1
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Ruggeri M, Million WC, Hamilton L, Kenkel CD. Microhabitat acclimatization alters sea anemone-algal symbiosis and thermal tolerance across the intertidal zone. Ecology 2024; 105:e4388. [PMID: 39076113 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.4388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2023] [Revised: 03/21/2024] [Accepted: 05/24/2024] [Indexed: 07/31/2024]
Abstract
Contemporary symbioses in extreme environments can give an insight into mechanisms that stabilize species interactions during environmental change. The intertidal sea anemone, Anthopleura elegantissima, engages in a nutritional symbiosis with microalgae similar to tropical coral, but withstands more intense environmental fluctuations during tidal inundations. In this study, we compare baseline symbiotic traits and their sensitivity to thermal stress within and among anemone aggregations across the intertidal using a laboratory-based tank experiment to better understand how fixed genotypic and plastic environmental effects contribute to the successful maintenance of this symbiosis in extreme habitats. High intertidal anemones had lower baseline symbiont-to-host cell ratios under control conditions, but their symbionts had higher baseline photosynthetic efficiency compared to low intertidal anemone symbionts. Symbiont communities were identical across all samples, suggesting that shifts in symbiont density and photosynthetic performance could be an acclimatory mechanism to maintain symbiosis in different environments. Despite lower baseline symbiont-to-host cell ratios, high intertidal anemones maintained greater symbiont-to-host cell ratios under heat stress compared with low intertidal anemones, suggesting greater thermal tolerance of high intertidal holobionts. However, the thermal tolerance of clonal anemones acclimatized to different zones was not explained by tidal height alone, indicating additional environmental variables contribute to physiological differences. Host genotype significantly influenced anemone weight, but only explained a minor proportion of variation among symbiotic traits and their response to thermal stress, further implicating environmental history as the primary driver of holobiont tolerance. These results indicate that this symbiosis is highly plastic and may be able to acclimatize to climate change over ecological timescales, defying the convention that symbiotic organisms are more susceptible to environmental stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Ruggeri
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Wyatt C Million
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Lindsey Hamilton
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Carly D Kenkel
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
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2
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Guerrero L, Bay R. Patterns of methylation and transcriptional plasticity during thermal acclimation in a reef-building coral. Evol Appl 2024; 17:e13757. [PMID: 39027686 PMCID: PMC11254580 DOI: 10.1111/eva.13757] [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: 08/02/2023] [Revised: 06/21/2024] [Accepted: 06/29/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Phenotypic plasticity can buffer organisms against short-term environmental fluctuations. For example, previous exposure to increased temperatures can increase thermal tolerance in many species. Prior studies have found that acclimation to higher temperature can influence the magnitude of transcriptional response to subsequent acute thermal stress (hereafter, "transcriptional response modulation"). However, mechanisms mediating this gene expression response and, ultimately, phenotypic plasticity remain largely unknown. Epigenetic modifications are good candidates for modulating transcriptional response, as they broadly correlate with gene expression. Here, we investigate changes in DNA methylation as a possible mechanism controlling shifts in gene expression plasticity and thermal acclimation in the reef-building coral Acropora nana. We find that gene expression response to acute stress is altered in corals acclimated to different temperatures, with many genes exhibiting a dampened response to heat stress in corals pre-conditioned to higher temperatures. At the same time, we observe shifts in methylation during both acclimation (11 days) and acute heat stress (24 h). We observed that the acute heat stress results in shifts in gene-level methylation and elicits an acute transcriptional response in distinct gene sets. Further, acclimation-induced shifts in gene expression plasticity and differential methylation also largely occur in separate sets of genes. Counter to our initial hypothesis no overall correlation between the magnitude of differential methylation and the change in gene expression plasticity. We do find a small but statistically significant overlap in genes exhibiting both dampened expression response and shifts in methylation (14 genes), which could be candidates for further inquiry. Overall, our results suggest transcriptional response modulation occurs independently from methylation changes induced by thermal acclimation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rachael Bay
- University of California, DavisDavisCaliforniaUSA
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3
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Han T, Liao X, Guo Z, Chen JY, He C, Lu Z. Deciphering temporal gene expression dynamics in multiple coral species exposed to heat stress: Implications for predicting resilience. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 912:169021. [PMID: 38061659 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169021] [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: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2024]
Abstract
Coral reefs are facing unprecedented threats due to global climate change, particularly elevated sea surface temperatures causing coral bleaching. Understanding coral responses at the molecular level is crucial for predicting their resilience and developing effective conservation strategies. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive gene expression analysis of four coral species to investigate their long-term molecular response to heat stress. We identified distinct gene expression patterns among the coral species, with laminar corals exhibiting a stronger response compared to branching corals. Heat shock proteins (HSPs) showed an overall decreasing expression trend, indicating the high energy cost associated with sustaining elevated HSP levels during prolonged heat stress. Peroxidases and oxidoreductases involved in oxidative stress response demonstrated significant upregulation, highlighting their role in maintaining cellular redox balance. Differential expression of genes related to calcium homeostasis and bioluminescence suggested distinct mechanisms for coping with heat stress among the coral species. Furthermore, the impact of heat stress on coral biomineralization varied, with downregulation of carbonic anhydrase and skeletal organic matrix proteins indicating reduced capacity for biomineralization in the later stages of heat stress. Our findings provide insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying coral responses to heat stress and highlight the importance of considering species-specific responses in assessing coral resilience. The identified biomarkers may serve as indicators of heat stress and contribute to early detection of coral bleaching events. These findings contribute to our understanding of coral resilience and provide a basis for future research aimed at enhancing coral survival in the face of climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tingyu Han
- State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China
| | - Xin Liao
- Guangxi Key Lab of Mangrove Conservation and Utilization, Guangxi Mangrove Research Center, Beihai 536000, China
| | - Zhuojun Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China
| | - J-Y Chen
- Nanjing Institute of Paleontology and Geology, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Chunpeng He
- State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China.
| | - Zuhong Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China.
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4
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Han T, Liao X, Guo Z, Chen JY, He C, Lu Z. Comparative transcriptome analysis reveals deep molecular landscapes in stony coral Montipora clade. Front Genet 2023; 14:1297483. [PMID: 38028626 PMCID: PMC10662330 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2023.1297483] [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: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Coral reefs, among the most invaluable ecosystems in the world, face escalating threats from climate change and anthropogenic activities. To decipher the genetic underpinnings of coral adaptation and resilience, we undertook comprehensive transcriptome profiling of two emblematic coral species, Montipora foliosa and Montipora capricornis, leveraging PacBio Iso-Seq technology. These species were strategically selected for their ecological significance and their taxonomic proximity within the Anthozoa class. Methods: Our study encompassed the generation of pristine transcriptomes, followed by thorough functional annotation via diverse databases. Subsequently, we quantified transcript abundance and scrutinized gene expression patterns, revealing notable distinctions between the two species. Results: Intriguingly, shared orthologous genes were identified across a spectrum of coral species, highlighting a substantial genetic conservation within scleractinian corals. Importantly, a subset of genes, integral to biomineralization processes, emerged as exclusive to scleractinian corals, shedding light on their intricate evolutionary history. Furthermore, we discerned pronounced upregulation of genes linked to immunity, stress response, and oxidative-reduction processes in M. foliosa relative to M. capricornis. These findings hint at the presence of more robust mechanisms in M. foliosa for maintaining internal equilibrium and effectively navigating external challenges, underpinning its potential ecological advantage. Beyond elucidating genetic adaptation in corals, our research underscores the urgency of preserving genetic diversity within coral populations. Discussion: These insights hold promise for informed conservation strategies aimed at safeguarding these imperiled ecosystems, bearing ecological and economic significance. In synthesis, our study seamlessly integrates genomic inquiry with ecological relevance, bridging the gap between molecular insights and the imperative to conserve coral reefs in the face of mounting threats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tingyu Han
- State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xin Liao
- Guangxi Key Lab of Mangrove Conservation and Utilization, Guangxi Mangrove Research Center, Beihai, China
| | - Zhuojun Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - J.-Y. Chen
- Nanjing Institute of Geology and Paleontology, Nanjing, China
| | - Chunpeng He
- State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Zuhong Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
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5
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Tignat-Perrier R, van de Water JAJM, Allemand D, Ferrier-Pagès C. Holobiont responses of mesophotic precious red coral Corallium rubrum to thermal anomalies. ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOME 2023; 18:70. [PMID: 37580830 PMCID: PMC10424431 DOI: 10.1186/s40793-023-00525-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 08/16/2023]
Abstract
Marine heat waves (MHWs) have increased in frequency and intensity worldwide, causing mass mortality of benthic organisms and loss of biodiversity in shallow waters. The Mediterranean Sea is no exception, with shallow populations of habitat-forming octocorals facing the threat of local extinction. The mesophotic zone, which is less affected by MHWs, may be of ecological importance in conservation strategies for these species. However, our understanding of the response of mesophotic octocoral holobionts to changes in seawater temperature remains limited. To address this knowledge gap, we conducted a study on an iconic Mediterranean octocoral, the red coral Corallium rubrum sampled at 60 m depth and 15 °C. We exposed the colonies to temperatures they occasionally experience (18 °C) and temperatures that could occur at the end of the century if global warming continues (21 °C). We also tested their response to extremely cold and warm temperatures (12 °C and 24 °C). Our results show a high tolerance of C. rubrum to a two-month long exposure to temperatures ranging from 12 to 21 °C as no colony showed signs of tissue loss, reduced feeding ability, stress-induced gene expression, or disruption of host-bacterial symbioses. At 24 °C, however, we measured a sharp decrease in the relative abundance of Spirochaetaceae, which are the predominant bacterial symbionts under healthy conditions, along with a relative increase in Vibrionaceae. Tissue loss and overexpression of the tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 gene were also observed after two weeks of exposure. In light of ongoing global warming, our study helps predict the consequences of MHWs on mesophotic coralligenous reefs and the biodiversity that depends on them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Romie Tignat-Perrier
- Unité de Recherche sur la Biologie des Coraux Précieux CSM-CHANEL, Centre Scientifique de Monaco, 8 Quai Antoine 1er, 98000, Monaco, Principality of Monaco.
- Coral Ecophysiology Laboratory, Centre Scientifique de Monaco, 8 Quai Antoine 1er, 98000, Monaco, Principality of Monaco.
| | - Jeroen A J M van de Water
- Unité de Recherche sur la Biologie des Coraux Précieux CSM-CHANEL, Centre Scientifique de Monaco, 8 Quai Antoine 1er, 98000, Monaco, Principality of Monaco
- Coral Ecophysiology Laboratory, Centre Scientifique de Monaco, 8 Quai Antoine 1er, 98000, Monaco, Principality of Monaco
- Department of Estuarine and Delta Systems, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, Korringaweg 7, 4401 NT, Yerseke, The Netherlands
| | - Denis Allemand
- Centre Scientifique de Monaco, 8 Quai Antoine 1er, 98000, Monaco, Principality of Monaco
| | - Christine Ferrier-Pagès
- Coral Ecophysiology Laboratory, Centre Scientifique de Monaco, 8 Quai Antoine 1er, 98000, Monaco, Principality of Monaco
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6
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Armstrong EJ, Lê-Hoang J, Carradec Q, Aury JM, Noel B, Hume BCC, Voolstra CR, Poulain J, Belser C, Paz-García DA, Cruaud C, Labadie K, Da Silva C, Moulin C, Boissin E, Bourdin G, Iwankow G, Romac S, Agostini S, Banaigs B, Boss E, Bowler C, de Vargas C, Douville E, Flores M, Forcioli D, Furla P, Galand PE, Gilson E, Lombard F, Pesant S, Reynaud S, Sullivan MB, Sunagawa S, Thomas OP, Troublé R, Thurber RV, Zoccola D, Planes S, Allemand D, Wincker P. Host transcriptomic plasticity and photosymbiotic fidelity underpin Pocillopora acclimatization across thermal regimes in the Pacific Ocean. Nat Commun 2023; 14:3056. [PMID: 37264036 PMCID: PMC10235041 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-38610-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Heat waves are causing declines in coral reefs globally. Coral thermal responses depend on multiple, interacting drivers, such as past thermal exposure, endosymbiont community composition, and host genotype. This makes the understanding of their relative roles in adaptive and/or plastic responses crucial for anticipating impacts of future warming. Here, we extracted DNA and RNA from 102 Pocillopora colonies collected from 32 sites on 11 islands across the Pacific Ocean to characterize host-photosymbiont fidelity and to investigate patterns of gene expression across a historical thermal gradient. We report high host-photosymbiont fidelity and show that coral and microalgal gene expression respond to different drivers. Differences in photosymbiotic association had only weak impacts on host gene expression, which was more strongly correlated with the historical thermal environment, whereas, photosymbiont gene expression was largely determined by microalgal lineage. Overall, our results reveal a three-tiered strategy of thermal acclimatization in Pocillopora underpinned by host-photosymbiont specificity, host transcriptomic plasticity, and differential photosymbiotic association under extreme warming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric J Armstrong
- Génomique Métabolique, Genoscope, Institut François Jacob, CEA, CNRS, Univ Evry, Université Paris-Saclay, 91057, 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.
