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Twist BA, Mazel F, Zaklan Duff S, Lemay MA, Pearce CM, Martone PT. Kelp and sea urchin settlement mediated by biotic interactions with benthic coralline algal species. JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY 2024; 60:363-379. [PMID: 38147464 DOI: 10.1111/jpy.13420] [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: 05/16/2023] [Revised: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/03/2023] [Indexed: 12/28/2023]
Abstract
Species interactions can influence key ecological processes that support community assembly and composition. For example, coralline algae encompass extensive diversity and may play a major role in regime shifts from kelp forests to urchin-dominated barrens through their role in inducing invertebrate larval metamorphosis and influencing kelp spore settlement. In a series of laboratory experiments, we tested the hypothesis that different coralline communities facilitate the maintenance of either ecosystem state by either promoting or inhibiting early recruitment of kelps or urchins. Coralline algae significantly increased red urchin metamorphosis compared with a control, while they had varying effects on kelp settlement. Urchin metamorphosis and density of juvenile canopy kelps did not differ significantly across coralline species abundant in both kelp forests and urchin barrens, suggesting that recruitment of urchin and canopy kelps does not depend on specific corallines. Non-calcified fleshy red algal crusts promoted the highest mean urchin metamorphosis percentage and showed some of the lowest canopy kelp settlement. In contrast, settlement of one subcanopy kelp species was reduced on crustose corallines, but elevated on articulated corallines, suggesting that articulated corallines, typically absent in urchin barrens, may need to recover before this subcanopy kelp could return. Coralline species differed in surface bacterial microbiome composition; however, urchin metamorphosis was not significantly different when microbiomes were removed with antibiotics. Our results clarify the role played by coralline algal species in kelp forest community assembly and could have important implications for kelp forest recovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brenton A Twist
- Department of Botany, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Hakai Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Florent Mazel
- Department of Botany, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Stefanie Zaklan Duff
- Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Vancouver Island University, Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada
| | | | - Christopher M Pearce
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Pacific Biological Station, Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Patrick T Martone
- Department of Botany, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Hakai Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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2
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Mills MS, Ungermann M, Rigot G, den Haan J, Leon JX, Schils T. Coral reefs in transition: Temporal photoquadrat analyses and validation of underwater hyperspectral imaging for resource-efficient monitoring in Guam. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0299523. [PMID: 38502667 PMCID: PMC10950215 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0299523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024] Open
Abstract
The island of Guam in the west Pacific has seen a significant decrease in coral cover since 2013. Lafac Bay, a marine protected area in northeast Guam, served as a reference site for benthic communities typical of forereefs on the windward side of the island. The staghorn coral Acropora abrotanoides is a dominant and characteristic ecosystem engineer of forereef communities on exposed shorelines. Photoquadrat surveys were conducted in 2015, 2017, and 2019, and a diver-operated hyperspectral imager (i.e., DiveRay) was used to survey the same transects in 2019. Machine learning algorithms were used to develop an automated pipeline to assess the benthic cover of 10 biotic and abiotic categories in 2019 based on hyperspectral imagery. The cover of scleractinian corals did not differ between 2015 and 2017 despite being subjected to a series of environmental disturbances in these years. Surveys in 2019 documented the almost complete decline of the habitat-defining staghorn coral Acropora abrotanoides (a practically complete disappearance from about 10% cover), a significant decrease (~75%) in the cover of other scleractinian corals, and a significant increase (~55%) in the combined cover of bare substrate, turf algae, and cyanobacteria. The drastic change in community composition suggests that the reef at Lafac Bay is transitioning to a turf algae-dominated community. However, the capacity of this reef to recover from previous disturbances suggests that this transition could be reversed, making Lafac Bay an excellent candidate for long-term monitoring. Community analyses showed no significant difference between automatically classified benthic cover estimates derived from the hyperspectral scans in 2019 and those derived from photoquadrats. These findings suggest that underwater hyperspectral imagers can be efficient and effective tools for fast, frequent, and accurate monitoring of dynamic reef communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew S. Mills
