C. C. Hume
- Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering DivisionRed Sea Research Center (RSRC)King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)ThuwalSaudi Arabia
- Department of BiologyUniversity of KonstanzKonstanzGermany
| | - Anny Cárdenas
- Department of BiologyUniversity of KonstanzKonstanzGermany
| | - Gabriela Perna
- Department of BiologyUniversity of KonstanzKonstanzGermany
| | - Christian R. Voolstra
- Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering DivisionRed Sea Research Center (RSRC)King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)ThuwalSaudi Arabia
- Department of BiologyUniversity of KonstanzKonstanzGermany
| | - Carlos M. Duarte
- Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering DivisionRed Sea Research Center (RSRC) and Computational Bioscience Research Center (CBRC)King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)ThuwalSaudi Arabia
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25
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Keshavmurthy S, Beals M, Hsieh HJ, Choi KS, Chen CA. Physiological plasticity of corals to temperature stress in marginal coral communities. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 758:143628. [PMID: 33248756 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.143628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2020] [Revised: 11/06/2020] [Accepted: 11/08/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Adaptation and/or acclimatization through various mechanisms have been suggested to help some tropical coral species to overcome temperature-induced bleaching that is intensifying with climate change; however, while much research has been done on the physiological responses of tropical and subtropical corals to stress, little is known about these responses in corals in marginal environments-e.g., high-latitude and non-reefal communities. In this study, we examined the thermal-tolerant physiology of the flowerpot coral, Alveopora japonica, endemic to the high-latitude Jeju Island (33.39°N), South Korea and Oulastrea crispata and Coelastrea aspera from the subtropical non-reefal coral community on the Penghu Islands (23.34°N), Taiwan. Analysis of physiological parameters; photochemical efficiency, Chlorophyll pigment, Symbiodiniaceae cell number and host soluble proteins - showed that A. japonica can survive through a wide range of temperature stresses (10-32 °C) over a period of 8 days without showing signs of bleaching. In addition, corals O. crispata and C. aspera withstood temperature stresses of up to 33 °C and repeated temperature fluctuations without bleaching. Our results indicate that, under large seasonal variations and asymmetrical daily fluctuations in temperature, corals currently living in marginal environments could have thermal plasticity, allowing them to survive in the future climate change scenarios. This study reiterates the importance of studying the eco-physiology of corals that are generally ignored because of their neutral or positive responses to stress.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Morgan Beals
- Biodiversity Research Centre, Academia Sinica, Nangang, Taipei 115, Taiwan; Department of Life Sciences, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei 106, Taiwan
| | - Hernyi Justin Hsieh
- Penghu Marine Biology Research Center, Fishery Research Institute, Council of Agriculture, Magong, Penghu 880, Taiwan
| | - Kwang-Sik Choi
- School of Marine Biomedical Science (BK 21 PLUS), Jeju National University, 102 Jejudaehakno, Jeju 63243, Republic of Korea
| | - Chaolun Allen Chen
- Biodiversity Research Centre, Academia Sinica, Nangang, Taipei 115, Taiwan; Taiwan International Graduate Program-Biodiversity, Academia Sinica, Nangang, Taipei 115, Taiwan; Department of Life Sciences, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei 106, Taiwan; Department of Life Sciences, Tunghai University, Taichung 404, Taiwan.
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26
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Sikorskaya TV, Efimova KV, Imbs AB. Lipidomes of phylogenetically different symbiotic dinoflagellates of corals. PHYTOCHEMISTRY 2021; 181:112579. [PMID: 33166751 DOI: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2020.112579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2020] [Revised: 10/26/2020] [Accepted: 10/27/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The structural base of all membranes of symbiotic dinoflagellates (SD) is composed of glycolipids and betaine lipids, whereas triacylglycerols (TG) constitute an energy reserve and are involved in biosynthesis of glycolipids. Since data on the SD lipidome and the host's influence on symbionts' lipidome are scanty, we analyzed and compared the lipidomes of SD isolated from the zoantharian Palythoa tuberculosa and the alcyonarian Sinularia heterospiculata. A sequencing of nuclear gene regions showed that both cnidarians hosted the dinoflagellates Cladocopium sp. (subclades C1 and C3), but the zoantharian also contained the dinoflagellates Durusdinium trenchii (clade D). The presence of the thermotolerant D. trenchii resulted in a higher unsaturation of mono- and digalactosyldiacylglycerols (MGDG and DGDG), but a lower unsaturation of sulfoquinovosyldiacylglycerol (SQDG). The same features were earlier described for same SD from a reef-building coral. Hence, the profile of glycolipid molecules, which form SD thylakoid membranes, seems to be species-specific and does not depend on the host's taxonomic position. In contrast, the betaine lipid molecular species profile of diacylglyceryl-3-O-carboxyhydroxymethylcholine (DGCC), which forms SD cell membranes, can be influenced by the host. The profiles of the TG molecular species from freshly isolated SD have been determined for the first time. These molecular species can be divided on the basis of the acyl group in sn-2 position. The TG with 16:0 acyl group in sn-2 position may enrich total TG of a cnidarian colony and originate from SD cytoplasm. In contrast, TG 18:3/18:4/18:3 may be biosynthetically related with DGDG and concentrated in SD plastoglobules. Our data may be useful for further investigations of natural and technogenic variations in microalgal lipids and symbiont-host interactions in marine ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatyana V Sikorskaya
- A.V. Zhirmunsky National Scientific Center of Marine Biology, Far Eastern Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, 690041, Vladivostok, Russian Federation.
