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Bellworthy J, Scucchia F, Goodbody-Gringley G, Mass T. Genomic, morphological, and physiological insights into coral acclimation along the depth gradient following an in situ reciprocal transplantation of planulae. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 929:172090. [PMID: 38556020 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172090] [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: 12/29/2023] [Revised: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024]
Abstract
Mesophotic coral reefs have been proposed as refugia for corals, providing shelter and larval propagules for shallow water reefs that are disproportionately challenged by global climate change and local anthropogenic stressors. For mesophotic reefs to be a viable refuge, firstly, deep origin larvae must survive on shallow reefs and, secondly, the two environments must be physically connected. This study tested the first condition. Planulae of the reef-building coral Stylophora pistillata from 5-8 and 40-44 m depth in the Gulf of Aqaba were tested in a long-term reciprocal transplantation experiment for their ability to settle and acclimate to depth in situ. We assessed survival rates, photochemical, physiological, and morphological characteristics in juveniles grown at either their parental origin or transplantation depth. Differences in gene expression patterns were compared between mesophotic and shallow corals at the adult, juvenile, and planula life stages. We found high mortality rates among all mesophotic-origin planulae, irrespective of translocation depth. Gene expression patterns suggested that deep planulae lacked settlement competency and experienced increased developmental stress upon release. For surviving shallow origin juveniles, symbiont photochemical acclimation to depth occurred within 8 days, with symbiont communities showing changes in photochemical traits without algal symbiont shuffling. However, coral host physiological and morphological acclimation towards the typical deep phenotype was incomplete within 60 days. Gene expression was influenced by both life stage and depth. A set of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) associated with initial stress responses following transplantation, latent stress response, and environmental effects of depth was identified. This study therefore refutes the Deep Reef Refugia Hypothesis, as the potential for mesophotic-origin S. pistillata planulae to recruit to the shallow reef is low. The potential remains for shallow planulae to survive at mesophotic depths.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Bellworthy
- Department of Marine Biology, Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel; Interuniversity Institute of Marine Sciences, Eilat, Israel.
| | - Federica Scucchia
- Department of Marine Biology, Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel; Interuniversity Institute of Marine Sciences, Eilat, Israel
| | | | - Tali Mass
- Department of Marine Biology, Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel; Morris Kahn Marine Research Station, The Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Sdot Yam, Israel
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Dellisanti W, Zhang Q, Ferrier-Pagès C, Kühl M. Contrasting effects of increasing dissolved iron on photosynthesis and O 2 availability in the gastric cavity of two Mediterranean corals. PeerJ 2024; 12:e17259. [PMID: 38699194 PMCID: PMC11064864 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.17259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Iron (Fe) plays a fundamental role in coral symbiosis, supporting photosynthesis, respiration, and many important enzymatic reactions. However, the extent to which corals are limited by Fe and their metabolic responses to inorganic Fe enrichment remains to be understood. We used respirometry, variable chlorophyll fluorescence, and O2 microsensors to investigate the impact of increasing Fe(III) concentrations (20, 50, and 100 nM) on the photosynthetic capacity of two Mediterranean coral species, Cladocora caespitosa and Oculina patagonica. While the bioavailability of inorganic Fe can rapidly decrease, we nevertheless observed significant physiological effects at all Fe concentrations. In C. caespitosa, exposure to 50 nM Fe(III) increased rates of respiration and photosynthesis, while the relative electron transport rate (rETR(II)) decreased at higher Fe(III) exposure (100 nM). In contrast, O. patagonica reduced respiration, photosynthesis rates, and maximum PSII quantum yield (Fv/Fm) across all iron enrichments. Both corals exhibited increased hypoxia (<50 µmol O2 L-1) within their gastric cavity at night when exposed to 50 and 100 nM Fe(III), leading to increased polyp contraction time and reduced O2 exchange with the surrounding water. Our results indicate that C. caespitosa, but not O. patagonica, might be limited in Fe for achieving maximal photosynthetic efficiency. Understanding the multifaceted role of iron in corals' health and their response to environmental change is crucial for effective coral conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Walter Dellisanti
- Department of Biology, Marine Biology Section, University of Copenhagen, Helsingør, Denmark
| | - Qingfeng Zhang
- Department of Biology, Marine Biology Section, University of Copenhagen, Helsingør, Denmark
| | - Christine Ferrier-Pagès
- Coral Ecophysiology Laboratory, Center Scientifique de Monaco, Principality of Monaco, Monaco
| | - Michael Kühl
- Department of Biology, Marine Biology Section, University of Copenhagen, Helsingør, Denmark