- Marine Laboratory, University of Guam, Mangilao, Guam
- School of Science, Technology, and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, Queensland, Australia
| | | | | | | | - Javier X. Leon
- School of Science, Technology, and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, Queensland, Australia
| | - Tom Schils
- Marine Laboratory, University of Guam, Mangilao, Guam
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3
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Wu Z, Wang Z, Li Z, Hao H, Qi Y, Feng D. Impacts of ocean acidification and warming on the release and activity of the barnacle waterborne settlement pheromone, adenosine. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2024; 199:115971. [PMID: 38159384 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115971] [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: 07/02/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
The effects of ocean acidification (OA) and warming on the physiological processes of many marine species have been well documented. However, far less is known about the impacts of these global variables on chemical communication. In this study, we identified the barnacle waterborne settlement pheromone (BWSP) of Balanus albicostatus as adenosine (Ado). Our results showed that neither elevated temperature (30 °C vs. ambient 26 °C) nor elevated pCO2 (1000 μatm vs. ambient 400 μatm) significantly affected the release of Ado from B. albicostatus adults. Exposure to elevated temperature and OA did not impair larval cue perception for settlement in B. albicostatus; however, OA inhibited settlement under elevated temperature in the absence/presence of BWSP, and elevated temperature induced larval settlement only in the presence of BWSP under ambient pCO2 condition. These results provided important insights into barnacle aggregation behavior in changing oceans and may help to predict the consequences of climate change on barnacle populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiwen Wu
- College of Ocean & Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Zhixuan Wang
- College of Ocean & Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Zhuo Li
- College of Ocean & Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Huanhuan Hao
- College of Ocean & Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Yuxuan Qi
- College of Ocean & Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Danqing Feng
- College of Ocean & Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China.
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4
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Jeong SY, Gabrielson PW, Hughey JR, Hoey AS, Cho TO, Abdul Wahab MA, Diaz-Pulido G. New branched Porolithon species (Corallinales, Rhodophyta) from the Great Barrier Reef, Coral Sea, and Lord Howe Island. JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY 2023; 59:1179-1201. [PMID: 37770245 DOI: 10.1111/jpy.13387] [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: 04/14/2023] [Revised: 08/06/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/30/2023]
Abstract
Porolithon is one of the most ecologically important genera of tropical and subtropical crustose (non-geniculate) coralline algae growing abundantly along the shallow margins of coral reefs and functioning to cement reef frameworks. Thalli of branched, fruticose Porolithon specimens from the Indo-Pacific Ocean traditionally have been called P. gardineri, while massive, columnar forms have been called P. craspedium. Sequence comparisons of the rbcL gene both from type specimens of P. gardineri and P. craspedium and from field-collected specimens demonstrate that neither species is present in east Australia and instead resolve into four unique genetic lineages. Porolithon howensis sp. nov. forms columnar protuberances and loosely attached margins and occurs predominantly at Lord Howe Island; P. lobulatum sp. nov. has fruticose to clavate forms and free margins that are lobed and occurs in the Coral Sea and on the Great Barrier Reef (GBR); P. parvulum sp. nov. has short (<2 cm), unbranched protuberances and attached margins and is restricted to the central and southern GBR; and P. pinnaculum sp. nov. has a mountain-like, columnar morphology and occurs on oceanic Coral Sea reefs. A rbcL gene sequence of the isotype of P. castellum demonstrates it is a different species from other columnar species. In addition to the diagnostic rbcL and psbA marker sequences, the four new species may be distinguished by a combination of features including thallus growth form, margin shape (attached or unattached), and medullary system (coaxial or plumose). Porolithon species, because of their ecological importance and sensitivity to ocean acidification, need urgent documentation of their taxonomic diversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- So Young Jeong
- Australian Rivers Institute-Coast & Estuaries and Coastal and Marine Research Centre, School of Environment and Science, Nathan Campus, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland, Australia
| | - Paul W Gabrielson
- Biology Department and Herbarium, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Jeffery R Hughey
- Division of Mathematics, Science, and Engineering, Hartnell College, Salinas, California, USA