| | - Kseniya V Efimova
- A.V. Zhirmunsky National Scientific Center of Marine Biology, Far Eastern Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, 690041, Vladivostok, Russian Federation; Laboratory of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology of Aquatic Organisms, Far Eastern Federal University, 690091, Vladivostok, Russian Federation
| | - Andrey B Imbs
- A.V. Zhirmunsky National Scientific Center of Marine Biology, Far Eastern Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, 690041, Vladivostok, Russian Federation
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27
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van der Windt N, van der Ent E, Ambo-Rappe R, de Voogd NJ. Presence and Genetic Identity of Symbiodiniaceae in the Bioeroding Sponge Genera Cliona and Spheciospongia (Clionaidae) in the Spermonde Archipelago (SW Sulawesi), Indonesia. Front Ecol Evol 2020. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2020.595452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Members of the family Symbiodiniaceae form symbiotic relationships with several metazoan groups on coral reefs, most notably scleractinian corals. However, despite their importance to the health of coral reefs, their relationship with other host organisms such as bioeroding sponges (Clionaidae) is still relatively understudied. In this study we investigate the presence and identity of Symbiodiniaceae in Clionaidae species in Indonesia and evaluate findings related to the evolution and ecology of the host-symbiont relationship. Clionaidae were collected throughout the Spermonde Archipelago in Indonesia. Morphological and molecular techniques were used to identify the sponge host (28S ribosomal DNA) and their Symbiodiniaceae symbionts (ITS2). Seven Clionaidae species were found, of which four species contained Symbiodiniaceae. Cliona aff. orientalis, Cliona thomasi and Spheciospongia maeandrina were host to Cladocopium, while Spheciospongia digitata contained Durusdinium and Freudenthalidium. In the remaining species: Cliona sp., Cliona utricularis and Spheciospongia trincomaliensis no evidence of the presence of Symbiodiniaceae was found. Our results provide the first record of Symbiodiniaceae in the sponge genus Spheciospongia. Additionally, we provide the first findings of Freudenthalidium and first molecular evidence of Durusdinium in bioeroding sponges. Our results indicate coevolution between Spheciospongia digitata, Spheciospongia maeandrina and their symbionts. We discuss that the diversity of Symbiodiniaceae within bioeroding sponges is likely far greater than currently reported in literature. Considering the threat bioeroding sponges can pose to the health of coral reefs, it is crucial to understand Symbiodiniaceae diversity within Clionaidae and their effect on the functioning of Clionaidae species. We propose that the identity of the symbiont species is mostly related to the host species, but we did observe a potential case of environmental adaptation related to environmental stressors.
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28
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A framework for in situ molecular characterization of coral holobionts using nanopore sequencing. Sci Rep 2020; 10:15893. [PMID: 32985530 PMCID: PMC7522235 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-72589-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2020] [Accepted: 09/03/2020] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Molecular characterization of the coral host and the microbial assemblages associated with it (referred to as the coral holobiont) is currently undertaken via marker gene sequencing. This requires bulky instruments and controlled laboratory conditions which are impractical for environmental experiments in remote areas. Recent advances in sequencing technologies now permit rapid sequencing in the field; however, development of specific protocols and pipelines for the effective processing of complex microbial systems are currently lacking. Here, we used a combination of 3 marker genes targeting the coral animal host, its symbiotic alga, and the associated bacterial microbiome to characterize 60 coral colonies collected and processed in situ, during the Tara Pacific expedition. We used Oxford Nanopore Technologies to sequence marker gene amplicons and developed bioinformatics pipelines to analyze nanopore reads on a laptop, obtaining results in less than 24 h. Reef scale network analysis of coral-associated bacteria reveals broadly distributed taxa, as well as host-specific associations. Protocols and tools used in this work may be applicable for rapid coral holobiont surveys, immediate adaptation of sampling strategy in the field, and to make informed and timely decisions in the context of the current challenges affecting coral reefs worldwide.
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29
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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] [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.
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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.)
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30
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Voolstra CR, Buitrago-López C, Perna G, Cárdenas A, Hume BCC, Rädecker N, Barshis DJ. Standardized short-term acute heat stress assays resolve historical differences in coral thermotolerance across microhabitat reef sites. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2020; 26:4328-4343. [PMID: 32567206 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.15148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2020] [Revised: 04/23/2020] [Accepted: 04/23/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Coral bleaching is one of the main drivers of reef degradation. Most corals bleach and suffer mortality at just 1-2°C above their maximum monthly mean temperatures, but some species and genotypes resist or recover better than others. Here, we conducted a series of 18-hr short-term acute heat stress assays side-by-side with a 21-day long-term heat stress experiment to assess the ability of both approaches to resolve coral thermotolerance differences reflective of in situ reef temperature thresholds. Using a suite of physiological parameters (photosynthetic efficiency, coral whitening, chlorophyll a, host protein, algal symbiont counts, and algal type association), we assessed bleaching susceptibility of Stylophora pistillata colonies from the windward/exposed and leeward/protected sites of a nearshore coral reef in the central Red Sea, which had previously shown differential mortality during a natural bleaching event. Photosynthetic efficiency was most indicative of the expected higher thermal tolerance in corals from the protected reef site, denoted by an increased retention of dark-adapted maximum quantum yields at higher temperatures. These differences were resolved using both experimental setups, as corroborated by a positive linear relationship, not observed for the other parameters. Notably, short-term acute heat stress assays resolved per-colony (genotype) differences that may have been masked by acclimation effects in the long-term experiment. Using our newly developed portable experimental system termed the Coral Bleaching Automated Stress System (CBASS), we thus highlight the potential of mobile, standardized short-term acute heat stress assays to resolve fine-scale differences in coral thermotolerance. Accordingly, such a system may be suitable for large-scale determination and complement existing approaches to identify resilient genotypes/reefs for downstream experimental examination and prioritization of reef sites for conservation/restoration. Development of such a framework is consistent with the recommendations of the National Academy of Sciences and the Reef Restoration and Adaptation Program committees for new intervention and restoration strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian R Voolstra
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
- Red Sea Research Center, Division of Biological BESE, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Carol Buitrago-López
- Red Sea Research Center, Division of Biological BESE, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Gabriela Perna
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
- Red Sea Research Center, Division of Biological BESE, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Anny Cárdenas
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
- Red Sea Research Center, Division of Biological BESE, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Benjamin C C Hume
- Red Sea Research Center, Division of Biological BESE, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Nils Rädecker
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
- Red Sea Research Center, Division of Biological BESE, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
- Laboratory for Biological Geochemistry, School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Daniel J Barshis
- Department of Biological Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, USA
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31
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Bollati E, D'Angelo C, Alderdice R, Pratchett M, Ziegler M, Wiedenmann J. Optical Feedback Loop Involving Dinoflagellate Symbiont and Scleractinian Host Drives Colorful Coral Bleaching. Curr Biol 2020; 30:2433-2445.e3. [PMID: 32442463 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2020.04.055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2019] [Revised: 02/19/2020] [Accepted: 04/21/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Coral bleaching, caused by the loss of brownish-colored dinoflagellate photosymbionts from the host tissue of reef-building corals, is a major threat to reef survival. Occasionally, bleached corals become exceptionally colorful rather than white. These colors derive from photoprotective green fluorescent protein (GFP)-like pigments produced by the coral host. There is currently no consensus regarding what causes colorful bleaching events and what the consequences for the corals are. Here, we document that colorful bleaching events are a recurring phenomenon in reef regions around the globe. Our analysis of temperature conditions associated with colorful bleaching events suggests that corals develop extreme coloration within 2 to 3 weeks after exposure to mild or temporary heat stress. We demonstrate that the increase of light fluxes in symbiont-depleted tissue promoted by reflection of the incident light from the coral skeleton induces strong expression of the photoprotective coral host pigments. We describe an optical feedback loop involving both partners of the association, discussing that the mitigation of light stress offered by host pigments could facilitate recolonization of bleached tissue by symbionts. Our data indicate that colorful bleaching has the potential to identify local environmental factors, such as nutrient stress, that can exacerbate the impact of elevated temperatures on corals, to indicate the severity of heat stress experienced by corals and to gauge their post-stress recovery potential. VIDEO ABSTRACT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Bollati
- Coral Reef Laboratory, University of Southampton, Waterfront Campus, European Way, Southampton SO14 3ZH, UK; Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117558, Singapore
| | - Cecilia D'Angelo
- Coral Reef Laboratory, University of Southampton, Waterfront Campus, European Way, Southampton SO14 3ZH, UK; Institute for Life Sciences (IFLS), University of Southampton, Highfield Campus, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK
| | - Rachel Alderdice
- Coral Reef Laboratory, University of Southampton, Waterfront Campus, European Way, Southampton SO14 3ZH, UK; Climate Change Cluster, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia
| | - Morgan Pratchett
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
| | - Maren Ziegler
- Systematics & Biodiversity Lab, Justus Liebig University, 35392 Giessen, Germany; Red Sea Research Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Jörg Wiedenmann
- Coral Reef Laboratory, University of Southampton, Waterfront Campus, European Way, Southampton SO14 3ZH, UK; Institute for Life Sciences (IFLS), University of Southampton, Highfield Campus, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK.