- PSL Université Paris: EPHE-UPVD-CNRS, UAR 3278 CRIOBE, Université de Perpignan, 52 Avenue Paul Alduy, 66860, Perpignan Cedex, France.
| | - Julie Lê-Hoang
- Génomique Métabolique, Genoscope, Institut François Jacob, CEA, CNRS, Univ Evry, Université Paris-Saclay, 91057, 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
| | - Quentin Carradec
- Génomique Métabolique, Genoscope, Institut François Jacob, CEA, CNRS, Univ Evry, Université Paris-Saclay, 91057, 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, 91057, 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
| | - Benjamin Noel
- Génomique Métabolique, Genoscope, Institut François Jacob, CEA, CNRS, Univ Evry, Université Paris-Saclay, 91057, 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
| | - Benjamin C C Hume
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, 78457, Konstanz, Germany
| | | | - Julie Poulain
- Génomique Métabolique, Genoscope, Institut François Jacob, CEA, CNRS, Univ Evry, Université Paris-Saclay, 91057, 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
| | - Caroline Belser
- Génomique Métabolique, Genoscope, Institut François Jacob, CEA, CNRS, Univ Evry, Université Paris-Saclay, 91057, 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
| | - David A Paz-García
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste (CIBNOR), Av. IPN 195, La Paz, Baja California Sur, 23096, México
| | - Corinne Cruaud
- Genoscope, Institut François Jacob, CEA, Université Paris-Saclay, Evry, France
| | - Karine Labadie
- Genoscope, Institut François Jacob, CEA, Université Paris-Saclay, Evry, France
| | - Corinne Da Silva
- Génomique Métabolique, Genoscope, Institut François Jacob, CEA, CNRS, Univ Evry, Université Paris-Saclay, 91057, 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
| | - Clémentine Moulin
- Fondation Tara Océan, Base Tara, 8 rue de Prague, 75 012, Paris, France
| | - Emilie Boissin
- PSL Université Paris: EPHE-UPVD-CNRS, UAR 3278 CRIOBE, Université de Perpignan, 52 Avenue Paul Alduy, 66860, Perpignan Cedex, France
| | - Guillaume Bourdin
- School of Marine Sciences, University of Maine, Orono, 04469, ME, USA
| | - Guillaume Iwankow
- PSL Université Paris: EPHE-UPVD-CNRS, UAR 3278 CRIOBE, 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, 29680, Roscoff, France
| | - Sylvain Agostini
- Shimoda Marine Research Center, University of Tsukuba, 5-10-1, Shimoda, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Bernard Banaigs
- PSL Université Paris: EPHE-UPVD-CNRS, UAR 3278 CRIOBE, Université de Perpignan, 52 Avenue Paul Alduy, 66860, Perpignan Cedex, France
| | - Emmanuel Boss
- School of Marine Sciences, University of Maine, Orono, 04469, ME, 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
- Ecole Normale Supérieure, PSL Research University, Institut de Biologie de l'Ecole Normale Supérieure (IBENS), CNRS UMR 8197, INSERM U1024, 46 rue d'Ulm, F-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, 29680, 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
| | - Michel Flores
- Weizmann Institute of Science, Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, 76100, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Didier Forcioli
- Université Côte d'Azur, CNRS, INSERM, IRCAN, Medical School, Nice, France
- LIA ROPSE, Laboratoire International Associé Université Côte d'Azur - Centre Scientifique de Monaco, Principality of Monaco, Monaco
| | - Paola Furla
- Université Côte d'Azur, CNRS, INSERM, IRCAN, Medical School, Nice, France
- LIA ROPSE, Laboratoire International Associé Université Côte d'Azur - Centre Scientifique de Monaco, Principality of Monaco, Monaco
| | - Pierre E Galand
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Laboratoire d'Ecogéochimie des Environnements Benthiques (LECOB), Observatoire Océanologique de Banyuls, 66650, Banyuls sur mer, France
| | - Eric Gilson
- Université Côte d'Azur, CNRS, INSERM, IRCAN, Medical School, Nice, France
- LIA ROPSE, Laboratoire International Associé Université Côte d'Azur - Centre Scientifique de Monaco, Principality of Monaco, Monaco
- Department of Medical Genetics, CHU, 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
| | - 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, Principality of Monaco, Monaco
- Centre Scientifique de Monaco, 8 Quai Antoine Ier, MC-98000, Principality of Monaco, Monaco
| | - Matthew B Sullivan
- Departments of Microbiology and Civil, Environmental and Geodetic Engineering, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Shinichi Sunagawa
- Institute of Microbiology, Department of Biology, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 4, 8093, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Olivier P Thomas
- School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Ryan institute, University of Galway, University Road H91TK33, 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, Principality of Monaco, Monaco
- Centre Scientifique de Monaco, 8 Quai Antoine Ier, MC-98000, Principality of Monaco, Monaco
| | - Serge Planes
- PSL Research University: EPHE-UPVD-CNRS, USR 3278 CRIOBE, Université de Perpignan, 66860, Perpignan Cedex, France
| | - Denis Allemand
- LIA ROPSE, Laboratoire International Associé Université Côte d'Azur - Centre Scientifique de Monaco, Principality of Monaco, Monaco
- Centre Scientifique de Monaco, 8 Quai Antoine Ier, MC-98000, Principality of Monaco, Monaco
| | - Patrick Wincker
- Génomique Métabolique, Genoscope, Institut François Jacob, CEA, CNRS, Univ Evry, Université Paris-Saclay, 91057, 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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7
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Jiang L, Liu CY, Cui G, Huang LT, Yu XL, Sun YF, Tong HY, Zhou GW, Yuan XC, Hu YS, Zhou WL, Aranda M, Qian PY, Huang H. Rapid shifts in thermal reaction norms and tolerance of brooded coral larvae following parental heat acclimation. Mol Ecol 2023; 32:1098-1116. [PMID: 36528869 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2022] [Revised: 11/24/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Thermal priming of reef corals can enhance their heat tolerance; however, the legacy effects of heat stress during parental brooding on larval resilience remain understudied. This study investigated whether preconditioning adult coral Pocillopora damicornis to high temperatures (29°C and 32°C) could better prepare their larvae for heat stress. Results showed that heat-acclimated adults brooded larvae with reduced symbiont density and shifted thermal performance curves. Reciprocal transplant experiments demonstrated higher bleaching resistance and better photosynthetic and autotrophic performance in heat-exposed larvae from acclimated adults compared to unacclimated adults. RNA-seq revealed strong cellular stress responses in larvae from heat-acclimated adults that could have been effective in rescuing host cells from stress, as evidenced by the widespread upregulation of genes involved in cell cycle and mitosis. For symbionts, a molecular coordination between light harvesting, photoprotection and carbon fixation was detected in larvae from heat-acclimated adults, which may help optimize photosynthetic activity and yield under high temperature. Furthermore, heat acclimation led to opposing regulations of symbiont catabolic and anabolic pathways and favoured nutrient translocation to the host and thus a functional symbiosis. Notwithstanding, the improved heat tolerance was paralleled by reduced light-enhanced dark respiration, indicating metabolic depression for energy saving. Our findings suggest that adult heat acclimation can rapidly shift thermal tolerance of brooded coral larvae and provide integrated physiological and molecular evidence for this adaptive plasticity, which could increase climate resilience. However, the metabolic depression may be maladaptive for long-term organismal performance, highlighting the importance of curbing carbon emissions to better protect corals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Jiang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology (SCSIO), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China.,Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou, China.,Department of Ocean Science and Hong Kong Branch (HKB) of the Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), Hong Kong, China
| | - Cheng-Yue Liu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology (SCSIO), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China.,Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou, China.,Department of Ocean Science and Hong Kong Branch (HKB) of the Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), Hong Kong, China
| | - Guoxin Cui
- Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering Division, Red Sea Research Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Lin-Tao Huang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology (SCSIO), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China.,CAS-HKUST Sanya Joint Laboratory of Marine Science Research, Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Biotechnology of Hainan Province, Sanya Institute of Ocean Eco-Environmental Engineering, SCSIO, Sanya, China.,Sanya National Marine Ecosystem Research Station, Tropical Marine Biological Research Station in Hainan, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xiao-Lei Yu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology (SCSIO), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China.,CAS-HKUST Sanya Joint Laboratory of Marine Science Research, Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Biotechnology of Hainan Province, Sanya Institute of Ocean Eco-Environmental Engineering, SCSIO, Sanya, China.,Sanya National Marine Ecosystem Research Station, Tropical Marine Biological Research Station in Hainan, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - You-Fang Sun
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology (SCSIO), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China.,Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou, China.,Department of Ocean Science and Hong Kong Branch (HKB) of the Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), Hong Kong, China
| | - Hao-Ya Tong
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou, China.,Department of Ocean Science and Hong Kong Branch (HKB) of the Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), Hong Kong, China
| | - Guo-Wei Zhou
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology (SCSIO), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China.,CAS-HKUST Sanya Joint Laboratory of Marine Science Research, Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Biotechnology of Hainan Province, Sanya Institute of Ocean Eco-Environmental Engineering, SCSIO, Sanya, China.,Sanya National Marine Ecosystem Research Station, Tropical Marine Biological Research Station in Hainan, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya, China
| | - Xiang-Cheng Yuan
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology (SCSIO), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China.,CAS-HKUST Sanya Joint Laboratory of Marine Science Research, Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Biotechnology of Hainan Province, Sanya Institute of Ocean Eco-Environmental Engineering, SCSIO, Sanya, China.,Sanya National Marine Ecosystem Research Station, Tropical Marine Biological Research Station in Hainan, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya, China
| | - Yi-Si Hu
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou, China
| | - Wen-Liang Zhou
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou, China
| | - Manuel Aranda
- Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering Division, Red Sea Research Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Pei-Yuan Qian
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou, China.,Department of Ocean Science and Hong Kong Branch (HKB) of the Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), Hong Kong, China
| | - Hui Huang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology (SCSIO), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China.,Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou, China.,CAS-HKUST Sanya Joint Laboratory of Marine Science Research, Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Biotechnology of Hainan Province, Sanya Institute of Ocean Eco-Environmental Engineering, SCSIO, Sanya, China.,Sanya National Marine Ecosystem Research Station, Tropical Marine Biological Research Station in Hainan, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya, China
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8
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Marzonie MR, Bay LK, Bourne DG, Hoey AS, Matthews S, Nielsen JJV, Harrison HB. The effects of marine heatwaves on acute heat tolerance in corals. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2023; 29:404-416. [PMID: 36285622 PMCID: PMC10092175 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.16473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2022] [Revised: 08/16/2022] [Accepted: 09/16/2022] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Scleractinian coral populations are increasingly exposed to conditions above their upper thermal limits due to marine heatwaves, contributing to global declines of coral reef ecosystem health. However, historic mass bleaching events indicate there is considerable inter- and intra-specific variation in thermal tolerance whereby species, individual coral colonies and populations show differential susceptibility to exposure to elevated temperatures. Despite this, we lack a clear understanding of how heat tolerance varies across large contemporary and historical environmental gradients, or the selective pressures that underpin this variation. Here we conducted standardised acute heat stress experiments to identify variation in heat tolerance among species and isolated reefs spanning a large environmental gradient across the Coral Sea Marine Park. We quantified the photochemical yield (Fv /Fm ) of coral samples in three coral species, Acropora cf humilis, Pocillopora meandrina, and Pocillopora verrucosa, following exposure to four temperature treatments (local ambient temperatures, and + 3°C, +6°C and + 9°C above local maximum monthly mean). We quantified the temperature at which Fv /Fm decreased by 50% (termed ED50) and used derived values to directly compare acute heat tolerance across reefs and species. The ED50 for Acropora was 0.4-0.7°C lower than either Pocillopora species, with a 0.3°C difference between the two Pocillopora species. We also recorded 0.9°C to 1.9°C phenotypic variation in heat tolerance among reefs within species, indicating spatial heterogeneity in heat tolerance across broad environmental gradients. Acute heat tolerance had a strong positive relationship to mild heatwave exposure over the past 35 years (since 1986) but was negatively related to recent severe heatwaves (2016-2020). Phenotypic variation associated with mild thermal history in local environments provides supportive evidence that marine heatwaves are selecting for tolerant individuals and populations; however, this adaptive potential may be compromised by the exposure to recent severe heatwaves.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magena R. Marzonie
- Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef StudiesJames Cook UniversityTownsvilleQueenslandAustralia
- Australian Institute of Marine ScienceTownsvilleQueenslandAustralia
- AIMS@JCUTownsvilleQueenslandAustralia
| | - Line K. Bay
- Australian Institute of Marine ScienceTownsvilleQueenslandAustralia
- AIMS@JCUTownsvilleQueenslandAustralia
| | - David G. Bourne
- Australian Institute of Marine ScienceTownsvilleQueenslandAustralia
- College of Science and EngineeringJames Cook UniversityTownsvilleQueenslandAustralia
| | - Andrew S. Hoey
- Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef StudiesJames Cook UniversityTownsvilleQueenslandAustralia
| | - Samuel Matthews
- Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef StudiesJames Cook UniversityTownsvilleQueenslandAustralia
| | - Josephine J. V. Nielsen
- Australian Institute of Marine ScienceTownsvilleQueenslandAustralia
- AIMS@JCUTownsvilleQueenslandAustralia
- College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary SciencesJames Cook UniversityTownsvilleQueenslandAustralia
| | - Hugo B. Harrison
- Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef StudiesJames Cook UniversityTownsvilleQueenslandAustralia
- Australian Institute of Marine ScienceTownsvilleQueenslandAustralia
- AIMS@JCUTownsvilleQueenslandAustralia
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9
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Exploring the response of a key Mediterranean gorgonian to heat stress across biological and spatial scales. Sci Rep 2022; 12:21064. [PMID: 36473926 PMCID: PMC9726941 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-25565-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2021] [Accepted: 12/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding the factors and processes that shape intra-specific sensitivity to heat stress is fundamental to better predicting the vulnerability of benthic species to climate change. Here, we investigate the response of a habitat-forming Mediterranean octocoral, the red gorgonian Paramuricea clavata (Risso, 1826) to thermal stress at multiple biological and geographical scales. Samples from eleven P. clavata populations inhabiting four localities separated by hundreds to more than 1500 km of coast and with contrasting thermal histories were exposed to a critical temperature threshold (25 °C) in a common garden experiment in aquaria. Ten of the 11 populations lacked thermotolerance to the experimental conditions provided (25 days at 25 °C), with 100% or almost 100% colony mortality by the end of the experiment. Furthermore, we found no significant association between local average thermal regimes nor recent thermal history (i.e., local water temperatures in the 3 months prior to the experiment) and population thermotolerance. Overall, our results suggest that local adaptation and/or acclimation to warmer conditions have a limited role in the response of P. clavata to thermal stress. The study also confirms the sensitivity of this species to warm temperatures across its distributional range and questions its adaptive capacity under ocean warming conditions. However, important inter-individual variation in thermotolerance was found within populations, particularly those exposed to the most severe prior marine heatwaves. These observations suggest that P. clavata could harbor adaptive potential to future warming acting on standing genetic variation (i.e., divergent selection) and/or environmentally-induced phenotypic variation (i.e., intra- and/or intergenerational plasticity).