| | - Andrew S Hoey
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies and College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Tae Oh Cho
- Department of Life Science, Chosun University, Gwangju, South Korea
| | | | - Guillermo Diaz-Pulido
- Coastal and Marine Research Centre, School of Environment and Science, Nathan Campus, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland, Australia
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Sanchez-Arcos C, Paris D, Mazzella V, Mutalipassi M, Costantini M, Buia MC, von Elert E, Cutignano A, Zupo V. Responses of the Macroalga Ulva prolifera Müller to Ocean Acidification Revealed by Complementary NMR- and MS-Based Omics Approaches. Mar Drugs 2022; 20:md20120743. [PMID: 36547890 PMCID: PMC9783899 DOI: 10.3390/md20120743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2022] [Revised: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Ocean acidification (OA) is a dramatic perturbation of seawater environments due to increasing anthropogenic emissions of CO2. Several studies indicated that OA frequently induces marine biota stress and a reduction of biodiversity. Here, we adopted the macroalga Ulva prolifera as a model and applied a complementary multi-omics approach to investigate the metabolic profiles under normal and acidified conditions. Our results show that U. prolifera grows at higher rates in acidified environments. Consistently, we observed lower sucrose and phosphocreatine concentrations in response to a higher demand of energy for growth and a higher availability of essential amino acids, likely related to increased protein biosynthesis. In addition, pathways leading to signaling and deterrent compounds appeared perturbed. Finally, a remarkable shift was observed here for the first time in the fatty acid composition of triglycerides, with a decrease in the relative abundance of PUFAs towards an appreciable increase of palmitic acid, thus suggesting a remodeling in lipid biosynthesis. Overall, our studies revealed modulation of several biosynthetic pathways under OA conditions in which, besides the possible effects on the marine ecosystem, the metabolic changes of the alga should be taken into account considering its potential nutraceutical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Sanchez-Arcos
- Institute for Zoology, Cologne Biocenter University of Cologne, 50674 Köln, Germany
| | - Debora Paris
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Istituto di Chimica Biomolecolare (ICB), 80078 Pozzuoli, Italy
| | - Valerio Mazzella
- Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Ischia Marine Center, 80077 Ischia, Italy
| | - Mirko Mutalipassi
- Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Calabria Marine Centre, 87071 Amendolara, Italy
| | - Maria Costantini
- Department of Ecosustainable Marine Biotechnology, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, 80121 Napoli, Italy
| | - Maria Cristina Buia
- Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Ischia Marine Center, 80077 Ischia, Italy
| | - Eric von Elert
- Institute for Zoology, Cologne Biocenter University of Cologne, 50674 Köln, Germany
| | - Adele Cutignano
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Istituto di Chimica Biomolecolare (ICB), 80078 Pozzuoli, Italy
- Department of Ecosustainable Marine Biotechnology, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, 80121 Napoli, Italy
- Correspondence: (A.C.); (V.Z.); Tel.: +39-081-8675313 (A.C.); +39-081-5833503 (V.Z.)
| | - Valerio Zupo
- Department of Ecosustainable Marine Biotechnology, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, 80077 Ischia, Italy
- Correspondence: (A.C.); (V.Z.); Tel.: +39-081-8675313 (A.C.); +39-081-5833503 (V.Z.)
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6
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Transcriptome of the coralline alga Calliarthron tuberculosum (Corallinales, Rhodophyta) reveals convergent evolution of a partial lignin biosynthesis pathway. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0266892. [PMID: 35834440 PMCID: PMC9282553 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0266892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The discovery of lignins in the coralline red alga Calliarthron tuberculosum raised new questions about the deep evolution of lignin biosynthesis. Here we present the transcriptome of C. tuberculosum supported with newly generated genomic data to identify gene candidates from the monolignol biosynthetic pathway using a combination of sequence similarity-based methods. We identified candidates in the monolignol biosynthesis pathway for the genes 4CL, CCR, CAD, CCoAOMT, and CSE but did not identify candidates for PAL, CYP450 (F5H, C3H, C4H), HCT, and COMT. In gene tree analysis, we present evidence that these gene candidates evolved independently from their land plant counterparts, suggesting convergent evolution of a complex multistep lignin biosynthetic pathway in this red algal lineage. Additionally, we provide tools to extract metabolic pathways and genes from the newly generated transcriptomic and genomic datasets. Using these methods, we extracted genes related to sucrose metabolism and calcification. Ultimately, this transcriptome will provide a foundation for further genetic and experimental studies of calcifying red algae.