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Newkirk CR, Frazer TK, Martindale MQ, Schnitzler CE. Adaptation to Bleaching: Are Thermotolerant Symbiodiniaceae Strains More Successful Than Other Strains Under Elevated Temperatures in a Model Symbiotic Cnidarian? Front Microbiol 2020; 11:822. [PMID: 32431680 PMCID: PMC7214872 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.00822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2019] [Accepted: 04/06/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The ability of some symbiotic cnidarians to resist and better withstand stress factors that cause bleaching is a trait that is receiving increased attention. The adaptive bleaching hypothesis postulates that cnidarians that can form a stable symbiosis with thermotolerant Symbiodiniaceae strains may cope better with increasing seawater temperatures. We used polyps of the scyphozoan, Cassiopea xamachana, as a model system to test symbiosis success under heat stress. We sought to determine: (1) if aposymbiotic C. xamachana polyps could establish and maintain a symbiosis with both native and non-native strains of Symbiodiniaceae that all exhibit different tolerances to heat, (2) whether polyps with these newly acquired Symbiodiniaceae strains would strobilate (produce ephyra), and (3) if thermally tolerant Symbiodiniaceae strains that established and maintained a symbiosis exhibited greater success in response to heat stress (even if they are not naturally occurring in Cassiopea). Following recolonization of aposymbiotic C. xamachana polyps with different strains, we found that: (1) strains Smic, Stri, Slin, and Spil all established a stable symbiosis that promoted strobilation and (2) strains Bmin1 and Bmin2 did not establish a stable symbiosis and strobilation did not occur. Strains Smic, Stri, Slin, and Spil were used in a subsequent bleaching experiment; each of the strains was introduced to a subset of aposymbiotic polyps and once polyp tissues were saturated with symbionts they were subjected to elevated temperatures - 32°C and 34°C - for 2 weeks. Our findings indicate that, in general, pairings of polyps with Symbiodiniaceae strains that are native to Cassiopea (Stri and Smic) performed better than a non-native strain (Slin) even though this strain has a high thermotolerance. This suggests a degree of partner specificity that may limit the adaptive potential of certain cnidarians to increased ocean warming. We also observed that the free-living, non-native thermotolerant strain Spil was relatively successful in resisting bleaching during experimental trials. This suggests that free-living Symbiodiniaceae may provide a supply of potentially "new" thermotolerant strains to cnidarians following a bleaching event.
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Affiliation(s)
- Casandra R. Newkirk
- Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience, University of Florida, St. Augustine, FL, United States
- Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences Program, School of Forest Resources and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Thomas K. Frazer
- Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences Program, School of Forest Resources and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
- School of Natural Resources and Environment, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Mark Q. Martindale
- Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience, University of Florida, St. Augustine, FL, United States
| | - Christine E. Schnitzler
- Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience, University of Florida, St. Augustine, FL, United States
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33
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Endosymbiont diversity and community structure in Porites lutea from Southeast Asia are driven by a suite of environmental variables. Symbiosis 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s13199-020-00671-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
AbstractMany corals depend upon the highly specialised and intricate relationship they form with Symbiodiniaceae algal symbionts. Porites lutea is a massive reef-building coral found throughout Southeast Asia that hosts these endosymbionts obligately. Yet despite the prevalence and importance of P. lutea as one of the most dominant corals here, its associated Symbiodiniaceae communities have not been precisely characterised. In this study, we used high-throughput DNA amplicon sequencing of the nuclear internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) to characterise the diversity, community structure and biogeographic distribution of Symbiodiniaceae in P. lutea throughout Singapore and Peninsular Malaysia. Consistent with previous studies, we found that Cladocopium was the most dominant genus among all samples, and Cladocopium C15 was the most dominant type (or subclade) with 100% occurrence in all samples from every study site. Results also revealed numerous Symbiodiniaceae types associated with P. lutea that were previously undetected in Southeast Asia. Endosymbiont diversity and community variation are driven by a combination of site-specific mean monthly cloud cover and variance in monthly sea surface temperature. This study contributes baseline data toward understanding differences in Symbiodiniaceae assemblages hosted by P. lutea, shedding light on how they might be indicative of particular environmental conditions and coral responses.