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Addamo AM, Modrell MS, Taviani M, Machordom A. Unravelling the relationships among Madrepora Linnaeus, 1758, Oculina Lamark, 1816 and Cladocora Ehrenberg, 1834 (Cnidaria: Anthozoa: Scleractinia). INVERTEBR SYST 2024; 38:IS23027. [PMID: 38744497 DOI: 10.1071/is23027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
Despite the widespread use of integrative taxonomic approaches, many scleractinian coral genera and species remain grouped in polyphyletic families, classified as incertae sedis or simply understudied. Oculinidae Gray, 1847 represents a family for which many taxonomic questions remain unresolved, particularly those related to some of the current genera, such as Oculina Lamark, 1816 or recently removed genera, including Cladocora Ehrenberg, 1834 and Madrepora Linnaeus, 1758. Cladocora is currently assigned to the family Cladocoridae Milne Edwards & Haime, 1857 and a new family, Bathyporidae Kitahara, Capel, Zilberberg & Cairns, 2024, was recently raised to accommodate Madrepora . However, the name Bathyporidae is not valid because this was not formed on the basis of a type genus name. To resolve taxonomic questions related to these three genera, the evolutionary relationships are explored through phylogenetic analyses of 18 molecular markers. The results of these analyses support a close relationship between the species Oculina patagonica and Cladocora caespitosa , indicating that these may belong to the same family (and possibly genus), and highlighting the need for detailed revisions of Oculina and Cladocora . By contrast, a distant relationship is found between these two species and Madrepora oculata , with the overall evidence supporting the placement of Madrepora in the resurrected family Madreporidae Ehrenberg, 1834. This study advances our knowledge of coral systematics and highlights the need for a comprehensive review of the genera Oculina , Cladocora and Madrepora .
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna M Addamo
- Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Evolutiva, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (MNCN-CSIC), E-28006 Madrid, Spain; and European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), I-21027 Ispra, Italy; and Climate Change Research Centre (CCRC), University of Insubria, I-21100 Varese, Italy; and Present address: Faculty of Biosciences and Aquaculture, Nord University, NO-8049 Bodø, Norway
| | - Melinda S Modrell
- Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Evolutiva, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (MNCN-CSIC), E-28006 Madrid, Spain
| | - Marco Taviani
- Istituto di Scienze Marine, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (ISMAR-CNR), I-40129 Bologna, Italy; and Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, I-80121 Napoli, Italy
| | - Annie Machordom
- Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Evolutiva, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (MNCN-CSIC), E-28006 Madrid, Spain
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Scucchia F, Wong K, Zaslansky P, Putnam HM, Goodbody-Gringley G, Mass T. Morphological and genetic mechanisms underlying the plasticity of the coral Porites astreoides across depths in Bermuda. J Struct Biol 2023; 215:108036. [PMID: 37832837 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsb.2023.108036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Revised: 10/08/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023]
Abstract
The widespread decline of shallow-water coral reefs has fueled interest in assessing whether mesophotic reefs can act as refugia replenishing deteriorated shallower reefs through larval exchange. Here we explore the morphological and molecular basis facilitating survival of planulae and adults of the coral Porites astreoides (Lamarck, 1816; Hexacorallia: Poritidae) along the vertical depth gradient in Bermuda. We found differences in micro-skeletal features such as bigger calyxes and coarser surface of the skeletal spines in shallow corals. Yet, tomographic reconstructions reveal an analogous mineral distribution between shallow and mesophotic adults, pointing to similar skeleton growth dynamics. Our study reveals patterns of host genetic connectivity and minimal symbiont depth-zonation across a broader depth range than previously known for this species in Bermuda. Transcriptional variations across life stages showed different regulation of metabolism and stress response functions, unraveling molecular responses to environmental conditions at different depths. Overall, these findings increase our understanding of coral acclimatory capability across broad vertical gradients, ultimately allowing better evaluation of the refugia potential of mesophotic reefs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federica Scucchia
- Department of Marine Biology, Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences University of Haifa, Israel; The Interuniversity Institute of Marine Sciences, Eilat, Israel.
| | - Kevin Wong
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, United States
| | - Paul Zaslansky
- Department for Operative, Preventive and Pediatric Dentistry, Charité-Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Hollie M Putnam
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, United States
| | - Gretchen Goodbody-Gringley
- Central Caribbean Marine Institute, Little Cayman, Cayman Islands; Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences, St. George's, Bermuda
| | - Tali Mass
- Department of Marine Biology, Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences University of Haifa, Israel.