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7
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Xue J, Purushotham P, Acheson JF, Ho R, Zimmer J, McFarlane C, Van Petegem F, Martone PT, Samuels AL. Functional characterization of a cellulose synthase, CtCESA1, from the marine red alga Calliarthron tuberculosum (Corallinales). JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2022; 73:680-695. [PMID: 34505622 PMCID: PMC8793875 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erab414] [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: 09/08/2021] [Accepted: 09/09/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
In land plants and algae, cellulose is important for strengthening cell walls and preventing breakage due to physical forces. Though our understanding of cellulose production by cellulose synthases (CESAs) has seen significant advances for several land plant and bacterial species, functional characterization of this fundamental protein is absent in red algae. Here we identify CESA gene candidates in the calcifying red alga Calliarthron tuberculosum using sequence similarity-based approaches, and elucidate their phylogenetic relationship with other CESAs from diverse taxa. One gene candidate, CtCESA1, was closely related to other putative red algal CESA genes. To test if CtCESA1 encoded a true cellulose synthase, CtCESA1 protein was expressed and purified from insect and yeast expression systems. CtCESA1 showed glucan synthase activity in glucose tracer assays. CtCESA1 activity was relatively low when compared with plant and bacterial CESA activity. In an in vitro assay, a predicted N-terminal starch-binding domain from CtCESA1 bound red algal floridean starch extracts, representing a unique domain in red algal CESAs not present in CESAs from other lineages. When the CtCESA1 gene was introduced into Arabidopsis thaliana cesa mutants, the red algal CtCESA1 partially rescued the growth defects of the primary cell wall cesa6 mutant, but not cesa3 or secondary cell wall cesa7 mutants. A fluorescently tagged CtCESA1 localized to the plasma membrane in the Arabidopsis cesa6 mutant background. This study presents functional evidence validating the sequence annotation of red algal CESAs. The relatively low activity of CtCESA1, partial complementation in Arabidopsis, and presence of unique protein domains suggest that there are probably functional differences between the algal and land plant CESAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Xue
- Department of Botany, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Pallinti Purushotham
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biological Physics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
| | - Justin F Acheson
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biological Physics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
| | - Ruoya Ho
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biological Physics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
| | - Jochen Zimmer
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biological Physics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
| | - Ciaran McFarlane
- Department of Biochemistry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Filip Van Petegem
- Department of Biochemistry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Patrick T Martone
- Department of Botany, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - A Lacey Samuels
- Department of Botany, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
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8
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Yang F, Wei Z, Long L. Transcriptomic and Physiological Responses of the Tropical Reef Calcified Macroalga Amphiroa fragilissima to Elevated Temperature 1. JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY 2021; 57:1254-1265. [PMID: 33655511 DOI: 10.1111/jpy.13158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2020] [Accepted: 02/04/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Calcareous macroalgae are of particular ecological importance as primary producers, carbonate sediment builders, and habitat providers in coral reef ecosystems. Ocean warming is a major threat to calcareous algae, but it remains unclear exactly how these algae will respond to it. In this study, the potential physiological impacts of ocean warming on the calcareous alga Amphiroa fragilissima were evaluated in laboratory experiments. Increasing temperature from 26 to 28°C had positive effects on algal growth rate and chlorophyll a content, but these parameters decreased significantly at 32°C, which is 5°C above the annual mean temperature in the study region. Algal bleaching occurred at 34°C. There were no significant differences in CaCO3 content of thalli among different temperatures; however, calcification rate was inhibited significantly at 32 and 34°C. Transcriptome analyses using the Illumina RNA-seq platform showed that differentially expressed genes were annotated mainly in the categories of steroid biosynthesis, gap junction, ribosome, and mTOR signaling pathway. The expression levels of PsbA and PsbP were suppressed at 32°C, implying that inactivation of photosystem II could be a main reason for the decreased photosynthetic rate. Down-regulation of the genes encoding carbonic anhydrase and nitrate reductase was observed at 32°C, which could inhibit growth rate. Additionally, several genes that might be related to calcification were identified, including CAMK, CDPK, and CAM and genes encoding alpha-catenin and carbonic anhydrase. This study contributes to our understanding of the effects of temperature on algal calcification and provides a theoretical basis to protect ecological diversity of coral reef ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fangfang Yang