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34
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Gegner HM, Rädecker N, Ochsenkühn M, Barreto MM, Ziegler M, Reichert J, Schubert P, Wilke T, Voolstra CR. High levels of floridoside at high salinity link osmoadaptation with bleaching susceptibility in the cnidarian-algal endosymbiosis. Biol Open 2019; 8:8/12/bio045591. [PMID: 31843766 PMCID: PMC6918757 DOI: 10.1242/bio.045591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Coral reefs are in global decline mainly due to increasing sea surface temperatures triggering coral bleaching. Recently, high salinity has been linked to increased thermotolerance and decreased bleaching in the sea anemone coral model Aiptasia. However, the underlying processes remain elusive. Using two Aiptasia host–endosymbiont pairings, we induced bleaching at different salinities and show reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) release at high salinities, suggesting a role of osmoadaptation in increased thermotolerance. A subsequent screening of osmolytes revealed that this effect was only observed in algal endosymbionts that produce 2-O-glycerol-α-D-galactopyranoside (floridoside), an osmolyte capable of scavenging ROS. This result argues for a mechanistic link between osmoadaptation and thermotolerance, mediated by ROS-scavenging osmolytes (e.g., floridoside). This sheds new light on the putative mechanisms underlying the remarkable thermotolerance of corals from water bodies with high salinity such as the Red Sea or Persian/Arabian Gulf and holds implications for coral thermotolerance under climate change. This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper. Summary: Using the coral model Aiptasia, we show increased thermotolerance at high salinities, concomitant with a reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) release by algal endosymbionts. This suggests a mechanistic link between osmoadaptation and thermotolerance, mediated by ROS-scavenging osmolytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hagen M Gegner
- Red Sea Research Center, Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955, Saudi Arabia
| | - Nils Rädecker
- Red Sea Research Center, Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955, Saudi Arabia
| | - Michael Ochsenkühn
- Division of Science and Engineering, New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD), Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Marcelle M Barreto
- Red Sea Research Center, Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955, Saudi Arabia
| | - Maren Ziegler
- Red Sea Research Center, Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955, Saudi Arabia.,Department of Animal Ecology & Systematics, Justus Liebig University, 35390 Giessen, Germany
| | - Jessica Reichert
- Department of Animal Ecology & Systematics, Justus Liebig University, 35390 Giessen, Germany
| | - Patrick Schubert
- Department of Animal Ecology & Systematics, Justus Liebig University, 35390 Giessen, Germany
| | - Thomas Wilke
- Department of Animal Ecology & Systematics, Justus Liebig University, 35390 Giessen, Germany
| | - Christian R Voolstra
- Red Sea Research Center, Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955, Saudi Arabia .,Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, 78457 Konstanz, Germany
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35
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Khosravi M, Nasrolahi A, Shokri MR, Dobretsov S, Pansch C. Impact of warming on biofouling communities in the northern Persian Gulf. J Therm Biol 2019; 85:102403. [PMID: 31657744 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtherbio.2019.102403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2019] [Revised: 07/12/2019] [Accepted: 08/25/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
While the impact of ocean warming on single species is well described, the impact on marine biofouling communities is not well understood. Effluents of power plants have higher temperatures and can be used as natural large-scale test sites to investigate warming effects on marine ecosystems. In the present study, we evaluated the impact of elevated temperatures in the vicinity of a power plant on macro-biofouling communities in the northern coast of the Persian Gulf. The impact site was on average 2 °C warmer than the control site. Our results demonstrate a significantly different structure and composition of biofouling communities between control and impact sites. Warming led to a 1.5-fold increase in the mean coverage of biofouling communities and slightly decreased functional and species richness. Our results indicated that future warming will likely increase biofouling pressure, while decreasing diversity of communities, particularly in habitats where organisms exist at their upper tolerance limits of temperature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maral Khosravi
- Department of Aquatic Biotechnology, Faculty of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shahid Beheshti University, G. C., Evin, Tehran, 1983969411, Iran; Department of Marine Ecology, GEOMAR - Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Düsternbrooker Weg 20, 24105, Kiel, Germany
| | - Ali Nasrolahi
- Department of Aquatic Biotechnology, Faculty of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shahid Beheshti University, G. C., Evin, Tehran, 1983969411, Iran.
| | - Mohammad Reza Shokri
- Department of Aquatic Biotechnology, Faculty of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shahid Beheshti University, G. C., Evin, Tehran, 1983969411, Iran
| | - Sergey Dobretsov
- Department of Marine Sciences and Fisheries, College of Agricultural and Marine Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, P.O. Box 34, Al Khoud, 123, Oman; Centre of Excellence in Marine Biotechnology, Sultan Qaboos University, P.O. Box 50, Al Khoud, 123, Oman
| | - Christian Pansch
- Department of Marine Ecology, GEOMAR - Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Düsternbrooker Weg 20, 24105, Kiel, Germany
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36
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Leveque S, Afiq-Rosli L, Ip YCA, Jain SS, Huang D. Searching for phylogenetic patterns of Symbiodiniaceae community structure among Indo-Pacific Merulinidae corals. PeerJ 2019; 7:e7669. [PMID: 31565579 PMCID: PMC6746223 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.7669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2019] [Accepted: 08/13/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Over half of all extant stony corals (Cnidaria: Anthozoa: Scleractinia) harbour endosymbiotic dinoflagellates of the family Symbiodiniaceae, forming the foundational species of modern shallow reefs. However, whether these associations are conserved on the coral phylogeny remains unknown. Here we aim to characterise Symbiodiniaceae communities in eight closely-related species in the genera Merulina, Goniastrea and Scapophyllia, and determine if the variation in endosymbiont community structure can be explained by the phylogenetic relatedness among hosts. We perform DNA metabarcoding of the nuclear internal transcribed spacer 2 using Symbiodiniaceae-specific primers on 30 coral colonies to recover three major endosymbiont clades represented by 23 distinct types. In agreement with previous studies on Southeast Asian corals, we find an abundance of Cladocopium and Durusdinium, but also detect Symbiodinium types in three of the eight coral host species. Interestingly, differences in endosymbiont community structure are dominated by host variation at the intraspecific level, rather than interspecific, intergeneric or among-clade levels, indicating a lack of phylogenetic constraint in the coral-endosymbiont association among host species. Furthermore, the limited geographic sampling of four localities spanning the Western and Central Indo-Pacific preliminarily hints at large-scale spatial structuring of Symbiodiniaceae communities. More extensive collections of corals from various regions and environments will help us better understand the specificity of the coral-endosymbiont relationship.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sébastien Leveque
- National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.,Université de La Rochelle, La Rochelle, Singapore
| | | | | | | | - Danwei Huang
- National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
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37
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Thinesh T, Meenatchi R, Jose PA, Kiran GS, Selvin J. Differential bleaching and recovery pattern of southeast Indian coral reef to 2016 global mass bleaching event: Occurrence of stress-tolerant symbiont Durusdinium (Clade D) in corals of Palk Bay. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2019; 145:287-294. [PMID: 31590790 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.05.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2018] [Revised: 05/09/2019] [Accepted: 05/15/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Information about coral community response to bleaching on Indian reefs is much more limited compared with Indo-Pacific reefs, with no understanding of algal symbionts. We investigated a reef in Palk Bay to understand the coral community response to 2016 bleaching event and to reveal dominant symbiont type association in four common coral genera. Out of 508 colonies surveyed, we found 20.9% (106) mortality in 53.8% (n = 290) of bleached corals. We found differential bleaching and recovery pattern among coral genera. Bleaching was most prevalent in Acropora (86.36%), followed by Porites (65.45%), while moderate to no bleaching was recorded in Favites 5.88%, Symphyllia 51.11% and Favia 55.77%, Platygyra 41.67%, Goniastrea 41.83%. Pre-bleaching and post bleaching samplings revealed changes in dominant symbiont type following bleaching only in Acropora (Cladocopium, Clade C to Durusdinium Clade D) while no such changes were found in other coral genera hosted Clade D. This is the first observation of coral symbiont diversity in the Indian reef.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Thinesh
- Department of Microbiology, School of Life Sciences, Pondicherry University, Puducherry, India; Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, United States of America
| | - R Meenatchi
- Department of Microbiology, School of Life Sciences, Pondicherry University, Puducherry, India
| | - Polpass Arul Jose
- Marine Biotechnology and Ecology Division, CSIR - Central Salt and Marine Research Institute (CSIR-CSMCRI), Bhavnagar, India
| | - G Seghal Kiran
- Department of Food Science and Technology, School of Life Sciences, Pondicherry University, Puducherry, India
| | - Joseph Selvin
- Department of Microbiology, School of Life Sciences, Pondicherry University, Puducherry, India.