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10
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McLeod IM, Hein MY, Babcock R, Bay L, Bourne DG, Cook N, Doropoulos C, Gibbs M, Harrison P, Lockie S, van Oppen MJH, Mattocks N, Page CA, Randall CJ, Smith A, Smith HA, Suggett DJ, Taylor B, Vella KJ, Wachenfeld D, Boström-Einarsson L. Coral restoration and adaptation in Australia: The first five years. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0273325. [PMID: 36449458 PMCID: PMC9710771 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0273325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
While coral reefs in Australia have historically been a showcase of conventional management informed by research, recent declines in coral cover have triggered efforts to innovate and integrate intervention and restoration actions into management frameworks. Here we outline the multi-faceted intervention approaches that have developed in Australia since 2017, from newly implemented in-water programs, research to enhance coral resilience and investigations into socio-economic perspectives on restoration goals. We describe in-water projects using coral gardening, substrate stabilisation, coral repositioning, macro-algae removal, and larval-based restoration techniques. Three areas of research focus are also presented to illustrate the breadth of Australian research on coral restoration, (1) the transdisciplinary Reef Restoration and Adaptation Program (RRAP), one of the world's largest research and development programs focused on coral reefs, (2) interventions to enhance coral performance under climate change, and (3) research into socio-cultural perspectives. Together, these projects and the recent research focus reflect an increasing urgency for action to confront the coral reef crisis, develop new and additional tools to manage coral reefs, and the consequent increase in funding opportunities and management appetite for implementation. The rapid progress in trialling and deploying coral restoration in Australia builds on decades of overseas experience, and advances in research and development are showing positive signs that coral restoration can be a valuable tool to improve resilience at local scales (i.e., high early survival rates across a variety of methods and coral species, strong community engagement with local stakeholders). RRAP is focused on creating interventions to help coral reefs at multiple scales, from micro scales (i.e., interventions targeting small areas within a specific reef site) to large scales (i.e., interventions targeting core ecosystem function and social-economic values at multiple select sites across the Great Barrier Reef) to resist, adapt to and recover from the impacts of climate change. None of these interventions aim to single-handedly restore the entirety of the Great Barrier Reef, nor do they negate the importance of urgent climate change mitigation action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian M. McLeod
- TropWATER (Centre for Tropical Water and Aquatic Ecosystem Research), James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Margaux Y. Hein
- TropWATER (Centre for Tropical Water and Aquatic Ecosystem Research), James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
- MER Research and Consulting, The Office, Monaco, Monaco
- * E-mail:
| | - Russ Babcock
- CSIRO Oceans & Atmosphere, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Line Bay
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - David G. Bourne
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia
| | - Nathan Cook
- TropWATER (Centre for Tropical Water and Aquatic Ecosystem Research), James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
- Reef Ecologic, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | | | - Mark Gibbs
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Peter Harrison
- Marine Ecology Research Centre, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Southern Cross University, Lismore, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Stewart Lockie
- The Cairns Institute, James Cook University, Cairns, Queensland, Australia
| | - Madeleine J. H. van Oppen
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
- School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Neil Mattocks
- Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Cathie A. Page
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Carly J. Randall
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Adam Smith
- TropWATER (Centre for Tropical Water and Aquatic Ecosystem Research), James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
- Reef Ecologic, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Hillary A. Smith
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia
- School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Randwick, New South Wales, Australia
| | - David J. Suggett
- Climate Change Cluster, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Bruce Taylor
- Land & Water, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Dutton Park, Queensland, Australia
| | - Karen J. Vella
- School of Architecture and Built Environment, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
| | - David Wachenfeld
- Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Lisa Boström-Einarsson
- TropWATER (Centre for Tropical Water and Aquatic Ecosystem Research), James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Bailrigg, Lancaster, United Kingdom
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11
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Winston M, Oliver T, Couch C, Donovan MK, Asner GP, Conklin E, Fuller K, Grady BW, Huntington B, Kageyama K, Kindinger TL, Kozar K, Kramer L, Martinez T, McCutcheon A, McKenna S, Rodgers K, Shayler CK, Vargas-Angel B, Zgliczynski B. Coral taxonomy and local stressors drive bleaching prevalence across the Hawaiian Archipelago in 2019. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0269068. [PMID: 36048764 PMCID: PMC9436070 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0269068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2021] [Accepted: 05/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The Hawaiian Archipelago experienced a moderate bleaching event in 2019—the third major bleaching event over a 6-year period to impact the islands. In response, the Hawai‘i Coral Bleaching Collaborative (HCBC) conducted 2,177 coral bleaching surveys across the Hawaiian Archipelago. The HCBC was established to coordinate bleaching monitoring efforts across the state between academic institutions, non-governmental organizations, and governmental agencies to facilitate data sharing and provide management recommendations. In 2019, the goals of this unique partnership were to: 1) assess the spatial and temporal patterns of thermal stress; 2) examine taxa-level patterns in bleaching susceptibility; 3) quantify spatial variation in bleaching extent; 4) compare 2019 patterns to those of prior bleaching events; 5) identify predictors of bleaching in 2019; and 6) explore site-specific management strategies to mitigate future bleaching events. Both acute thermal stress and bleaching in 2019 were less severe overall compared to the last major marine heatwave events in 2014 and 2015. Bleaching observed was highly site- and taxon-specific, driven by the susceptibility of remaining coral assemblages whose structure was likely shaped by previous bleaching and subsequent mortality. A suite of environmental and anthropogenic predictors was significantly correlated with observed bleaching in 2019. Acute environmental stressors, such as temperature and surface light, were equally important as previous conditions (e.g. historical thermal stress and historical bleaching) in accounting for variation in bleaching during the 2019 event. We found little evidence for acclimation by reefs to thermal stress in the main Hawaiian Islands. Moreover, our findings illustrate how detrimental effects of local anthropogenic stressors, such as tourism and urban run-off, may be exacerbated under high thermal stress. In light of the forecasted increase in severity and frequency of bleaching events, future mitigation of both local and global stressors is a high priority for the future of corals in Hawai‘i.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morgan Winston
- Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research, University of Hawai‘i, Honolulu, Hawai‘i, United States of America
- Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, Honolulu, Hawai‘i, United States of America
- Center for Global Discovery and Conservation Science and School of Geographic Sciences and Urban Planning, Arizona State University, Hilo, Hawai‘i, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Thomas Oliver
- Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, Honolulu, Hawai‘i, United States of America
| | - Courtney Couch
- Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research, University of Hawai‘i, Honolulu, Hawai‘i, United States of America
- Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, Honolulu, Hawai‘i, United States of America
| | - Mary K. Donovan
- Center for Global Discovery and Conservation Science and School of Geographic Sciences and Urban Planning, Arizona State University, Hilo, Hawai‘i, United States of America
| | - Gregory P. Asner
- Center for Global Discovery and Conservation Science and School of Geographic Sciences and Urban Planning, Arizona State University, Hilo, Hawai‘i, United States of America
| | - Eric Conklin
- The Nature Conservancy, Honolulu, Hawai‘i, United States of America
| | - Kimberly Fuller
- Division of Aquatic Resources (O‘ahu), Anuenue Fisheries Research Center, Honolulu, Hawai‘i, United States of America
| | - Bryant W. Grady
- Center for Global Discovery and Conservation Science and School of Geographic Sciences and Urban Planning, Arizona State University, Hilo, Hawai‘i, United States of America
| | - Brittany Huntington
- Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research, University of Hawai‘i, Honolulu, Hawai‘i, United States of America
- Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, Honolulu, Hawai‘i, United States of America
| | - Kazuki Kageyama
- Division of Aquatic Resources (O‘ahu), Anuenue Fisheries Research Center, Honolulu, Hawai‘i, United States of America
| | - Tye L. Kindinger
- Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, Honolulu, Hawai‘i, United States of America
| | - Kelly Kozar
- Pacific Island Network Inventory and Monitoring Program, Hawai‘i National Park, Hawai‘i, United States of America
| | - Lindsey Kramer
- Division of Aquatic Resources (Kona), Kailua-Kona, Hawai‘i, United States of America
| | - Tatiana Martinez
- Division of Aquatic Resources (Maui), Wailuku, Hawai‘i, United States of America
| | - Amanda McCutcheon
- Pacific Island Network Inventory and Monitoring Program, Hawai‘i National Park, Hawai‘i, United States of America
| | - Sheila McKenna
- Pacific Island Network Inventory and Monitoring Program, Hawai‘i National Park, Hawai‘i, United States of America
| | - Ku‘ulei Rodgers
- Hawai‘i Institute of Marine Biology, Kāne‘ohe, Hawai‘i, United States of America
| | | | - Bernardo Vargas-Angel
- Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research, University of Hawai‘i, Honolulu, Hawai‘i, United States of America
- Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, Honolulu, Hawai‘i, United States of America
| | - Brian Zgliczynski
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla, California, United States of America
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12
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Drury C, Dilworth J, Majerová E, Caruso C, Greer JB. Expression plasticity regulates intraspecific variation in the acclimatization potential of a reef-building coral. Nat Commun 2022; 13:4790. [PMID: 35970904 PMCID: PMC9378650 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-32452-4] [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: 04/04/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Phenotypic plasticity is an important ecological and evolutionary response for organisms experiencing environmental change, but the ubiquity of this capacity within coral species and across symbiont communities is unknown. We exposed ten genotypes of the reef-building coral Montipora capitata with divergent symbiont communities to four thermal pre-exposure profiles and quantified gene expression before stress testing 4 months later. Here we show two pre-exposure profiles significantly enhance thermal tolerance despite broadly different expression patterns and substantial variation in acclimatization potential based on coral genotype. There was no relationship between a genotype's basal thermal sensitivity and ability to acquire heat tolerance, including in corals harboring naturally tolerant symbionts, which illustrates the potential for additive improvements in coral response to climate change. These results represent durable improvements from short-term stress hardening of reef-building corals and substantial cryptic complexity in the capacity for plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jenna Dilworth
- Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology, Kāne'ohe, HI, USA
- University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Eva Majerová
- Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology, Kāne'ohe, HI, USA
| | - Carlo Caruso
- Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology, Kāne'ohe, HI, USA
| | - Justin B Greer
- U.S. Geological Survey, Western Fisheries Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA
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13
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Sully S, Hodgson G, van Woesik R. Present and future bright and dark spots for coral reefs through climate change. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2022; 28:4509-4522. [PMID: 35106864 PMCID: PMC9303460 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.16083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2021] [Revised: 12/12/2021] [Accepted: 01/04/2022] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Marine heatwaves can cause coral bleaching and reduce coral cover on reefs, yet few studies have identified "bright spots," where corals have recently shown a capacity to survive such pressures. We analyzed 7714 worldwide surveys from 1997 to 2018 along with 14 environmental and temperature metrics in a hierarchical Bayesian model to identify conditions that contribute to present-day coral cover. We also identified locations with significantly higher (i.e., "bright spots") and lower coral cover (i.e., "dark spots") than regionally expected. In addition, using 4-km downscaled data of Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs) 4.5 and 8.5, we projected coral cover on reefs for the years 2050 and 2100. Coral cover on modern reefs was positively associated with historically high maximum sea-surface temperatures (SSTs), and negatively associated with high contemporary SSTs, tropical-cyclone frequencies, and human-population densities. By 2100, under RCP8.5, we projected relative decreases in coral cover of >40% on most reefs globally but projected less decline on reefs in Indonesia, Malaysia, the central Philippines, New Caledonia, Fiji, and French Polynesia, which should be focal localities for multinational networks of protected areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shannon Sully
- Institute for Global EcologyFlorida Institute of TechnologyMelbourneFloridaUSA
| | - Gregor Hodgson
- Coral Reef Consultants LLCCalabasasCaliforniaUSA
- Emeritus, Reef Check FoundationMarina del ReyCaliforniaUSA
| | - Robert van Woesik
- Institute for Global EcologyFlorida Institute of TechnologyMelbourneFloridaUSA
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14
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Godefroid M, Dupont S, Metian M, Hédouin L. Two decades of seawater acidification experiments on tropical scleractinian corals: Overview, meta-analysis and perspectives. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2022; 178:113552. [PMID: 35339865 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Revised: 03/03/2022] [Accepted: 03/05/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Ocean acidification has emerged as a major concern in the last fifteen years and studies on the impacts of seawater acidification on marine organisms have multiplied accordingly. This review aimed at synthesizing the literature on the effects of seawater acidification on tropical scleractinians under laboratory-controlled conditions. We identified 141 articles (published between 1999 and 2021) and separated endpoints into 22 biological categories to identify global trends for mitigation and gaps in knowledge and research priorities for future investigators. The relative number of affected endpoints increased with pH intensity (particularly for endpoints associated to calcification and reproduction). When exposed to pH 7.6-7.8 (compared to higher pH), 49% of endpoints were affected. The diversity in experimental designs prevented deciphering the modulating role of coral life stages, genera or duration of exposure. Finally, important bias in research efforts included most experiments on adult corals (68.5%), in 27 out of 150 (18%) coral ecoregions and exclusively from shallow-waters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathilde Godefroid
- PSL Research University: EPHE-CNRS-UPVD, USR 3278 CRIOBE, BP 1013, 98729 Papetoai, Mo'orea, French Polynesia; Laboratoire d'Excellence "CORAIL", Mo'orea, French Polynesia.