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510301, China
- Inonovation Academy of South China Ecology and Environmental Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510301, China
| | - Zhangliang Wei
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510301, China
- Inonovation Academy of South China Ecology and Environmental Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510301, China
| | - Lijuan Long
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510301, China
- Inonovation Academy of South China Ecology and Environmental Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510301, China
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9
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Rodríguez BM, Bhuiyan MKA, Freitas R, Conradi M. Mission impossible: Reach the carrion in a lithium pollution and marine warming scenario. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2021; 199:111332. [PMID: 34004168 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.111332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2021] [Revised: 05/08/2021] [Accepted: 05/11/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
In this study we investigated the independent and synergistic effects of lithium (Li, 0.08 mM) contamination and the rising seawater temperature (21 °C; control- 15 °C) on survival and trophic interactions (foraging behaviour, success, search time, carrion preference, feeding time, and tissue consumption-the dry weight basis) of the opportunistic intertidal scavenger Tritia neritea. Trophic interactions were assessed in a two-choice test using a Y-maze design using the same amount of two carrion species (Solen marginatus and Mytilus galloprovincialis) given to all snails simultaneously. Lithium pollution and synergestic warming have the effect of reducing the survival rate of T. neritea, triggering potential global change scenarios. The foraging behaviour of T. neritea under Li-contaminated conditions was characterised by a decrease in the snail's effectiveness in finding a carrion. Lithium changes the feeding behaviour as well as increasing the time it takes for snails to reach their food. T. neritea did not show preference for any of the carrion species offered in controls, but a shift in feeding behaviour towards more energetic carrion under Li contamination which may indicate a strategy to compensate for the greater energy expenditure necessary to survive. There were no differences in feeding time at the different treatments and regardless of the treatment tested T. neritea consumed more mussels tissue probably due to its greater palatability. Results showing foraging modifications in an intertidal scavenger mollusc in global change scenarios indicate potential changes in complex trophic interactions of marine food webs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Belén Marín Rodríguez
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Biology, University of Sevilla, Av. Reina Mercedes s/n, 41012, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Md Khurshid Alam Bhuiyan
- Department of Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Marine and Environmental Sciences, University of Cádiz, Polígono Río San Pedro s/n, 11510, Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain
| | - Rosa Freitas
- Department of Biology & Center for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM), University of Aveiro, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal.
| | - Mercedes Conradi
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Biology, University of Sevilla, Av. Reina Mercedes s/n, 41012, Sevilla, Spain.
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10
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Developmental plasticity and the response to nutrient stress in Caenorhabditis elegans. Dev Biol 2021; 475:265-276. [PMID: 33549550 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2021.01.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2020] [Revised: 12/24/2020] [Accepted: 01/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Developmental plasticity refers the ability of an organism to adapt to various environmental stressors, one of which is nutritional stress. Caenorhabditis elegans require various nutrients to successfully progress through all the larval stages to become a reproductive adult. If nutritional criteria are not satisfied, development can slow or completely arrest. In poor growth conditions, the animal can enter various diapause stages, depending on its developmental progress. In C. elegans, there are three well-characterized diapauses: the L1 arrest, the dauer diapause, and adult reproductive diapause, each associated with drastic changes in metabolism and germline development. At the centre of these changes is AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). AMPK is a metabolic regulator that maintains energy homeostasis, particularly during times of nutrient stress. Without AMPK, metabolism is disrupted during dauer, leading to the rapid consumption of lipid stores as well as misregulation of metabolic enzymes, leading to reduced survival. During the L1 arrest and dauer diapause, AMPK is responsible for ensuring germline quiescence by modifying the germline chromatin landscape to maintain germ cell integrity until conditions improve. Similar to classic hormonal signalling, small RNAs also play a critical role in regulating development and behaviour in a cell non-autonomous fashion. Thus, during the challenges associated with developmental plasticity, AMPK summons an army of signalling pathways to work collectively to preserve reproductive fitness during these periods of unprecedented uncertainty.