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38
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McIlroy SE, Thompson PD, Yuan FL, Bonebrake TC, Baker DM. Subtropical thermal variation supports persistence of corals but limits productivity of coral reefs. Proc Biol Sci 2019; 286:20190882. [PMID: 31311470 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2019.0882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Concomitant to the decline of tropical corals caused by increasing global sea temperatures is the potential removal of barriers to species range expansions into subtropical and temperate habitats. In these habitats, species must tolerate lower annual mean temperature, wider annual temperature ranges and lower minimum temperatures. To understand ecophysiological traits that will impact geographical range boundaries, we monitored populations of five coral species within a marginal habitat and used a year of in situ measures to model thermal performance of vital host, symbiont and holobiont physiology. Metabolic responses to temperature revealed two acclimatization strategies: peak productivity occurring at annual midpoint temperatures (4-6°C lower than tropical counterparts), or at annual maxima. Modelled relationships between temperature and P:R were compared to a year of daily subtropical sea temperatures and revealed that the relatively short time spent at any one temperature, limited optimal performance of all strategies to approximately half the days of the year. Thus, while subtropical corals can adjust their physiology to persist through seasonal lows, seasonal variation seems to be the key factor limiting coral productivity. This constraint on rapid reef accretion within subtropical environments provides insight into the global distribution of future coral reefs and their ecosystem services.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shelby E McIlroy
- The Swire Institute of Marine Science, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China.,School of Biological Sciences, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China
| | - Philip D Thompson
- The Swire Institute of Marine Science, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China.,School of Biological Sciences, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China
| | - Felix Landry Yuan
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China
| | - Timothy C Bonebrake
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China
| | - David M Baker
- The Swire Institute of Marine Science, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China.,School of Biological Sciences, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China
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Hume BCC, Smith EG, Ziegler M, Warrington HJM, Burt JA, LaJeunesse TC, Wiedenmann J, Voolstra CR. SymPortal: A novel analytical framework and platform for coral algal symbiont next-generation sequencing ITS2 profiling. Mol Ecol Resour 2019; 19:1063-1080. [PMID: 30740899 PMCID: PMC6618109 DOI: 10.1111/1755-0998.13004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 104] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2018] [Revised: 01/30/2019] [Accepted: 01/31/2019] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
We present SymPortal (SymPortal.org), a novel analytical framework and platform for genetically resolving the algal symbionts of reef corals using next‐generation sequencing (NGS) data of the ITS2 rDNA. Although the ITS2 marker is widely used to genetically characterize taxa within the family Symbiodiniaceae (formerly the genus Symbiodinium), the multicopy nature of the marker complicates its use. Commonly, the intragenomic diversity resultant from this multicopy nature is collapsed by analytical approaches, thereby focusing on only the most abundant sequences. In contrast, SymPortal employs logic to identify within‐sample informative intragenomic sequences, which we have termed ‘defining intragenomic variants' (DIVs), to identify ITS2‐type profiles representative of putative Symbiodiniaceae taxa. By making use of this intragenomic ITS2 diversity, SymPortal is able to resolve genetic delineations using the ITS2 marker at a level that was previously only possible by using additional genetic markers. We demonstrate this by comparing this novel approach to the most commonly used alternative approach for NGS ITS2 data, the 97% similarity clustering to operational taxonomic units (OTUs). The SymPortal platform accepts NGS raw sequencing data as input to provide an easy‐to‐use, standardization‐enforced, and community‐driven framework that integrates with a database to gain resolving power with increased use. We consider that SymPortal, in conjunction with ongoing large‐scale sampling and sequencing efforts, should play an instrumental role in making future sampling efforts more comparable and in maximizing their efficacy in working towards the classification of the global Symbiodiniaceae diversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin C C Hume
- Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE), Red Sea Research Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Edward G Smith
- Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, UAE
| | - Maren Ziegler
- Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE), Red Sea Research Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - John A Burt
- Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, UAE
| | - Todd C LaJeunesse
- Department of Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania
| | - Joerg Wiedenmann
- Coral Reef Laboratory, Ocean and Earth Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.,Institute for Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Christian R Voolstra
- Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE), Red Sea Research Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
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40
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Cziesielski MJ, Liew YJ, Cui G, Schmidt-Roach S, Campana S, Marondedze C, Aranda M. Multi-omics analysis of thermal stress response in a zooxanthellate cnidarian reveals the importance of associating with thermotolerant symbionts. Proc Biol Sci 2019; 285:rspb.2017.2654. [PMID: 29669898 PMCID: PMC5936724 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2017.2654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2017] [Accepted: 03/22/2018] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Corals and their endosymbiotic dinoflagellates of the genus Symbiodinium have a fragile relationship that breaks down under heat stress, an event known as bleaching. However, many coral species have adapted to high temperature environments such as the Red Sea (RS). To investigate mechanisms underlying temperature adaptation in zooxanthellate cnidarians we compared transcriptome- and proteome-wide heat stress response (24 h at 32°C) of three strains of the model organism Aiptasia pallida from regions with differing temperature profiles; North Carolina (CC7), Hawaii (H2) and the RS. Correlations between transcript and protein levels were generally low but inter-strain comparisons highlighted a common core cnidarian response to heat stress, including protein folding and oxidative stress pathways. RS anemones showed the strongest increase in antioxidant gene expression and exhibited significantly lower reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in hospite. However, comparisons of antioxidant gene and protein expression between strains did not show strong differences, indicating similar antioxidant capacity across the strains. Subsequent analysis of ROS production in isolated symbionts confirmed that the observed differences of ROS levels in hospite were symbiont-driven. Our findings indicate that RS anemones do not show increased antioxidant capacity but may have adapted to higher temperatures through association with more thermally tolerant symbionts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maha J Cziesielski
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Red Sea Research Center (RSRC), Biological and Environmental Sciences & Engineering Division (BESE), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Yi Jin Liew
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Red Sea Research Center (RSRC), Biological and Environmental Sciences & Engineering Division (BESE), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Guoxin Cui
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Red Sea Research Center (RSRC), Biological and Environmental Sciences & Engineering Division (BESE), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sebastian Schmidt-Roach
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Red Sea Research Center (RSRC), Biological and Environmental Sciences & Engineering Division (BESE), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sara Campana