| | - Sam Dupont
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Kristineberg Marine Research Station, Kristineberg 566, 45178 Fiskebäckskil, Sweden; Radioecology Laboratory International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Marine Laboratories, 4 Quai Antoine 1er, 98000, Monaco
| | - Marc Metian
- Radioecology Laboratory International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Marine Laboratories, 4 Quai Antoine 1er, 98000, Monaco
| | - Laetitia Hédouin
- PSL Research University: EPHE-CNRS-UPVD, USR 3278 CRIOBE, BP 1013, 98729 Papetoai, Mo'orea, French Polynesia; Laboratoire d'Excellence "CORAIL", Mo'orea, French Polynesia
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15
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Thomas L, Underwood JN, Rose NH, Fuller ZL, Richards ZT, Dugal L, Grimaldi CM, Cooke IR, Palumbi SR, Gilmour JP. Spatially varying selection between habitats drives physiological shifts and local adaptation in a broadcast spawning coral on a remote atoll in Western Australia. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabl9185. [PMID: 35476443 PMCID: PMC9045720 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abl9185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
At the Rowley Shoals in Western Australia, the prominent reef flat becomes exposed on low tide and the stagnant water in the shallow atoll lagoons heats up, creating a natural laboratory for characterizing the mechanisms of coral resilience to climate change. To explore these mechanisms in the reef coral Acropora tenuis, we collected samples from lagoon and reef slope habitats and combined whole-genome sequencing, ITS2 metabarcoding, experimental heat stress, and transcriptomics. Despite high gene flow across the atoll, we identified clear shifts in allele frequencies between habitats at relatively small linked genomic islands. Common garden heat stress assays showed corals from the lagoon to be more resistant to bleaching, and RNA sequencing revealed marked differences in baseline levels of gene expression between habitats. Our results provide new insight into the complex mechanisms of coral resilience to climate change and highlight the potential for spatially varying selection across complex coral reef seascapes to drive pronounced ecological divergence in climate-related traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luke Thomas
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Indian Ocean Marine Research Centre, Crawley, Australia
- UWA Oceans Institute, Oceans Graduate School, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Australia
- Corresponding author.
| | - Jim N. Underwood
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Indian Ocean Marine Research Centre, Crawley, Australia
| | - Noah H. Rose
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Zachary L. Fuller
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Zoe T. Richards
- Coral Conservation and Research Group, School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, Australia
- Collections and Research, Western Australian Museum, Welshpool, Australia
| | - Laurence Dugal
- UWA Oceans Institute, Oceans Graduate School, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Australia
| | - Camille M. Grimaldi
- UWA Oceans Institute, Oceans Graduate School, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Australia
| | - Ira R. Cooke
- Centre for Tropical Bioinformatics and Molecular Biology, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Stephen R. Palumbi
- Hopkins Marine Station, Biology Department, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, CA, USA
| | - James P. Gilmour
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Indian Ocean Marine Research Centre, Crawley, Australia
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16
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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: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [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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17
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Henley EM, Bouwmeester J, Jury CP, Toonen RJ, Quinn M, Lager CV, Hagedorn M. Growth and survival among Hawaiian corals outplanted from tanks to an ocean nursery are driven by individual genotype and species differences rather than preconditioning to thermal stress. PeerJ 2022; 10:e13112. [PMID: 35345587 PMCID: PMC8957268 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.13112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The drastic decline in coral coverage has stimulated an interest in reef restoration, and various iterations of coral nurseries have been used to augment restoration strategies. Here we examine the growth of two species of Hawaiian Montipora that were maintained in mesocosms under either ambient or warmed annual bleaching conditions for two consecutive years prior to outplanting to determine whether preconditioning aided coral restoration efforts. Using coral trees to create a nearby ocean nursery, we examined whether: (1) previous ex situ mesocosm growth would mirror in situ coral tree nursery growth; and (2) thermal ex situ stress-hardening would predict future success during natural warming events in situ for corals moved from tanks to trees. For Montipora capitata, we found that variation in growth was explained primarily by genotype; growth rates in the mesocosms were similar to those in situ, irrespective of preconditioning. Variation in M. flabellata growth, however, was explained by both genotype and culture method such that an individual M. flabellata colony that grew well in the tanks did not necessarily perform as well on the coral trees. For both species, previous exposure to elevated temperatures in the mesocosms provided no benefit to either growth or survival during a warming event in the coral tree nursery compared to those grown in ambient temperatures. Overall, M. capitata performed better in the tree nursery with higher net growth, lower mortality, and was subject to less predation than M. flabellata. Our results show little benefit of the additional cost and time of stress-hardening these corals prior to outplanting because it is unlikely to aid resilience to future warming events. These results also suggest that selecting corals for restoration based on long-term genotype growth performance may be more effective for optimal outcomes but should be weighed against other factors, such as coral morphology, in situ nursery method, location, and other characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- E. Michael Henley
- Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Smithsonian Institution, Front Royal, Virginia, United States,Hawai‘i Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Kāne‘ohe, Hawai‘i, United States
| | - Jessica Bouwmeester
- Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Smithsonian Institution, Front Royal, Virginia, United States,Hawai‘i Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Kāne‘ohe, Hawai‘i, United States
| | - Christopher P. Jury
- Hawai‘i Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Kāne‘ohe, Hawai‘i, United States
| | - Robert J. Toonen
- Hawai‘i Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Kāne‘ohe, Hawai‘i, United States
| | - Mariko Quinn
- Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Smithsonian Institution, Front Royal, Virginia, United States,Hawai‘i Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Kāne‘ohe, Hawai‘i, United States
| | - Claire V.A. Lager
- Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Smithsonian Institution, Front Royal, Virginia, United States,Hawai‘i Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Kāne‘ohe, Hawai‘i, United States
| | - Mary Hagedorn
- Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Smithsonian Institution, Front Royal, Virginia, United States,Hawai‘i Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Kāne‘ohe, Hawai‘i, United States
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18
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Horizon scan of rapidly advancing coral restoration approaches for 21st century reef management. Emerg Top Life Sci 2022; 6:125-136. [PMID: 35119476 PMCID: PMC9023016 DOI: 10.1042/etls20210240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2021] [Revised: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Coral reef restoration activity is accelerating worldwide in efforts to offset the rate of reef health declines. Many advances have already been made in restoration practices centred on coral biology (coral restoration), and particularly those that look to employ the high adaptive state and capacity of corals in order to ensure that efforts rebuilding coral biomass also equip reefs with enhanced resilience to future stress. We horizon scan the state-of-play for the many coral restoration innovations already underway across the complex life cycle for corals that spans both asexual and sexual reproduction — assisted evolution (manipulations targeted to the coral host and host-associated microbes), biobanking, as well as scalable coral propagation and planting — and how these innovations are in different stages of maturity to support new 21st century reef management frameworks. Realising the potential for coral restoration tools as management aids undoubtedly rests on validating different approaches as their application continues to scale. Whilst the ecosystem service responses to increased scaling still largely remain to be seen, coral restoration has already delivered immense new understanding of coral and coral-associated microbial biology that has long lagged behind advances in other reef sciences.
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19
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Leggat W, Heron SF, Fordyce A, Suggett DJ, Ainsworth TD. Experiment Degree Heating Week (eDHW) as a novel metric to reconcile and validate past and future global coral bleaching studies. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2022; 301:113919. [PMID: 34731944 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.113919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2021] [Revised: 09/27/2021] [Accepted: 10/06/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Coral bleaching has increasingly impacted reefs worldwide over the past four decades. Despite almost 40 years of research into the mechanistic, physiological, ecological, biophysical and climatic drivers of coral bleaching, metrics to allow comparison between ecological observations and experimental simulations still do not exist. Here we describe a novel metric - experimental Degree Heating Week (eDHW) - with which to standardise the persistently variable thermal conditions employed across experimental studies of coral bleaching by modify the widely used Degree Heating Week (DHW) metric used in ecological studies to standardise cumulative heat loading.