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Nativ H, Galili O, Almuly R, Einbinder S, Tchernov D, Mass T. New Record of Dendronephthya sp. (Family: Nephtheidae) from Mediterranean Israel: Evidence for Tropicalization? BIOLOGY 2023; 12:1220. [PMID: 37759619 PMCID: PMC10525964 DOI: 10.3390/biology12091220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Revised: 08/27/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023]
Abstract
Bio-invasions have the potential to provoke cascade effects that can disrupt natural ecosystems and cause ecological regime shifts. The Mediterranean Sea is particularly prone to bio-invasions as the changing water conditions, evoked by climate change, are creating advantageous conditions for Lessepsian migrants from the Red Sea. Recently, in May 2023, a new alien species was documented in the Mediterranean Sea-a soft coral of the genus Dendronephthya. This discovery was made by divers conducting 'Long-Term Ecological Research' surveys, along the coast of Israel, at a depth of 42 m. Genetic and morphological testing suggest that the species identity may be Dendronepthya hemprichi, an Indo-Pacific coral, common in the Red Sea. According to life history traits of this species, such as accelerated attachment to available surfaces and fast growth, we expect it to rapidly expand its distribution and abundance across the Mediterranean Sea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hagai Nativ
- Department of Marine Biology, The Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa 3103301, Israel; (H.N.); (R.A.); (S.E.); (D.T.)
- Morris Kahn Marine Research Station, The Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa 3780400, Israel;
| | - Ori Galili
- Morris Kahn Marine Research Station, The Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa 3780400, Israel;
| | - Ricardo Almuly
- Department of Marine Biology, The Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa 3103301, Israel; (H.N.); (R.A.); (S.E.); (D.T.)
| | - Shai Einbinder
- Department of Marine Biology, The Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa 3103301, Israel; (H.N.); (R.A.); (S.E.); (D.T.)
- Morris Kahn Marine Research Station, The Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa 3780400, Israel;
| | - Dan Tchernov
- Department of Marine Biology, The Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa 3103301, Israel; (H.N.); (R.A.); (S.E.); (D.T.)
- Morris Kahn Marine Research Station, The Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa 3780400, Israel;
| | - Tali Mass
- Department of Marine Biology, The Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa 3103301, Israel; (H.N.); (R.A.); (S.E.); (D.T.)
- Morris Kahn Marine Research Station, The Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa 3780400, Israel;
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Bellworthy J, Pardo R, Scucchia F, Zaslansky P, Goodbody-Gringley G, Mass T. Physiological and morphological plasticity in Stylophora pistillata larvae from Eilat, Israel, to shallow and mesophotic light conditions. iScience 2023; 26:106969. [PMID: 37534177 PMCID: PMC10391605 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.106969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2022] [Revised: 03/29/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Mesophotic reefs have been proposed as climate change refugia but are not synonymous ecosystems with shallow reefs and remain exposed to anthropogenic impacts. Planulae from the reef-building coral Stylophora pistillata, Gulf of Aqaba, from 5- and 45-m depth were tested ex situ for capacity to settle, grow, and acclimate to reciprocal light conditions. Skeletons were scanned by phase contrast-enhanced micro-CT to study morphology. Deep planulae had reduced volume, smaller diameter on settlement, and greater algal symbiont density. Light conditions did not have significant impact on settlement or mortality rates. Photosynthetic acclimation of algal symbionts was evident within 21-35 days after settlement but growth rate and polyp development were slower for individuals translocated away from their parental origin compared to controls. Though our data reveal rapid symbiont acclimation, reduced growth rates and limited capacity for skeletal modification likely limit the potential for mesophotic larvae to settle on shallow reefs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Bellworthy
- Department of Marine Biology, Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
- Interuniversity Institute of Marine Sciences, Eilat, Israel
| | - Rachel Pardo
- Department of Marine Biology, Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Federica Scucchia
- Department of Marine Biology, Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
- Interuniversity Institute of Marine Sciences, Eilat, Israel
| | - Paul Zaslansky
- Department for Operative and Preventive Dentistry, Charité Dental School – Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Tali Mass
- Department of Marine Biology, Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
- Morris Kahn Marine Research Station, The Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Sdot Yam, Israel
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Abstract
Coral reefs depend on the highly optimized mutualistic relationship between corals and Symbiodiniaceae dinoflagellates. Both partners exchange nutrients obtained through heterotrophy of the host and autotrophy of the symbionts. While heterotrophy helps corals withstand the harmful effects of seawater warming, the exchange of heterotrophic nutrients between the two partners is poorly understood. Here, we used compound-specific δ15N and δ13C of amino acids (δ15NAA and δ13CAA) and a 15N pulse-chase experiment with Artemia salina nauplii in two coral-dinoflagellate associations to trace the assimilation and allocation of heterotrophic nutrients within the partners. We observed that changes in the trophic position (TPGlx-Phe), δ15NAA, and δ13CAA with heterotrophy were holobiont-dependent. Furthermore, while TPGlx-Phe and δ15N of all AAs significantly increased with heterotrophy in the symbionts and host of Stylophora pistillata, only the δ15NAA of the symbionts changed in Turbinaria reniformis. Together with the pulse-chase experiment, the results suggested a direct transfer of heterotrophically acquired AAs to the symbionts of S. pistillata and a transfer of ammonium to the symbionts of T. reniformis. Overall, we demonstrated that heterotrophy underpinned the nutrition of Symbiodinaceae and possibly influenced their stress tolerance under changing environmental conditions.
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