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Red Sea Research Center (RSRC), Biological and Environmental Sciences & Engineering Division (BESE), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Claudius Marondedze
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Red Sea Research Center (RSRC), Biological and Environmental Sciences & Engineering Division (BESE), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Manuel Aranda
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Red Sea Research Center (RSRC), Biological and Environmental Sciences & Engineering Division (BESE), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
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41
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Gardner SG, Camp EF, Smith DJ, Kahlke T, Osman EO, Gendron G, Hume BCC, Pogoreutz C, Voolstra CR, Suggett DJ. Coral microbiome diversity reflects mass coral bleaching susceptibility during the 2016 El Niño heat wave. Ecol Evol 2019; 9:938-956. [PMID: 30805132 PMCID: PMC6374667 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.4662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2018] [Revised: 09/21/2018] [Accepted: 09/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Repeat marine heat wave-induced mass coral bleaching has decimated reefs in Seychelles for 35 years, but how coral-associated microbial diversity (microalgal endosymbionts of the family Symbiodiniaceae and bacterial communities) potentially underpins broad-scale bleaching dynamics remains unknown. We assessed microbiome composition during the 2016 heat wave peak at two contrasting reef sites (clear vs. turbid) in Seychelles, for key coral species considered bleaching sensitive (Acropora muricata, Acropora gemmifera) or tolerant (Porites lutea, Coelastrea aspera). For all species and sites, we sampled bleached versus unbleached colonies to examine how microbiomes align with heat stress susceptibility. Over 30% of all corals bleached in 2016, half of which were from Acropora sp. and Pocillopora sp. mass bleaching that largely transitioned to mortality by 2017. Symbiodiniaceae ITS2-sequencing revealed that the two Acropora sp. and P. lutea generally associated with C3z/C3 and C15 types, respectively, whereas C. aspera exhibited a plastic association with multiple D types and two C3z types. 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed that bacterial communities were coral host-specific, largely through differences in the most abundant families, Hahellaceae (comprising Endozoicomonas), Rhodospirillaceae, and Rhodobacteraceae. Both Acropora sp. exhibited lower bacterial diversity, species richness, and community evenness compared to more bleaching-resistant P. lutea and C. aspera. Different bleaching susceptibility among coral species was thus consistent with distinct microbiome community profiles. These profiles were conserved across bleached and unbleached colonies of all coral species. As this pattern could also reflect a parallel response of the microbiome to environmental changes, the detailed functional associations will need to be determined in future studies. Further understanding such microbiome-environmental interactions is likely critical to target more effective management within oceanically isolated reefs of Seychelles.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Emma F. Camp
- University of Technology SydneyClimate Change ClusterUltimo NSW 2007Australia
| | - David J. Smith
- Coral Reef Research Unit, School of Biological SciencesUniversity of EssexColchesterUK
| | - Tim Kahlke
- University of Technology SydneyClimate Change ClusterUltimo NSW 2007Australia
| | - Eslam O. Osman
- Coral Reef Research Unit, School of Biological SciencesUniversity of EssexColchesterUK
- Marine Biology Department, Faculty of ScienceAl‐Azhar UniversityCairoEgypt
| | | | - Benjamin C. C. Hume
- Red Sea Research Center, Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering Division (BESE)King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)ThuwalSaudi Arabia
| | - Claudia Pogoreutz
- Red Sea Research Center, Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering Division (BESE)King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)ThuwalSaudi Arabia
| | - Christian R. Voolstra
- Red Sea Research Center, Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering Division (BESE)King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)ThuwalSaudi Arabia
| | - David J. Suggett
- University of Technology SydneyClimate Change ClusterUltimo NSW 2007Australia
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42
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Vulnerability of the marine ecosystem to climate change impacts in the Arabian Gulf—an urgent need for more research. Glob Ecol Conserv 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2019.e00556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
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43
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Hume BCC, D'Angelo C, Smith EG, Stevens JR, Burt JA, Wiedenmann J. Validation of the binary designation Symbiodinium thermophilum (Dinophyceae). JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY 2018; 54:762-764. [PMID: 29981276 DOI: 10.1111/jpy.12764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2017] [Accepted: 06/25/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The binary designation Symbiodinium thermophilum was invalid due to the absence of an illustration as required by Article 44.2 of the ICN. Herein, it is validated. This species is the most common symbiont in reef corals in the southern Persian/Arabian Gulf, the world's hottest body of water sustaining reef coral growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin C C Hume
- Red Sea Research Center, Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Cecilia D'Angelo
- Coral Reef Laboratory, Ocean and Earth Science, University of Southampton, National Oceanography Centre, Waterfront Campus, Southampton, SO14 3ZH, UK
| | - Edward G Smith
- Marine Biology Laboratory, Centre for Genomics and Systems Biology, New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, 129188, United Arab Emirates
| | - Jamie R Stevens
- Department of Biosciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, EX4 4QD, UK
| | - John A Burt
- Marine Biology Laboratory, Centre for Genomics and Systems Biology, New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, 129188, United Arab Emirates
| | - Jörg Wiedenmann
- Coral Reef Laboratory, Ocean and Earth Science, University of Southampton, National Oceanography Centre, Waterfront Campus, Southampton, SO14 3ZH, UK
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44
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Nesting ecology of hawksbill turtles, Eretmochelys imbricata, in an extreme environmental setting. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0203257. [PMID: 30192801 PMCID: PMC6128527 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0203257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2017] [Accepted: 08/17/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Relatively few details of hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) nesting ecology exist within the Arabian Gulf. Moreover, little is known about how their nesting dynamics compare to nesting populations throughout the rest of the world. Due to the extreme environmental setting, nesting ecology of hawksbills in the Arabian Gulf is of significant interest to researchers and conservationists. The current research reports on a long-term tagging and monitoring program undertaken at Fuwairit beach, Qatar. To investigate nesting behavior, site surveys and tagging were employed from 2010 to 2016. Presence of nests and clutch sizes were confirmed by excavation. Over the entire study period, nesting hawksbills had a mean curved carapace length of 70.8 cm (SD±2.8). A total 187 nests were confirmed, which contained a mean 78.9 eggs per clutch (SD±17.1), over an annual nesting season that lasted an average of 52.2 days (SD±6.3) from the start of April to the start of June. Meta-analysis with other global regions showed these characteristics to be significantly reduced when compared to nesting hawksbills from other populations. Meteorological data analysis showed air temperatures in the Arabian Gulf to increase on average 13.2°C (SD±0.26) from start to the end of nesting annually, which is significantly greater than other global nesting regions. Their smaller body size and reduced fecundity coupled with the extreme change in ambient air temperatures support the hypothesis that hawksbills in the region are more at risk than the already critically endangered hawksbill populations elsewhere in the world.