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High diversity of coralline algae in New Zealand revealed: Knowledge gaps and implications for future research. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0225645. [PMID: 31790447 PMCID: PMC6886753 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0225645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2019] [Accepted: 11/08/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Coralline algae (Corallinophycideae) are calcifying red algae that are foundation species in euphotic marine habitats globally. In recent years, corallines have received increasing attention due to their vulnerability to global climate change, in particular ocean acidification and warming, and because of the range of ecological functions that coralline algae provide, including provisioning habitat, influencing settlement of invertebrate and other algal species, and stabilising reef structures. Many of the ecological roles corallines perform, as well as their responses to stressors, have been demonstrated to be species-specific. In order to understand the roles and responses of coralline algae, it is essential to be able to reliably distinguish individual species, which are frequently morphologically cryptic. The aim of this study was to document the diversity and distribution of coralline algae in the New Zealand region using DNA based phylogenetic methods, and examine this diversity in a broader global context, discussing the implications and direction for future coralline algal research. Using three independent species delimitation methods, a total of 122 species of coralline algae were identified across the New Zealand region with high diversity found both regionally and also when sampling at small local spatial scales. While high diversity identified using molecular methods mirrors recent global discoveries, what distinguishes the results reported here is the large number of taxa (115) that do not resolve with type material from any genus and/or species. The ability to consistently and accurately distinguish species, and the application of authoritative names, are essential to ensure reproducible science in all areas of research into ecologically important yet vulnerable coralline algae taxa.
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Shum P, Barney BT, O'Leary JK, Palumbi SR. Cobble community DNA as a tool to monitor patterns of biodiversity within kelp forest ecosystems. Mol Ecol Resour 2019; 19:1470-1485. [PMID: 31436907 DOI: 10.1111/1755-0998.13067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2018] [Revised: 07/05/2019] [Accepted: 07/17/2019] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Kelp forest ecosystems dominate 150,000 km of global temperate coastline, rivalling the coastal occurrence of coral reefs. Despite the astounding biological diversity and productive ecological communities associated with kelp forests, patterns of species richness and composition are difficult to monitor and compare. Crustose coralline algae are a critically important substrate for propagule settlement for a range of kelp forest species. Coralline-covered cobbles are home to hundreds of species of benthic animals and algae and form a replicable unit for ecological assays. Here, we use DNA metabarcoding of bulk DNA extracts sampled from cobbles to explore patterns of species diversity in kelp forests of the central California coast. The data from 97 cobbles within kelp forest ecosystems at three sites in Central California show the presence of 752 molecular operational taxonomic units (MOTUs) and 53 MOTUs assigned up to the species level with >95% similarity to current databases. We are able to detect spatial patterns of important management targets such as abalone recruits, and localized abundance of sea stars in 2012. Comparison of classic ecological surveys of these sites reveals large differences in species targets for these two approaches. In order to make such comparisons more quantitative, we use Presence/Absence Metabarcoding, using the fraction of replicate cobbles showing a species as a measure of its local abundance. This approach provides a fast and repeatable survey method that can be applied for biodiversity assessments across systems to shed light on the impact of different ecological disturbances and the role played by marine protected areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Shum
- Hopkins Marine Station, Department of Biology, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, CA, USA
| | - Bryan T Barney
- Anatomy, Physiology, and Cell Biology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Jennifer K O'Leary
- The Nature Conservancy, Tanzania Marine Parks Unit, Kenya Wildlife Service, & Seychelles National Parks Authority, Mombasa, Kenya
- California Sea Grant, 1 Grand Ave, San Luis Obispo, USA
- California Polytechnic State University, 1 Frand Ave, San Luis Obispo, USA
| | - Stephen R Palumbi
- Hopkins Marine Station, Department of Biology, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, CA, USA