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Affiliation(s)
- William Leggat
- School of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia.
| | - Scott F Heron
- Physics and Marine Geophysical Laboratory, College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia
| | - Alexander Fordyce
- School of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia
| | - David J Suggett
- University of Technology Sydney, Climate Change Cluster, Faculty of Science, Sydney, Australia
| | - Tracy D Ainsworth
- Biological, Earth, and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
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20
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Waite HR, Sorte CJB. Negative carry-over effects on larval thermal tolerances across a natural thermal gradient. Ecology 2021; 103:e03565. [PMID: 34674265 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.3565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2021] [Revised: 06/11/2021] [Accepted: 07/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Under climate change, marine organisms will need to tolerate or adapt to increasing temperatures to persist. The ability of populations to cope with thermal stress may be influenced by conditions experienced by parents, by both genetic changes and transgenerational phenotypic plasticity through epigenetics or maternal provisioning. In organisms with complex life cycles, larval stages are particularly vulnerable to stress. Positive parental carry-over effects occur if more stressful parental environments yield more tolerant offspring while the opposite pattern leads to negative carry-over effects. This study evaluated the role of parental effects in determining larval thermal tolerances for the intertidal mussel, Mytilus californianus. We tested whether thermal environments across a natural gradient (shoreline elevation) impacted mussel temperature tolerances. Lethal thermal limits were compared for field-collected adults and their larvae. We observed parental effects across one generation, in which adult mussels exposed to warmer habitats yielded less tolerant offspring. Interestingly, although parental environments influenced offspring tolerances, we found no clear effects of habitat conditions on adult phenotypes (tolerances). We found indicators of trade-offs in energy investment, with higher reproductive condition and larger egg diameters in low stress environments. These results suggest that parental effects are negative, leading to possible adverse effects of thermal stress on the next generation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heidi R Waite
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California, 92697-2525, USA
| | - Cascade J B Sorte
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California, 92697-2525, USA
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21
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Dietzel A, Connolly SR, Hughes TP, Bode M. The spatial footprint and patchiness of large-scale disturbances on coral reefs. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2021; 27:4825-4838. [PMID: 34390297 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.15805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2020] [Revised: 06/21/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Ecosystems have always been shaped by disturbances, but many of these events are becoming larger, more severe and more frequent. The recovery capacity of depleted populations depends on the frequency of disturbances, the spatial distribution of mortality and the scale of dispersal. Here, we show that four mass coral bleaching events on the Great Barrier Reef (in 1998, 2002, 2016 and 2017) each had markedly larger disturbance footprints and were less patchy than a severe category 5 tropical cyclone (Cyclone Yasi, 2011). Severely bleached reefs in 2016 and 2017 were isolated from the nearest lightly affected reefs by up to 146 and 200 km, respectively. In contrast, reefs damaged by Cyclone Yasi were on average 20 km away from relatively undisturbed reefs, well within the estimated range of larval dispersal for most corals. Based on these results, we present a model of coral reef disturbance and recovery to examine (1) how the spatial clustering of disturbances modifies large-scale recovery rates; and (2) how recovery rates are shaped by species' dispersal abilities. Our findings illustrate that the spatial footprint of the recent mass bleaching events poses an unprecedented threat to the resilience of coral species in human history, a threat that is even larger than the amount of mortality suggests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Dietzel
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Sean R Connolly
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Balboa, Republic of Panama
| | - Terry P Hughes
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Michael Bode
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
- School of Mathematical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
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22
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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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23
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Variation in Immune-Related Gene Expression Provides Evidence of Local Adaptation in Porites astreoides (Lamarck, 1816) between Inshore and Offshore Meta-Populations Inhabiting the Lower Florida Reef Tract, USA. WATER 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/w13152107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Coral communities of the Florida Reef Tract (FRT) have changed dramatically over the past 30 years. Coral cover throughout the FRT is disproportionately distributed; >70% of total coral cover is found within the inshore patch reef zone (<2 km from shore) compared to 30% found within the offshore bank reef zone (>5 km from shore). Coral mortality from disease has been differentially observed between inshore and offshore reefs along the FRT. Therefore, differences between the response of inshore and offshore coral populations to bacterial challenge may contribute to differences in coral cover. We examined immune system activation in Porites astreoides (Lamarck, 1816), a species common in both inshore and offshore reef environments in the FRT. Colonies from a representative inshore and offshore site were reciprocally transplanted and the expression of three genes monitored biannually for two years (two summer and two winter periods). Variation in the expression of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 3, subunit H (eIF3H), an indicator of cellular stress in Porites astreoides, did not follow annual patterns of seawater temperatures (SWT) indicating the contribution of other stressors (e.g., irradiance). Greater expression of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor associated factor 3 (TRAF3), a signaling protein of the inflammatory response, was observed among corals transplanted to, or located within the offshore environment indicating that an increased immune response is associated with offshore coral more so than the inshore coral (p < 0.001). Corals collected from the offshore site also upregulated the expression of adenylyl cyclase associated protein 2 (ACAP2), increases which are associated with decreasing innate immune system inflammatory responses, indicating a counteractive response to increased stimulation of the innate immune system. Activation of the innate immune system is a metabolically costly survival strategy. Among the two reefs studied, the offshore population had a smaller mean colony size and decreased colony abundance compared to the inshore site. This correlation suggests that tradeoffs may exist between the activation of the innate immune system and survival and growth. Consequently, immune system activation may contribute to coral community dynamics and declines along the FRT.
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24
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Hackerott S, Martell HA, Eirin-Lopez JM. Coral environmental memory: causes, mechanisms, and consequences for future reefs. Trends Ecol Evol 2021; 36:1011-1023. [PMID: 34366170 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2021.06.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2021] [Revised: 06/18/2021] [Accepted: 06/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The apparent ability of corals to acquire and maintain enhanced stress tolerance through a dose-dependent environmental memory, which may persist for multiple years, has critical implications for coral reef conservation research. Such responses are variable across coral species and environmental stressors, with primed corals exhibiting a modified response to secondary stress exposures. While the mechanisms underlying coral memory responses are poorly understood, they likely involve both the coral host and microbiome. With advances in molecular technologies, it is now possible to investigate potential memory mechanisms in non-model organisms, including transcriptional regulation through epigenetic modifications. We integrate evidence of coral environmental memory and suggest future research directions to evaluate the potential for this process to enhance coral resilience under climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serena Hackerott
- Environmental Epigenetics Laboratory, Institute of Environment, Biological Sciences Department, Florida International University, North Miami, FL, 33181, USA
| | - Harmony A Martell
- Climate and Coastal Ecosystem Laboratory, Department of Geography & Institute of Oceans and Fisheries, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Jose M Eirin-Lopez
- Environmental Epigenetics Laboratory, Institute of Environment, Biological Sciences Department, Florida International University, North Miami, FL, 33181, USA.
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25
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Majerova E, Carey FC, Drury C, Gates RD. Preconditioning improves bleaching tolerance in the reef-building coral Pocillopora acuta through modulations in the programmed cell death pathways. Mol Ecol 2021; 30:3560-3574. [PMID: 34008873 DOI: 10.1111/mec.15988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2020] [Revised: 05/07/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Reef-building corals rely on intracellular algal symbionts to meet energetic demands. Increasing extreme weather driven by climate change often leads to disruption of this symbiosis and to coral death. Corals can better withstand stress after previous exposure to sublethal conditions, but the mechanisms for this resilience remain unclear. Here, we show that a three-day thermal preconditioning increases tolerance of acute heat stress through modulations in cell death pathways in the stony coral Pocillopora acuta. In preconditioned corals, the ratio of pro-survival (pa-Bcl-2 and pa-BI-1) to pro-death (pa-BAK and pa-BAX) gene expression increased and the corals underwent significantly less bleaching. When treated with Bcl-2 inhibitor, corals lost the improved thermal tolerance, suggesting an important role of programmed cell death in coral bleaching and acclimatization. During heat stress, the activity of acid phosphatase increased but caspase-3 did not, suggesting the involvement of autophagy/symbiophagy rather than apoptosis in this process. A similar shift in gene expression also occurs in thermally stressed corals that have been exposed to naturally higher temperatures during summer thermal maxima in Kāne'ohe Bay, Hawai'i, suggesting that corals can increase their resilience to realistic warming events during high-risk periods through alterations in cell signalling. These data suggest that programmed cell death pathways underly coral acclimatization and resilience and may be important for coral reef conservation and management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Majerova
- Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Kāne'ohe, HI, USA
| | - Fiona C Carey
- Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Kāne'ohe, HI, USA
| | - Crawford Drury
- Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Kāne'ohe, HI, USA
| | - Ruth D Gates
- Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Kāne'ohe, HI, USA
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26
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Abstract
Climate-driven reef decline has prompted the development of next-generation coral conservation strategies, many of which hinge on the movement of adaptive variation across genetic and environmental gradients. This process is limited by our understanding of how genetic and genotypic drivers of coral bleaching will manifest in different environmental conditions. We reciprocally transplanted 10 genotypes of Acropora cervicornis across eight sites along a 60 km span of the Florida Reef Tract and documented significant genotype × environment interactions in bleaching response during the severe 2015 bleaching event. Performance relative to site mean was significantly different between genotypes and can be mostly explained by ensemble models of correlations with genetic markers. The high explanatory power was driven by significant enrichment of loci associated DNA repair, cell signalling and apoptosis. No genotypes performed above (or below) bleaching average at all sites, so genomic predictors can provide practitioners with 'confidence intervals' about the chance of success in novel habitats. These data have important implications for assisted gene flow and managed relocation, and their integration with traditional active restoration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Crawford Drury
- Department of Marine Biology and Ecology, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33149, USA
| | - Diego Lirman
- Department of Marine Biology and Ecology, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33149, USA
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27
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Puisay A, Elleaume N, Fouqueau L, Lacube Y, Goiran C, Sidobre C, Metian M, Hédouin L. Parental bleaching susceptibility leads to differences in larval fluorescence and dispersal potential in Pocillopora acuta corals. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2021; 163:105200. [PMID: 33248410 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2020.105200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2020] [Revised: 10/23/2020] [Accepted: 10/24/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Coral reef ecosystems are declining at an alarming rate. Increasing seawater temperatures and occurrence of extreme warming events can impair sexual reproduction in reef-building corals and inhibit the ability for coral communities to replenish and persist. Here, we investigated the role of photophysiology on the reproductive ecology of Pocillopora acuta coral colonies by focusing on the impacts of bleaching susceptibility of parents on reproduction and larval performance, during an El Niño Southern Oscillation event in Mo'orea, French Polynesia. Elevated temperature conditions at that time induced bleaching phenotypic differences among P. acuta individuals: certain colonies became pale (from the loss of pigments and/or decline in symbiont cell density), while others remained pigmented (normal/high symbiont cell density). More specifically, we studied the impact of parental phenotypes on offspring's fluorescence by counting released larvae and sorting them by fluorescence types, we assessed survival to thermal stress, recruitment success and post-recruitment survival of released larvae from each fluorescent phenotype, during summer months (February to April 2016). Our results showed that red and green fluorescent larvae released by P. acuta had distinct physiological performances: red fluorescent larvae exhibited a higher survival into the pelagic phase regardless temperature conditions, with lower capacity to settle and survive post-recruitment, compared to green larvae that settle within a short period. Interestingly, pale colonies released two-to seven-fold more red fluorescent larvae than pigmented colonies did. In the light of our results, photophysiological profiles of the brooding P. acuta parental colonies may modulate the fluorescence features of released larvae, and thus influence the dispersal strategy of their offspring, the green fluorescent larval phenotypes being more performant in the benthic than pelagic phase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antoine Puisay
- PSL Research University, USR 3278 CNRS EPHE UPVD CRIOBE, BP1013, Papetoai, French Polynesia; Laboratoire d'Excellence "CORAIL", B1013, 98,729 Papetoai, Mo'orea, French Polynesia
| | - Nicolas Elleaume
- PSL Research University, USR 3278 CNRS EPHE UPVD CRIOBE, BP1013, Papetoai, French Polynesia; Laboratoire d'Excellence "CORAIL", B1013, 98,729 Papetoai, Mo'orea, French Polynesia
| | - Louise Fouqueau
- PSL Research University, USR 3278 CNRS EPHE UPVD CRIOBE, BP1013, Papetoai, French Polynesia; Laboratoire d'Excellence "CORAIL", B1013, 98,729 Papetoai, Mo'orea, French Polynesia; CNRS, UMI 3614, Evolutionary Biology and Ecology of Algae, Roscoff, France
| | - Yann Lacube
- PSL Research University, USR 3278 CNRS EPHE UPVD CRIOBE, BP1013, Papetoai, French Polynesia; Laboratoire d'Excellence "CORAIL", B1013, 98,729 Papetoai, Mo'orea, French Polynesia
| | - Claire Goiran
- Laboratoire d'Excellence "CORAIL", B1013, 98,729 Papetoai, Mo'orea, French Polynesia; ISEA Institut de Sciences Exactes et Appliquées, Université de la Nouvelle-Calédonie, France
| | - Christine Sidobre
- PSL Research University, USR 3278 CNRS EPHE UPVD CRIOBE, BP1013, Papetoai, French Polynesia; Laboratoire d'Excellence "CORAIL", B1013, 98,729 Papetoai, Mo'orea, French Polynesia
| | - Marc Metian
- International Atomic Energy Agency, Environment Laboratories, 4a, Quai Antoine 1er, MC-98,000, Principality of Monaco, Monaco
| | - Laetitia Hédouin
- PSL Research University, USR 3278 CNRS EPHE UPVD CRIOBE, BP1013, Papetoai, French Polynesia; Laboratoire d'Excellence "CORAIL", B1013, 98,729 Papetoai, Mo'orea, French Polynesia.