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Hume BCC, Ziegler M, Poulain J, Pochon X, Romac S, Boissin E, de Vargas C, Planes S, Wincker P, Voolstra CR. An improved primer set and amplification protocol with increased specificity and sensitivity targeting the Symbiodinium ITS2 region. PeerJ 2018; 6:e4816. [PMID: 29844969 PMCID: PMC5970565 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.4816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2018] [Accepted: 05/01/2018] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The Internal Transcribed Spacer 2 (ITS2) rRNA gene is a commonly targeted genetic marker to assess diversity of Symbiodinium, a dinoflagellate genus of algal endosymbionts that is pervasively associated with marine invertebrates, and notably reef-building corals. Here we tested three commonly used ITS2 primer pairs (SYM_VAR_5.8S2/SYM_VAR_REV, ITSintfor2/ITSReverse, and ITS-DINO/ITS2Rev2) with regard to amplification specificity and sensitivity towards Symbiodinium, as well as sub-genera taxonomic bias. We tested these primers over a range of sample types including three coral species, coral surrounding water, reef surface water, and open ocean water to assess their suitability for use in large-scale next generation sequencing projects and to develop a standardised PCR protocol. We found the SYM_VAR_5.8S2/SYM_VAR_REV primers to perform superior to the other tested ITS2 primers. We therefore used this primer pair to develop a standardised PCR protocol. To do this, we tested the effect of PCR-to-PCR variation, annealing temperature, cycle number, and different polymerase systems on the PCR efficacy. The Symbiodinium ITS2 PCR protocol developed here delivers improved specificity and sensitivity towards Symbiodinium with apparent minimal sub-genera taxonomic bias across all sample types. In particular, the protocol's ability to amplify Symbiodinium from a range of environmental sources will facilitate the study of Symbiodinium populations across biomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin C C Hume
- Red Sea Research Center, Division of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Maren Ziegler
- Red Sea Research Center, Division of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Julie Poulain
- CEA-Institut de Biologie François Jacob, Genoscope, Evry, France.,CNRS, UMR 8030, Evry, France.,Université d'Evry, UMR 8030, Evry, France
| | - Xavier Pochon
- Coastal and Freshwater Group, Cawthron Institute, Nelson, New Zealand.,Institute of Marine Science, University of Auckland, Warkworth, New Zealand
| | - Sarah Romac
- CNRS, UMR 7144, EPEP & Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Université Paris 06; Station Biologique de Roscoff, Roscoff, France
| | - Emilie Boissin
- PSL Research University: EPHE-UPVD-CNRS, USR 3278 CRIOBE, Université de Perpignan, Perpignan Cedex, France
| | - Colomban de Vargas
- CNRS, UMR 7144, EPEP & Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Université Paris 06; Station Biologique de Roscoff, Roscoff, France
| | - Serge Planes
- PSL Research University: EPHE-UPVD-CNRS, USR 3278 CRIOBE, Université de Perpignan, Perpignan Cedex, France
| | - Patrick Wincker
- CEA-Institut de Biologie François Jacob, Genoscope, Evry, France.,CNRS, UMR 8030, Evry, France.,Université d'Evry, UMR 8030, Evry, France
| | - Christian R Voolstra
- Red Sea Research Center, Division of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
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46
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Phylogenetic analyses of Symbiodinium isolated from Waminoa and their anthozoan hosts in the Ryukyu Archipelago, southern Japan. Symbiosis 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s13199-018-0557-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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47
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Merselis DG, Lirman D, Rodriguez-Lanetty M. Symbiotic immuno-suppression: is disease susceptibility the price of bleaching resistance? PeerJ 2018; 6:e4494. [PMID: 29682405 PMCID: PMC5909685 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.4494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2017] [Accepted: 02/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Accelerating anthropogenic climate change threatens to destroy coral reefs worldwide through the processes of bleaching and disease. These major contributors to coral mortality are both closely linked with thermal stress intensified by anthropogenic climate change. Disease outbreaks typically follow bleaching events, but a direct positive linkage between bleaching and disease has been debated. By tracking 152 individual coral ramets through the 2014 mass bleaching in a South Florida coral restoration nursery, we revealed a highly significant negative correlation between bleaching and disease in the Caribbean staghorn coral, Acropora cervicornis. To explain these results, we propose a mechanism for transient immunological protection through coral bleaching: removal of Symbiodinium during bleaching may also temporarily eliminate suppressive symbiont modulation of host immunological function. We contextualize this hypothesis within an ecological perspective in order to generate testable predictions for future investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel G Merselis
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Diego Lirman
- Department of Marine Biology and Ecology, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
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48
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Brener-Raffalli K, Clerissi C, Vidal-Dupiol J, Adjeroud M, Bonhomme F, Pratlong M, Aurelle D, Mitta G, Toulza E. Thermal regime and host clade, rather than geography, drive Symbiodinium and bacterial assemblages in the scleractinian coral Pocillopora damicornis sensu lato. MICROBIOME 2018; 6:39. [PMID: 29463295 PMCID: PMC5819220 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-018-0423-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2017] [Accepted: 02/11/2018] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although the term holobiont has been popularized in corals with the advent of the hologenome theory of evolution, the underlying concepts are still a matter of debate. Indeed, the relative contribution of host and environment and especially thermal regime in shaping the microbial communities should be examined carefully to evaluate the potential role of symbionts for holobiont adaptation in the context of global changes. We used the sessile, long-lived, symbiotic and environmentally sensitive reef-building coral Pocillopora damicornis to address these issues. RESULTS We sampled Pocillopora damicornis colonies corresponding to two different mitochondrial lineages in different geographic areas displaying different thermal regimes: Djibouti, French Polynesia, New Caledonia, and Taiwan. The community composition of bacteria and the algal endosymbiont Symbiodinium were characterized using high-throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA gene and internal transcribed spacer, ITS2, respectively. Bacterial microbiota was very diverse with high prevalence of Endozoicomonas, Arcobacter, and Acinetobacter in all samples. While Symbiodinium sub-clade C1 was dominant in Taiwan and New Caledonia, D1 was dominant in Djibouti and French Polynesia. Moreover, we also identified a high background diversity (i.e., with proportions < 1%) of A1, C3, C15, and G Symbiodinum sub-clades. Using redundancy analyses, we found that the effect of geography was very low for both communities and that host genotypes and temperatures differently influenced Symbiodinium and bacterial microbiota. Indeed, while the constraint of host haplotype was higher than temperatures on bacterial composition, we showed for the first time a strong relationship between the composition of Symbiodinium communities and minimal sea surface temperatures. CONCLUSION Because Symbiodinium assemblages are more constrained by the thermal regime than bacterial communities, we propose that their contribution to adaptive capacities of the holobiont to temperature changes might be higher than the influence of bacterial microbiota. Moreover, the link between Symbiodinium community composition and minimal temperatures suggests low relative fitness of clade D at lower temperatures. This observation is particularly relevant in the context of climate change, since corals will face increasing temperatures as well as much frequent abnormal cold episodes in some areas of the world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly Brener-Raffalli