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Hind KR, Starko S, Burt JM, Lemay MA, Salomon AK, Martone PT. Trophic control of cryptic coralline algal diversity. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2019; 116:15080-15085. [PMID: 31285351 PMCID: PMC6660763 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1900506116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding how trophic dynamics drive variation in biodiversity is essential for predicting the outcomes of trophic downgrading across the world's ecosystems. However, assessing the biodiversity of morphologically cryptic lineages can be problematic, yet may be crucial to understanding ecological patterns. Shifts in keystone predation that favor increases in herbivore abundance tend to have negative consequences for the biodiversity of primary producers. However, in nearshore ecosystems, coralline algal cover increases when herbivory is intense, suggesting that corallines may uniquely benefit from trophic downgrading. Because many coralline algal species are morphologically cryptic and their diversity has been globally underestimated, increasing the resolution at which we distinguish species could dramatically alter our conclusions about the consequences of trophic dynamics for this group. In this study, we used DNA barcoding to compare the diversity and composition of cryptic coralline algal assemblages at sites that differ in urchin biomass and keystone predation by sea otters. We show that while coralline cover is greater in urchin-dominated sites (or "barrens"), which are subject to intense grazing, coralline assemblages in these urchin barrens are significantly less diverse than in kelp forests and are dominated by only 1 or 2 species. These findings clarify how food web structure relates to coralline community composition and reconcile patterns of total coralline cover with the widely documented pattern that keystone predation promotes biodiversity. Shifts in coralline diversity and distribution associated with transitions from kelp forests to urchin barrens could have ecosystem-level effects that would be missed by ignoring cryptic species' identities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharine R Hind
- Department of Botany and Biodiversity Research Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 1Z4
- Hakai Institute, Heriot Bay, BC, Canada V0P 1H0
| | - Samuel Starko
- Department of Botany and Biodiversity Research Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 1Z4
- Hakai Institute, Heriot Bay, BC, Canada V0P 1H0
| | - Jenn M Burt
- Hakai Institute, Heriot Bay, BC, Canada V0P 1H0
- School of Resource and Environmental Management, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada V5A 1S6
| | | | - Anne K Salomon
- Hakai Institute, Heriot Bay, BC, Canada V0P 1H0
- School of Resource and Environmental Management, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada V5A 1S6
| | - Patrick T Martone
- Department of Botany and Biodiversity Research Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 1Z4;
- Hakai Institute, Heriot Bay, BC, Canada V0P 1H0
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14
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Burggren W. Developmental phenotypic plasticity helps bridge stochastic weather events associated with climate change. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2018; 221:221/9/jeb161984. [PMID: 29748332 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.161984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The slow, inexorable rise in annual average global temperatures and acidification of the oceans are often advanced as consequences of global change. However, many environmental changes, especially those involving weather (as opposed to climate), are often stochastic, variable and extreme, particularly in temperate terrestrial or freshwater habitats. Moreover, few studies of animal and plant phenotypic plasticity employ realistic (i.e. short-term, stochastic) environmental change in their protocols. Here, I posit that the frequently abrupt environmental changes (days, weeks, months) accompanying much longer-term general climate change (e.g. global warming over decades or centuries) require consideration of the true nature of environmental change (as opposed to statistical means) coupled with an expansion of focus to consider developmental phenotypic plasticity. Such plasticity can be in multiple forms - obligatory/facultative, beneficial/deleterious - depending upon the degree and rate of environmental variability at specific points in organismal development. Essentially, adult phenotypic plasticity, as important as it is, will be irrelevant if developing offspring lack sufficient plasticity to create modified phenotypes necessary for survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Warren Burggren
- Developmental Integrative Biology Research Group, Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Texas, Denton, TX 76205, USA
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