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28
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Becker DM, Silbiger NJ. Nutrient and sediment loading affect multiple facets of functionality in a tropical branching coral. J Exp Biol 2020; 223:jeb225045. [PMID: 32943577 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.225045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2020] [Accepted: 09/08/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Coral reefs, one of the most diverse ecosystems in the world, face increasing pressures from global and local anthropogenic stressors. Therefore, a better understanding of the ecological ramifications of warming and land-based inputs (e.g. sedimentation and nutrient loading) on coral reef ecosystems is necessary. In this study, we measured how a natural nutrient and sedimentation gradient affected multiple facets of coral functionality, including endosymbiont and coral host response variables, holobiont metabolic responses and percent cover of Pocillopora acuta colonies in Mo'orea, French Polynesia. We used thermal performance curves to quantify the relationship between metabolic rates and temperature along the environmental gradient. We found that algal endosymbiont percent nitrogen content, endosymbiont densities and total chlorophyll a content increased with nutrient input, while endosymbiont nitrogen content per cell decreased, likely representing competition among the algal endosymbionts. Nutrient and sediment loading decreased coral metabolic responses to thermal stress in terms of their thermal performance and metabolic rate processes. The acute thermal optimum for dark respiration decreased, along with the maximal performance for gross photosynthetic and calcification rates. Gross photosynthetic and calcification rates normalized to a reference temperature (26.8°C) decreased along the gradient. Lastly, percent cover of P. acuta colonies decreased by nearly two orders of magnitude along the nutrient gradient. These findings illustrate that nutrient and sediment loading affect multiple levels of coral functionality. Understanding how local-scale anthropogenic stressors influence the responses of corals to temperature can inform coral reef management, particularly in relation to the mediation of land-based inputs into coastal coral reef ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle M Becker
- Department of Biology, California State University, Northridge, CA 91330, USA
| | - Nyssa J Silbiger
- Department of Biology, California State University, Northridge, CA 91330, USA
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Yu X, Yu K, Huang W, Liang J, Qin Z, Chen B, Yao Q, Liao Z. Thermal acclimation increases heat tolerance of the scleractinian coral Acropora pruinosa. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 733:139319. [PMID: 32446076 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.139319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2019] [Revised: 04/28/2020] [Accepted: 05/07/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Field ecological observations indicate that scleractinian coral exposed to early thermal stress are likely to develop higher tolerance to subsequent heat stress. The causes of this phenomenon, however, remain enigmatic. To unravel the mechanisms underlying the increased heat tolerance, we applied different thermal treatments to the scleractinian coral Acropora pruinosa and studied the resulting differences in appearance, physiological index, Symbiodiniaceae and bacterial communities, and transcriptome response. We found that early heat stress improved the thermal tolerance of the coral holobiont. After thermal acclimation, the community structure and symbiotic bacterial diversity in the microbiota were reorganized, whereas those of Symbiodiniaceae remained stable. RNA-seq analysis revealed that the downregulated coral host genes were mainly involved in pathways relating to metabolism, particularly the nitrogen metabolism pathway. This indicates that thermal acclimation led to decrease in the metabolism level in the coral host, which might be a self-protection mechanism. We suggest that thermal acclimation may increase scleractinian coral thermal tolerance by slowing host metabolism, altering the dominant bacterial population, and increasing bacterial diversity. This study offers new insights into the adaptive potential of scleractinian coral to heat stress from global warming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaopeng Yu
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Guangxi University, Nanning, China; Coral Reef Research Center of China, Guangxi University, Nanning, China; School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Kefu Yu
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Guangxi University, Nanning, China; Coral Reef Research Center of China, Guangxi University, Nanning, China; School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning, China; Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory(Zhuhai), China.
| | - Wen Huang
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Guangxi University, Nanning, China; Coral Reef Research Center of China, Guangxi University, Nanning, China; School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Jiayuan Liang
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Guangxi University, Nanning, China; Coral Reef Research Center of China, Guangxi University, Nanning, China; School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Zhenjun Qin
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Guangxi University, Nanning, China; Coral Reef Research Center of China, Guangxi University, Nanning, China; School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Biao Chen
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Guangxi University, Nanning, China; Coral Reef Research Center of China, Guangxi University, Nanning, China; School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Qiucui Yao
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Guangxi University, Nanning, China; Coral Reef Research Center of China, Guangxi University, Nanning, China; School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Zhiheng Liao
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Guangxi University, Nanning, China; Coral Reef Research Center of China, Guangxi University, Nanning, China; School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
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Klepac CN, Barshis DJ. Reduced thermal tolerance of massive coral species in a highly variable environment. Proc Biol Sci 2020; 287:20201379. [PMID: 32811319 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2020.1379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Coral bleaching events are increasing in frequency and severity, resulting in widespread losses in coral cover. However, branching corals native to highly variable (HV) thermal environments can have higher bleaching resistance than corals from more moderate habitats. Here, we investigated the response of two massive corals, Porites lobata and Goniastrea retiformis, from a moderately variable (MV) and a low variability (LV) pool transplanted into a HV pool on Ofu Island in American Samoa. Paired transplant and native ramets were exposed to an acute thermal stress after 6 and 12 months of exposure to the HV pool to evaluate changes in thermal tolerance limits. For both species, photosynthetic efficiency and chlorophyll loss following acute heat stress did not differ between ramets transplanted into the HV pool and respective native pool. Moreover, HV native P. lobata exhibited the greatest bleaching susceptibility compared to MV and LV natives and there was no effect of acute heat stress on MV P. lobata. There was also a thermal anomaly during the study, where Ofu's backreef thermal regime surpassed historical records-2015 had 8 degree heating weeks (DHW) and 2016 had up to 5 DHW (in comparison to less than or equal to 3 over the last 10 years)-which may have exceeded the upper thermal limits of HV native P. lobata. These results strongly contrast with other research on coral tolerance in variable environments, potentially underscoring species-specific mechanisms and regional thermal anomalies that may be equally important in shaping coral responses to extreme temperatures.
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Affiliation(s)
- C N Klepac
- Department of Biology, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA 23529, USA
| | - D J Barshis
- Department of Biology, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA 23529, USA
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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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Jury CP, Toonen RJ. Adaptive responses and local stressor mitigation drive coral resilience in warmer, more acidic oceans. Proc Biol Sci 2020; 286:20190614. [PMID: 31088274 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2019.0614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Coral reefs have great biological and socioeconomic value, but are threatened by ocean acidification, climate change and local human impacts. The capacity for corals to adapt or acclimatize to novel environmental conditions is unknown but fundamental to projected reef futures. The coral reefs of Kāne'ohe Bay, Hawai'i were devastated by anthropogenic insults from the 1930s to 1970s. These reefs experience naturally reduced pH and elevated temperature relative to many other Hawaiian reefs which are not expected to face similar conditions for decades. Despite catastrophic loss in coral cover owing to human disturbance, these reefs recovered under low pH and high temperature within 20 years after sewage input was diverted. We compare the pH and temperature tolerances of three dominant Hawaiian coral species from within Kāne'ohe Bay to conspecifics from a nearby control site and show that corals from Kāne'ohe are far more resistant to acidification and warming. These results show that corals can have different pH and temperature tolerances among habitats and understanding the mechanisms by which coral cover rebounded within two decades under projected future ocean conditions will be critical to management. Together these results indicate that reducing human stressors offers hope for reef resilience and effective conservation over coming decades.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher P Jury
- Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa , Kāne'ohe, HI , USA
| | - Robert J Toonen
- Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa , Kāne'ohe, HI , USA
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Drury C. Resilience in reef-building corals: The ecological and evolutionary importance of the host response to thermal stress. Mol Ecol 2020; 29:448-465. [PMID: 31845413 DOI: 10.1111/mec.15337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2019] [Revised: 12/05/2019] [Accepted: 12/11/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Coral reefs are under extreme threat due to a number of stressors, but temperature increases due to changing climate are the most severe. Rising ocean temperatures coupled with local extremes lead to extensive bleaching, where the coral-algal symbiosis breaks down and corals may die, compromising the structure and function of reefs. Although the symbiotic nature of the coral colony has historically been a focus of research on coral resilience, the host itself is a foundational component in the response to thermal stress. Fixed effects in the coral host set trait baselines through evolutionary processes, acting on many loci of small effect to create mosaics of thermal tolerance across latitudes and individual coral reefs. These genomic differences can be strongly heritable, producing wide variation among clones of different genotypes or families of a specific larval cross. Phenotypic plasticity is overlaid on these baselines and a growing body of knowledge demonstrates the potential for acclimatization of reef-building corals through a variety of mechanisms that promote resilience and stress tolerance. The long-term persistence of coral reefs will require many of these mechanisms to adjust to warmer temperatures within a generation, bridging the gap to reproductive events that allow recombination of standing diversity and adaptive change. Business-as-usual climate scenarios will probably lead to the loss of some coral populations or species in the future, so the interaction between intragenerational effects and evolutionary pressure is critical for the survival of reefs.
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Thermal Stress and Resilience of Corals in a Climate-Changing World. JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING 2019. [DOI: 10.3390/jmse8010015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Coral reef ecosystems are under the direct threat of increasing atmospheric greenhouse gases, which increase seawater temperatures in the oceans and lead to bleaching events. Global bleaching events are becoming more frequent and stronger, and understanding how corals can tolerate and survive high-temperature stress should be accorded paramount priority. Here, we review evidence of the different mechanisms that corals employ to mitigate thermal stress, which include association with thermally tolerant endosymbionts, acclimatisation, and adaptation processes. These differences highlight the physiological diversity and complexity of symbiotic organisms, such as scleractinian corals, where each species (coral host and microbial endosymbionts) responds differently to thermal stress. We conclude by offering some insights into the future of coral reefs and examining the strategies scientists are leveraging to ensure the survival of this valuable ecosystem. Without a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and a divergence from our societal dependence on fossil fuels, natural mechanisms possessed by corals might be insufficient towards ensuring the ecological functioning of coral reef ecosystems.
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35
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Seuront L, Nicastro KR, Zardi GI, Goberville E. Decreased thermal tolerance under recurrent heat stress conditions explains summer mass mortality of the blue mussel Mytilus edulis. Sci Rep 2019; 9:17498. [PMID: 31767954 PMCID: PMC6877631 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-53580-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2019] [Accepted: 10/24/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Extreme events such as heat waves have increased in frequency and duration over the last decades. Under future climate scenarios, these discrete climatic events are expected to become even more recurrent and severe. Heat waves are particularly important on rocky intertidal shores, one of the most thermally variable and stressful habitats on the planet. Intertidal mussels, such as the blue mussel Mytilus edulis, are ecosystem engineers of global ecological and economic importance, that occasionally suffer mass mortalities. This study investigates the potential causes and consequences of a mass mortality event of M. edulis that occurred along the French coast of the eastern English Channel in summer 2018. We used an integrative, climatological and ecophysiological methodology based on three complementary approaches. We first showed that the observed mass mortality (representing 49 to 59% of the annual commercial value of local recreational and professional fisheries combined) occurred under relatively moderate heat wave conditions. This result indicates that M. edulis body temperature is controlled by non-climatic heat sources instead of climatic heat sources, as previously reported for intertidal gastropods. Using biomimetic loggers (i.e. 'robomussels'), we identified four periods of 5 to 6 consecutive days when M. edulis body temperatures consistently reached more than 30 °C, and occasionally more than 35 °C and even more than 40 °C. We subsequently reproduced these body temperature patterns in the laboratory to infer M. edulis thermal tolerance under conditions of repeated heat stress. We found that thermal tolerance consistently decreased with the number of successive daily exposures. These results are discussed in the context of an era of global change where heat events are expected to increase in intensity and frequency, especially in the eastern English Channel where the low frequency of commercially exploitable mussels already questions both their ecological and commercial sustainability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laurent Seuront
- CNRS, Univ. Lille, Univ. Littoral Côte d'Opale, UMR 8187, LOG, Laboratoire d'Océanologie et de Géosciences, F 62930, Wimereux, France.
- Department of Marine Energy and Resource, Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, 4-5-7 Konan, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 108-8477, Japan.