- IHPE, UMR 5244, University of Perpignan Via Domitia, CNRS, IFREMER, University of Montpellier, Perpignan, France
| | - Camille Clerissi
- IHPE, UMR 5244, University of Perpignan Via Domitia, CNRS, IFREMER, University of Montpellier, Perpignan, France
| | - Jeremie Vidal-Dupiol
- IHPE, UMR 5244, University of Perpignan Via Domitia, CNRS, IFREMER, University of Montpellier, Perpignan, France
| | - Mehdi Adjeroud
- ENTROPIE, UMR 9220 & Laboratoire d’Excellence CORAIL, IRD, University of Perpignan Via Domitia, Perpignan, France
| | - François Bonhomme
- ISEM, UMR 5554, CNRS, University of Montpellier, IRD, EPHE, Sète, France
| | - Marine Pratlong
- IMBE, UMR 7263, Aix Marseille University, CNRS, IRD, Avignon University, Marseille, France
| | - Didier Aurelle
- IMBE, UMR 7263, Aix Marseille University, CNRS, IRD, Avignon University, Marseille, France
| | - Guillaume Mitta
- IHPE, UMR 5244, University of Perpignan Via Domitia, CNRS, IFREMER, University of Montpellier, Perpignan, France
| | - Eve Toulza
- IHPE, UMR 5244, University of Perpignan Via Domitia, CNRS, IFREMER, University of Montpellier, Perpignan, France
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49
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Osman EO, Smith DJ, Ziegler M, Kürten B, Conrad C, El-Haddad KM, Voolstra CR, Suggett DJ. Thermal refugia against coral bleaching throughout the northern Red Sea. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2018; 24:e474-e484. [PMID: 29044761 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.13895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2017] [Accepted: 08/08/2017] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Tropical reefs have been impacted by thermal anomalies caused by global warming that induced coral bleaching and mortality events globally. However, there have only been very few recordings of bleaching within the Red Sea despite covering a latitudinal range of 15° and consequently it has been considered a region that is less sensitive to thermal anomalies. We therefore examined historical patterns of sea surface temperature (SST) and associated anomalies (1982-2012) and compared warming trends with a unique compilation of corresponding coral bleaching records from throughout the region. These data indicated that the northern Red Sea has not experienced mass bleaching despite intensive Degree Heating Weeks (DHW) of >15°C-weeks. Severe bleaching was restricted to the central and southern Red Sea where DHWs have been more frequent, but far less intense (DHWs <4°C-weeks). A similar pattern was observed during the 2015-2016 El Niño event during which time corals in the northern Red Sea did not bleach despite high thermal stress (i.e. DHWs >8°C-weeks), and bleaching was restricted to the central and southern Red Sea despite the lower thermal stress (DHWs < 8°C-weeks). Heat stress assays carried out in the northern (Hurghada) and central (Thuwal) Red Sea on four key reef-building species confirmed different regional thermal susceptibility, and that central Red Sea corals are more sensitive to thermal anomalies as compared to those from the north. Together, our data demonstrate that corals in the northern Red Sea have a much higher heat tolerance than their prevailing temperature regime would suggest. In contrast, corals from the central Red Sea are close to their thermal limits, which closely match the maximum annual water temperatures. The northern Red Sea harbours reef-building corals that live well below their bleaching thresholds and thus we propose that the region represents a thermal refuge of global importance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eslam O Osman
- Coral Reef Research Unit, School of Biological Sciences, University of Essex, Essex, UK
- Marine Biology Department, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University, Nasr City, Cairo, Egypt
| | - David J Smith
- Coral Reef Research Unit, School of Biological Sciences, University of Essex, Essex, UK
| | - Maren Ziegler
- Red Sea Research Center, Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Benjamin Kürten
- Red Sea Research Center, Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | | | | | - Christian R Voolstra
- Red Sea Research Center, Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - David J Suggett
- Coral Reef Research Unit, School of Biological Sciences, University of Essex, Essex, UK
- Climate Change Cluster, University of Technology, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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50
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Mahmoud H, Jose L. Phage and Nucleocytoplasmic Large Viral Sequences Dominate Coral Viromes from the Arabian Gulf. Front Microbiol 2017; 8:2063. [PMID: 29114244 PMCID: PMC5660727 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.02063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2017] [Accepted: 10/09/2017] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Corals that naturally thrive under extreme conditions are gaining increasing attention due to their importance as living models to understand the impact of global warming on world corals. Here, we present the first metagenomic study of viral communities in corals thriving in a thermally variable water body in which the temperature fluctuates between 11 and 39°C in different seasons. The viral assemblages of two of the most abundant massive (Porites harrisoni) and branching (Acropora downingi) corals in offshore and inshore reef systems in the northern Arabian Gulf were investigated. Samples were collected from five reef systems during summer, autumn and winter of 2011/2012. The two coral viromes contain 12 viral families, including 10 dsDNA viral families [Siphoviridae, Podoviridae, Myoviridae, Phycodnaviridae, Baculoviridae, Herpesviridae, Adenoviridae, Alloherpesviridae, Mimiviridae and one unclassified family], one-ssDNA viral family (Microviridae) and one RNA viral family (Retroviridae). Overall, sequences significantly similar to Podoviridae were the most abundant in the P. harrisoni and A. downingi viromes. Various morphological types of virus-like particles (VLPs) were confirmed in the healthy coral tissue by transmission electron microscopy, including large tailless VLPs and electron-dense core VLPs. Tailed bacteriophages were isolated from coral tissue using a plaque assay. Higher functional gene diversity was recorded in A. downingi than in P. harrisoni, and comparative metagenomics revealed that the Gulf viral assemblages are functionally distinct from Pacific Ocean coral viral communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huda Mahmoud
- Faculty of Science, Department of Biological Sciences, Kuwait University, Safat, Kuwait
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