- Department of Zoology and Entomology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, 6140, South Africa.
| | - Katy R Nicastro
- CCMAR-Centro de Ciencias do Mar, CIMAR Laboratório Associado, Universidade do Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, Faro, 8005-139, Portugal
| | - Gerardo I Zardi
- Department of Zoology and Entomology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, 6140, South Africa
| | - Eric Goberville
- BOREA, Biologie des Organismes et des Ecosystèmes Aquatiques, UMR Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Sorbonne Université, Université de Caen Normandie, Université des Antilles, CNRS 7208, IRD 207, 43 Rue Cuvier, 75005, Paris, France
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36
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Hadjioannou L, Jimenez C, Rottier C, Sfenthourakis S, Ferrier-Pagès C. Response of the temperate scleractinian coral Cladocora caespitosa to high temperature and long-term nutrient enrichment. Sci Rep 2019; 9:14229. [PMID: 31578398 PMCID: PMC6775152 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-50716-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2019] [Accepted: 09/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Anthropogenic nutrient enrichment and increased seawater temperatures are responsible for coral reef decline. In particular, they disrupt the relationship between corals and their dinoflagellate symbionts (bleaching). However, some coral species can afford either high temperatures or nutrient enrichment and their study can bring new insights into how corals acclimate or adapt to stressors. Here, we focused on the role of the nutrient history in influencing the response of the Mediterranean scleractinian coral Cladocora caespitosa to thermal stress. Colonies living naturally in nutrient-poor (<0.5 µM nitrogen, <0.2 µM phosphorus, LN) and nutrient-rich (ca. 10–20 µM nitrogen, 0.4 µM phosphorus, HN) locations were sampled, maintained under the right nutrient conditions, and exposed to a temperature increase from 17 °C to 24 °C and 29 °C. While both HN and LN colonies decreased their concentrations of symbionts and/or photosynthetic pigments, HN colonies were able to maintain significant higher rates of net and gross photosynthesis at 24 °C compared to LN colonies. In addition, while there was no change in protein concentration in HN corals during the experiment, proteins continuously decreased in LN corals with increased temperature. These results are important in that they show that nutrient history can influence the response of scleractinian corals to thermal stress. Further investigations of under-studied coral groups are thus required in the future to understand the processes leading to coral resistance to environmental perturbations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louis Hadjioannou
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus. .,Enalia Physis Environmental Research Centre, (ENALIA), Acropoleos 2, Aglantzia 2101, Nicosia, Cyprus.
| | - Carlos Jimenez
- Enalia Physis Environmental Research Centre, (ENALIA), Acropoleos 2, Aglantzia 2101, Nicosia, Cyprus.,Energy, Environment and Water Research Centre (EEWRC) of The Cyprus Institute, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Cecile Rottier
- Marine Department, Ecophysiology team, Centre Scientifique de Monaco, Monaco, 98000, Monaco
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Schoepf V, Carrion SA, Pfeifer SM, Naugle M, Dugal L, Bruyn J, McCulloch MT. Stress-resistant corals may not acclimatize to ocean warming but maintain heat tolerance under cooler temperatures. Nat Commun 2019; 10:4031. [PMID: 31530800 PMCID: PMC6748961 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-12065-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2018] [Accepted: 08/13/2019] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Naturally heat-resistant coral populations hold significant potential for facilitating coral reef survival under rapid climate change. However, it remains poorly understood whether they can acclimatize to ocean warming when superimposed on their already thermally-extreme habitats. Furthermore, it is unknown whether they can maintain their heat tolerance upon larval dispersal or translocation to cooler reefs. We test this in a long-term mesocosm experiment using stress-resistant corals from thermally-extreme reefs in NW Australia. We show that these corals have a remarkable ability to maintain their heat tolerance and health despite acclimation to 3-6 °C cooler, more stable temperatures over 9 months. However, they are unable to increase their bleaching thresholds after 6-months acclimation to + 1 °C warming. This apparent rigidity in the thermal thresholds of even stress-resistant corals highlights the increasing vulnerability of corals to ocean warming, but provides a rationale for human-assisted migration to restore cooler, degraded reefs with corals from thermally-extreme reefs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Verena Schoepf
- Oceans Graduate School and UWA Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia.
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia.
| | - Steven A Carrion
- Oceans Graduate School and UWA Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia
- School of Geosciences, University of Edinburgh, James Hutton Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3FE, UK
| | - Svenja M Pfeifer
- Oceans Graduate School and UWA Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia
- Department of Biology, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Universitätsstrasse 1, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Melissa Naugle
- Oceans Graduate School and UWA Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - Laurence Dugal
- Oceans Graduate School and UWA Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - Jennifer Bruyn
- Oceans Graduate School and UWA Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - Malcolm T McCulloch
- Oceans Graduate School and UWA Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia
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Dias M, Ferreira A, Gouveia R, Madeira C, Jogee N, Cabral H, Diniz M, Vinagre C. Long-term exposure to increasing temperatures on scleractinian coral fragments reveals oxidative stress. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2019; 150:104758. [PMID: 31301459 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2019.104758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2019] [Revised: 05/16/2019] [Accepted: 07/07/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Global warming is leading to increases in tropical storms' frequency and intensity, allowing fragmentation of reef-forming coral species, but also to coral bleaching and mortality. The first level of organism's response to an environmental perturbation occurs at the cellular level. This study investigated the long-term oxidative stress on fragments of nine Indo-Pacific reef-forming coral species exposed for 60 days to increasing temperatures (30 °C and 32 °C) and compared results with control temperature (26 °C). Coral overall condition (appearance), lipid peroxidation (LPO), catalase activity (CAT), and glutathione S-transferase (GST) were assessed. The species Turbinaria reniformis, Galaxea fascicularis, and Psammocora contigua were the most resistant to heat stress, presenting no oxidative damage at 30 °C. Unlike G. fasciularis, both T. reniformis and P. contigua showed no evidence of oxidative damage at 32 °C. All remaining species' fragments died at 32 °C. Stylophora pistillata and Pocillopora damicornis were the most susceptible species to heat stress, not resisting at 30 °C.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Dias
- MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016, Lisboa, Portugal.
| | - Ana Ferreira
- Oceanário de Lisboa, Esplanada D. Carlos I, 1990-005, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Raúl Gouveia
- Oceanário de Lisboa, Esplanada D. Carlos I, 1990-005, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Carolina Madeira
- UCIBIO, REQUIMTE, Departamento de Química, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, 2829-516, Caparica, Portugal
| | - Nadia Jogee
- The School of Geosciences, The University of Edinburgh, The Grant Institute, James Hutton Road, King's Buildings, Edinburgh, EH9 3FE, UK
| | - Henrique Cabral
- MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016, Lisboa, Portugal; Irstea, UR EABX, 50, Avenue de Verdun, 33612, Cestas, France
| | - Mário Diniz
- UCIBIO, REQUIMTE, Departamento de Química, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, 2829-516, Caparica, Portugal
| | - Catarina Vinagre
- MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016, Lisboa, Portugal
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Cziesielski MJ, Schmidt‐Roach S, Aranda M. The past, present, and future of coral heat stress studies. Ecol Evol 2019; 9:10055-10066. [PMID: 31534713 PMCID: PMC6745681 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.5576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2018] [Revised: 07/19/2019] [Accepted: 07/23/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The global loss and degradation of coral reefs, as a result of intensified frequency and severity of bleaching events, is a major concern. Evidence of heat stress affecting corals through loss of symbionts and consequent coral bleaching was first reported in the 1930s. However, it was not until the 1998 major global bleaching event that the urgency for heat stress studies became internationally recognized. Current efforts focus not only on examining the consequences of heat stress on corals but also on finding strategies to potentially improve thermal tolerance and aid coral reefs survival in future climate scenarios. Although initial studies were limited in comparison with modern technological tools, they provided the foundation for many of today's research methods and hypotheses. Technological advancements are providing new research prospects at a rapid pace. Understanding how coral heat stress studies have evolved is important for the critical assessment of their progress. This review summarizes the development of the field to date and assesses avenues for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maha J. Cziesielski
- Red Sea Research CenterDivision of Biological and Environmental Science and EngineeringKing Abdullah University of Science and TechnologyThuwalSaudi Arabia
| | - Sebastian Schmidt‐Roach
- Red Sea Research CenterDivision of Biological and Environmental Science and EngineeringKing Abdullah University of Science and TechnologyThuwalSaudi Arabia
| | - Manuel Aranda
- Red Sea Research CenterDivision of Biological and Environmental Science and EngineeringKing Abdullah University of Science and TechnologyThuwalSaudi Arabia
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Benkwitt CE, Wilson SK, Graham NAJ. Seabird nutrient subsidies alter patterns of algal abundance and fish biomass on coral reefs following a bleaching event. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2019; 25:2619-2632. [PMID: 31157944 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.14643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2018] [Revised: 04/02/2019] [Accepted: 04/02/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Cross-ecosystem nutrient subsidies play a key role in the structure and dynamics of recipient communities, but human activities are disrupting these links. Because nutrient subsidies may also enhance community stability, the effects of losing these inputs may be exacerbated in the face of increasing climate-related disturbances. Nutrients from seabirds nesting on oceanic islands enhance the productivity and functioning of adjacent coral reefs, but it is unknown whether these subsidies affect the response of coral reefs to mass bleaching events or whether the benefits of these nutrients persist following bleaching. To answer these questions, we surveyed benthic organisms and fishes around islands with seabirds and nearby islands without seabirds due to the presence of invasive rats. Surveys were conducted in the Chagos Archipelago, Indian Ocean, immediately before the 2015-2016 mass bleaching event and, in 2018, two years following the bleaching event. Regardless of the presence of seabirds, relative coral cover declined by 32%. However, there was a post-bleaching shift in benthic community structure around islands with seabirds, which did not occur around islands with invasive rats, characterized by increases in two types of calcareous algae (crustose coralline algae [CCA] and Halimeda spp.). All feeding groups of fishes were positively affected by seabirds, but only herbivores and piscivores were unaffected by the bleaching event and sustained the greatest difference in biomass between islands with seabirds versus those with invasive rats. By contrast, corallivores and planktivores, both of which are coral-dependent, experienced the greatest losses following bleaching. Even though seabird nutrients did not enhance community-wide resistance to bleaching, they may still promote recovery of these reefs through their positive influence on CCA and herbivorous fishes. More broadly, the maintenance of nutrient subsidies, via strategies including eradication of invasive predators, may be important in shaping the response of ecological communities to global climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Shaun K Wilson
- Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
- Oceans Institute, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia
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Ye S, Badhiwala KN, Robinson JT, Cho WH, Siemann E. Thermal plasticity of a freshwater cnidarian holobiont: detection of trans-generational effects in asexually reproducing hosts and symbionts. THE ISME JOURNAL 2019; 13:2058-2067. [PMID: 31015561 PMCID: PMC6775974 DOI: 10.1038/s41396-019-0413-0] [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: 12/10/2018] [Revised: 02/16/2019] [Accepted: 03/15/2019] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Understanding factors affecting the susceptibility of organisms to thermal stress is of enormous interest in light of our rapidly changing climate. When adaptation is limited, thermal acclimation and deacclimation abilities of organisms are critical for population persistence through a period of thermal stress. Holobionts (hosts plus associated symbionts) are key components of various ecosystems, such as coral reefs, yet the contributions of their two partners to holobiont thermal plasticity are poorly understood. Here, we tested thermal plasticity of the freshwater cnidarian Hydra viridissima (green hydra) using individual behavior and population responses. We found that algal presence initially reduced hydra thermal tolerance. Hydra with algae (symbiotic hydra) had comparable acclimation rates, deacclimation rates, and thermal tolerance after acclimation to those without algae (aposymbiotic hydra) but they had higher acclimation capacity. Acclimation of the host (hydra) and/or symbiont (algae) to elevated temperatures increased holobiont thermal tolerance and these effects persisted for multiple asexual generations. In addition, acclimated algae presence enhanced hydra fitness under prolonged sublethal thermal stress, especially when food was limited. Our study indicates while less intense but sublethal stress may favor symbiotic organisms by allowing them to acclimate, sudden large, potentially lethal fluctuations in climate stress likely favor aposymbiotic organisms. It also suggests that thermally stressed colonies of holobionts could disperse acclimated hosts and/or symbionts to other colonies, thereby reducing their vulnerability to climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siao Ye
- Department of Biosciences, Rice University, Houston, TX, 77005, USA.
| | | | - Jacob T Robinson
- Bioengineering Department, Rice University, Houston, TX, 77005, USA
- Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, Rice University, Houston, TX, 77005, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Won Hee Cho
- Department of Biosciences, Rice University, Houston, TX, 77005, USA
| | - Evan Siemann
- Department of Biosciences, Rice University, Houston, TX, 77005, USA
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Thomas L, López EH, Morikawa MK, Palumbi SR. Transcriptomic resilience, symbiont shuffling, and vulnerability to recurrent bleaching in reef‐building corals. Mol Ecol 2019; 28:3371-3382. [DOI: 10.1111/mec.15143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2019] [Revised: 05/14/2019] [Accepted: 06/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Luke Thomas
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Indian Ocean Marine Research Centre Perth WA Australia
- Oceans Graduate School The UWA Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia Perth WA Australia
- Biology Department, Hopkins Marine Station Stanford University Stanford CA USA
| | - Elora H. López
- Biology Department, Hopkins Marine Station Stanford University Stanford CA USA
| | - Megan K. Morikawa
- Biology Department, Hopkins Marine Station Stanford University Stanford CA USA
| | - Stephen R. Palumbi
- Biology Department, Hopkins Marine Station Stanford University Stanford CA USA
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Using naturally occurring climate resilient corals to construct bleaching-resistant nurseries. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2019; 116:10586-10591. [PMID: 31061118 PMCID: PMC6535031 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1721415116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Coral reefs are threatened by global bleaching, spurring a need to improve upon reef restoration practices. Yet the strong capacity for corals and their symbionts to acclimatize to their local environment has brought into question whether or not corals that are temperature tolerant in one setting will lose that tolerance elsewhere. We show that variation in bleaching resilience among intraspecific colonies is maintained in novel environments for four species, and can be used to construct bleaching-resistant coral nurseries for restoration. By focusing on the host genotype and symbiont genus and its importance in stock selection, we demonstrate a path forward for reef restoration in the face of climate change. Ecological restoration of forests, meadows, reefs, or other foundational ecosystems during climate change depends on the discovery and use of individuals able to withstand future conditions. For coral reefs, climate-tolerant corals might not remain tolerant in different environments because of widespread environmental adjustment of coral physiology and symbionts. Here, we test if parent corals retain their heat tolerance in nursery settings, if simple proxies predict successful colonies, and if heat-tolerant corals suffer lower growth or survival in normal settings. Before the 2015 natural bleaching event in American Samoa, we set out 800 coral fragments from 80 colonies of four species selected by prior tests to have a range of intraspecific natural heat tolerance. After the event, nursery stock from heat-tolerant parents showed two to three times less bleaching across species than nursery stock from less tolerant parents. They also retained higher individual genetic diversity through the bleaching event than did less heat-tolerant corals. The three best proxies for thermal tolerance were response to experimental heat stress, location on the reef, and thermal microclimate. Molecular biomarkers were also predictive but were highly species specific. Colony genotype and symbiont genus played a similarly strong role in predicting bleaching. Combined, our results show that selecting for host and symbiont resilience produced a multispecies coral nursery that withstood multiple bleaching events, that proxies for thermal tolerance in restoration can work across species and be inexpensive, and that different coral clones within species reacted very differently to bleaching.
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Morris LA, Voolstra CR, Quigley KM, Bourne DG, Bay LK. Nutrient Availability and Metabolism Affect the Stability of Coral-Symbiodiniaceae Symbioses. Trends Microbiol 2019; 27:678-689. [PMID: 30987816 DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2019.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 125] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2018] [Revised: 02/28/2019] [Accepted: 03/13/2019] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Coral reefs rely upon the highly optimized coral-Symbiodiniaceae symbiosis, making them sensitive to environmental change and susceptible to anthropogenic stress. Coral bleaching is predominantly attributed to photo-oxidative stress, yet nutrient availability and metabolism underpin the stability of symbioses. Recent studies link symbiont proliferation under nutrient enrichment to bleaching; however, the interactions between nutrients and symbiotic stability are nuanced. Here, we demonstrate how bleaching is regulated by the forms and ratios of available nutrients and their impacts on autotrophic carbon metabolism, rather than algal symbiont growth. By extension, historical nutrient conditions mediate host-symbiont compatibility and bleaching tolerance over proximate and evolutionary timescales. Renewed investigations into the coral nutrient metabolism will be required to truly elucidate the cellular mechanisms leading to coral bleaching.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luke A Morris
- AIMS@JCU, Australian Institute of Marine Science, College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia; Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Australia; College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia. https://twitter.com/ReefLuke
| | - Christian R Voolstra
- Red Sea Research Center, Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia. https://twitter.com/reefgenomics
| | - Kate M Quigley
- AIMS@JCU, Australian Institute of Marine Science, College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia; Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Australia. https://twitter.com/la__cientifica
| | - David G Bourne
- AIMS@JCU, Australian Institute of Marine Science, College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia; Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Australia; College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia
| | - Line K Bay
- AIMS@JCU, Australian Institute of Marine Science, College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia; Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Australia.
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45
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Chan WY, Peplow LM, van Oppen MJH. Interspecific gamete compatibility and hybrid larval fitness in reef-building corals: Implications for coral reef restoration. Sci Rep 2019; 9:4757. [PMID: 30894593 PMCID: PMC6426996 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-41190-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2017] [Accepted: 02/28/2019] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Climate warming is a major cause of the global decline of coral reefs. Active reef restoration, although still in its infancy, is one of several possible ways to help restore coral cover and reef ecosystem function. The deployment of mature coral larvae onto depauperate reef substratum has been shown to significantly increase larval recruitment, providing a novel option for the delivery of ex situ bred coral stock to the reef for restoration purposes. The success of such reef restoration approaches may be improved by the use of coral larval stock augmented for climate resilience. Here we explore whether coral climate resilience can be enhanced via interspecific hybridization through hybrid vigour. Firstly, we assessed cross-fertility of four pairs of Acropora species from the Great Barrier Reef. Temporal isolation in gamete release between the Acropora species was limited, but gametic incompatibility was present with varying strength between species pairs and depending on the direction of the hybrid crosses. We subsequently examined the fitness of hybrid and purebred larvae under heat stress by comparing their survival and settlement success throughout 10 days of exposure to 28 °C, 29.5 °C and 31 °C. Fitness of the majority of Acropora hybrid larvae was similar to that of the purebred larvae of both parental species, and in some instances it was higher than that of the purebred larvae of one of the parental species. Lower hybrid fertilization success did not affect larval fitness. These findings indicate that high hybrid fitness can be achieved after overcoming partial prezygotic barriers, and that interspecific hybridization may be a tool to enhance coral recruitment and climate resilience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wing Yan Chan
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville MC, QLD, 4810, Australia.
- School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, VIC, 3010, Australia.
| | - Lesa M Peplow
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville MC, QLD, 4810, Australia
| | - Madeleine J H van Oppen
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville MC, QLD, 4810, Australia
- School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, VIC, 3010, Australia
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46
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Donner SD, Carilli J. Resilience of Central Pacific reefs subject to frequent heat stress and human disturbance. Sci Rep 2019; 9:3484. [PMID: 30837608 PMCID: PMC6401028 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-40150-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2018] [Accepted: 02/06/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Frequent occurrences of coral bleaching and associated coral mortality over recent decades have raised concerns about the survival of coral reefs in a warming planet. The El Niño-influenced coral reefs in the central Gilbert Islands of the Republic of Kiribati, which experience years with prolonged heat stress more frequently than 99% of the world's reefs, may serve as a natural model for coral community response to frequent heat stress. Here we use nine years of survey data (2004-2012) and a suite of remote sensing variables from sites along gradients of climate variability and human disturbance in the region to evaluate the drivers of coral community response to, and recovery from, multiple heat stress events. The results indicate that the extent of bleaching was limited during the 2009-2010 El Niño event, in contrast to a similar 2004-2005 event, and was correlated with incoming light and historical temperature variability, rather than heat stress. Spatial and temporal patterns in benthic cover suggest growing resistance to bleaching-level heat stress among coral communities subject to high inter-annual temperature variability and local disturbance, due to the spread of "weedy" and temperature-tolerant species (e.g., Porites rus) and the cloudy conditions in the region during El Niño events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon D Donner
- Department of Geography, 1984 West Mall University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6T 1Z2, Canada.
| | - Jessica Carilli
- Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organization, New Illawarra Rd, Lucas Heights, NSW, 2234, Australia
- Energy and Environmental Sciences, Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Pacific, 53475 Strothe Rd, San Diego, CA, 92152, USA
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47
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Live cell analysis at sea reveals divergent thermal performance between photosynthetic ocean microbial eukaryote populations. ISME JOURNAL 2019; 13:1374-1378. [PMID: 30705412 DOI: 10.1038/s41396-019-0355-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2018] [Revised: 12/31/2018] [Accepted: 01/14/2019] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Experimentation at sea provides insight into which traits of ocean microbes are linked to performance in situ. Here we show distinct patterns in thermal tolerance of microbial phototrophs from adjacent water masses sampled in the south-west Pacific Ocean, determined using a fluorescent marker for reactive oxygen species (ROS). ROS content of pico-eukaryotes was assessed after 1, 5 and 25 h of incubation along a temperature gradient (15.6-32.1 °C). Pico-eukaryotes from the East Australian Current (EAC) had relatively constant ROS and showed greatest mortality after 25 h at 7 °C below ambient, whereas those from the Tasman Sea had elevated ROS in both warm and cool temperature extremes and greatest mortality at temperatures 6-10 °C above ambient, interpreted as the outcome of thermal stress. Tracking of water masses within an oceanographic circulation model showed populations had distinct thermal histories, with EAC pico-eukaryotes experiencing higher average temperatures for at least 1 week prior to sampling. While acclimatization and community assembly could both influence biological responses, this study clearly demonstrates that phenotypic divergence occurs along planktonic drift trajectories.
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48
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Kirk NL, Howells EJ, Abrego D, Burt JA, Meyer E. Genomic and transcriptomic signals of thermal tolerance in heat‐tolerant corals (
Platygyra daedalea
) of the Arabian/Persian Gulf. Mol Ecol 2018; 27:5180-5194. [DOI: 10.1111/mec.14934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2018] [Revised: 10/13/2018] [Accepted: 10/15/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Nathan L. Kirk
- Department of Integrative BiologyOregon State University Corvallis Oregon
| | - Emily J. Howells
- Center for Genomics and Systems BiologyNew York University Abu Dhabi Abu Dhabi UAE
| | - David Abrego
- Department of Natural Science and Public HealthZayed University Abu Dhabi UAE
| | - John A. Burt
- Center for Genomics and Systems BiologyNew York University Abu Dhabi Abu Dhabi UAE
| | - Eli Meyer
- Department of Integrative BiologyOregon State University Corvallis Oregon
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Schoepf V, Jury CP, Toonen RJ, McCulloch MT. Coral calcification mechanisms facilitate adaptive responses to ocean acidification. Proc Biol Sci 2018; 284:rspb.2017.2117. [PMID: 29212728 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2017.2117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2017] [Accepted: 11/02/2017] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Ocean acidification (OA) is a pressing threat to reef-building corals, but it remains poorly understood how coral calcification is inhibited by OA and whether corals could acclimatize and/or adapt to OA. Using a novel geochemical approach, we reconstructed the carbonate chemistry of the calcifying fluid in two coral species using both a pH and dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) proxy (δ11B and B/Ca, respectively). To address the potential for adaptive responses, both species were collected from two sites spanning a natural gradient in seawater pH and temperature, and then subjected to three pHT levels (8.04, 7.88, 7.71) crossed by two temperatures (control, +1.5°C) for 14 weeks. Corals from the site with naturally lower seawater pH calcified faster and maintained growth better under simulated OA than corals from the higher-pH site. This ability was consistently linked to higher pH yet lower DIC values in the calcifying fluid, suggesting that these differences are the result of long-term acclimatization and/or local adaptation to naturally lower seawater pH. Nevertheless, all corals elevated both pH and DIC significantly over seawater values, even under OA. This implies that high pH upregulation combined with moderate levels of DIC upregulation promote resistance and adaptive responses of coral calcification to OA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Verena Schoepf
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, School of Earth Sciences and UWA Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Christopher P Jury
- Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Kāne'ohe, HI, USA
| | - Robert J Toonen
- Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Kāne'ohe, HI, USA
| | - Malcolm T McCulloch
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, School of Earth Sciences and UWA Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
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50
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Harvey BJ, Nash KL, Blanchard JL, Edwards DP. Ecosystem-based management of coral reefs under climate change. Ecol Evol 2018; 8:6354-6368. [PMID: 29988420 PMCID: PMC6024134 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.4146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2017] [Revised: 03/06/2018] [Accepted: 03/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Coral reefs provide food and livelihoods for hundreds of millions of people as well as harbour some of the highest regions of biodiversity in the ocean. However, overexploitation, land-use change and other local anthropogenic threats to coral reefs have left many degraded. Additionally, coral reefs are faced with the dual emerging threats of ocean warming and acidification due to rising CO 2 emissions, with dire predictions that they will not survive the century. This review evaluates the impacts of climate change on coral reef organisms, communities and ecosystems, focusing on the interactions between climate change factors and local anthropogenic stressors. It then explores the shortcomings of existing management and the move towards ecosystem-based management and resilience thinking, before highlighting the need for climate change-ready marine protected areas (MPAs), reduction in local anthropogenic stressors, novel approaches such as human-assisted evolution and the importance of sustainable socialecological systems. It concludes that designation of climate change-ready MPAs, integrated with other management strategies involving stakeholders and participation at multiple scales such as marine spatial planning, will be required to maximise coral reef resilience under climate change. However, efforts to reduce carbon emissions are critical if the long-term efficacy of local management actions is to be maintained and coral reefs are to survive.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bethany J. Harvey
- Department of Animal and Plant SciencesUniversity of SheffieldSheffieldUK
| | - Kirsty L. Nash
- Centre for Marine SocioecologyHobartTASAustralia
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic StudiesUniversity of TasmaniaHobartTASAustralia
| | - Julia L. Blanchard
- Centre for Marine SocioecologyHobartTASAustralia
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic StudiesUniversity of TasmaniaHobartTASAustralia
| | - David P. Edwards
- Department of Animal and Plant SciencesUniversity of SheffieldSheffieldUK
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