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Shantz AA, Ladd MC, Ezzat L, Schmitt RJ, Holbrook SJ, Schmeltzer E, Vega Thurber R, Burkepile DE. Positive interactions between corals and damselfish increase coral resistance to temperature stress. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2023; 29:417-431. [PMID: 36315059 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.16480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2022] [Revised: 08/12/2022] [Accepted: 09/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
By the century's end, many tropical seas will reach temperatures exceeding most coral species' thermal tolerance on an annual basis. The persistence of corals in these regions will, therefore, depend on their abilities to tolerate recurrent thermal stress. Although ecologists have long recognized that positive interspecific interactions can ameliorate environmental stress to expand the realized niche of plants and animals, coral bleaching studies have largely overlooked how interactions with community members outside of the coral holobiont shape the bleaching response. Here, we subjected a common coral, Pocillopora grandis, to 10 days of thermal stress in aquaria with and without the damselfish Dascyllus flavicaudus (yellowtail dascyllus), which commonly shelter within these corals, to examine how interactions with damselfish impacted coral thermal tolerance. Corals often benefit from nutrients excreted by animals they interact with and prior to thermal stress, corals grown with damselfish showed improved photophysiology (Fv /Fm ) and developed larger endosymbiont populations. When exposed to thermal stress, corals with fish performed as well as control corals maintained at ambient temperatures without fish. In contrast, corals exposed to thermal stress without fish experienced photophysiological impairment, a more than 50% decline in endosymbiont density, and a 36% decrease in tissue protein content. At the end of the experiment, thermal stress caused average calcification rates to decrease by over 80% when damselfish were absent but increase nearly 25% when damselfish were present. Our study indicates that damselfish-derived nutrients can increase coral thermal tolerance and are consistent with the Stress Gradient Hypothesis, which predicts that positive interactions become increasingly important for structuring communities as environmental stress increases. Because warming of just a few degrees can exceed corals' temperature tolerance to trigger bleaching and mortality, positive interactions could play a critical role in maintaining some coral species in warming regions until climate change is aggressively addressed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew A Shantz
- Florida State University Coastal and Marine Laboratory, St. Teresa, Florida, USA
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California, USA
| | - Mark C Ladd
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California, USA
- NOAA-National Marine Fisheries Service, Southeast Fisheries Science Center, Key Biscayne, Florida, USA
| | - Leila Ezzat
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California, USA
- School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Russell J Schmitt
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California, USA
- Marine Science Institute, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California, USA
| | - Sally J Holbrook
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California, USA
- Marine Science Institute, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California, USA
| | - Emily Schmeltzer
- Department of Microbiology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, USA
| | | | - Deron E Burkepile
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California, USA
- Marine Science Institute, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California, USA
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2
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Detmer AR, Cunning R, Pfab F, Brown AL, Stier AC, Nisbet RM, Moeller HV. Fertilization by coral-dwelling fish promotes coral growth but can exacerbate bleaching response. J Theor Biol 2022; 541:111087. [PMID: 35276225 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtbi.2022.111087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Revised: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/02/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Many corals form close associations with a diverse assortment of coral-dwelling fishes and other fauna. As coral reefs around the world are increasingly threatened by mass bleaching events, it is important to understand how these biotic interactions influence corals' susceptibility to bleaching. We used dynamic energy budget modeling to explore how nitrogen excreted by coral-dwelling fish affects the physiological performance of host corals. In our model, fish presence influenced the functioning of the coral-Symbiodiniaceae symbiosis by altering nitrogen availability, and the magnitude and sign of these effects depended on environmental conditions. Although our model predicted that fish-derived nitrogen can promote coral growth, the relationship between fish presence and coral tolerance of photo-oxidative stress was non-linear. Fish excretions supported denser symbiont populations that provided protection from incident light through self-shading. However, these symbionts also used more of their photosynthetic products for their own growth, rather than sharing with the coral host, putting the coral holobiont at a higher risk of becoming carbon-limited and bleaching. The balance between the benefits of increased symbiont shading and costs of reduced carbon sharing depended on environmental conditions. Thus, while there were some scenarios under which fish presence increased corals' tolerance of light stress, fish could also exacerbate bleaching and slow or prevent subsequent recovery. We discuss how the contrast between the potentially harmful effects of fish predicted by our model and results of empirical studies may relate to key model assumptions that warrant further investigation. Overall, this study provides a foundation for future work on how coral-associated fauna influence the bioenergetics of their host corals, which in turn has implications for how these corals respond to bleaching-inducing stressors.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Raine Detmer
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA.
| | - Ross Cunning
- Daniel P. Haerther Center for Conservation and Research, John G. Shedd Aquarium Chicago, IL 60605, USA
| | - Ferdinand Pfab
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA
| | - Alexandra L Brown
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA
| | - Adrian C Stier
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA
| | - Roger M Nisbet
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA
| | - Holly V Moeller
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA
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3
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Almaida-Pagan PF, Lucas-Sanchez A, Martinez-Nicolas A, Terzibasi E, de Lama MAR, Cellerino A, Mendiola P, de Costa J. Membrane lipids and maximum lifespan in clownfish. FISH PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY 2022; 48:53-65. [PMID: 34862943 PMCID: PMC8844168 DOI: 10.1007/s10695-021-01037-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2021] [Accepted: 11/18/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The longevity-homeoviscous adaptation (LHA) theory of ageing states that lipid composition of cell membranes is linked to metabolic rate and lifespan, which has been widely shown in mammals and birds but not sufficiently in fish. In this study, two species of the genus Amphiprion (Amphiprion percula and Amphiprion clarkii, with estimated maximum lifespan potentials [MLSP] of 30 and 9-16 years, respectively) and the damselfish Chromis viridis (estimated MLSP of 1-2 years) were chosen to test the LHA theory of ageing in a potential model of exceptional longevity. Brain, livers and samples of skeletal muscle were collected for lipid analyses and integral part in the computation of membrane peroxidation indexes (PIn) from phospholipid (PL) fractions and PL fatty acid composition. When only the two Amphiprion species were compared, results pointed to the existence of a negative correlation between membrane PIn value and maximum lifespan, well in line with the predictions from the LHA theory of ageing. Nevertheless, contradictory data were obtained when the two Amphiprion species were compared to the shorter-lived C. viridis. These results along with those obtained in previous studies on fish denote that the magnitude (and sometimes the direction) of the differences observed in membrane lipid composition and peroxidation index with MLSP cannot explain alone the diversity in longevity found among fishes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro F Almaida-Pagan
- Chronobiology Lab, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Murcia, Mare Nostrum Campus, IUIE, IMIB-Arrixaca, 30100, Murcia, Spain.
- Ciber Fragilidad y Envejecimiento Saludable (CIBERFES), Madrid, Spain.
| | - Alejandro Lucas-Sanchez
- Chronobiology Lab, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Murcia, Mare Nostrum Campus, IUIE, IMIB-Arrixaca, 30100, Murcia, Spain
- Ciber Fragilidad y Envejecimiento Saludable (CIBERFES), Madrid, Spain
| | - Antonio Martinez-Nicolas
- Chronobiology Lab, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Murcia, Mare Nostrum Campus, IUIE, IMIB-Arrixaca, 30100, Murcia, Spain
- Ciber Fragilidad y Envejecimiento Saludable (CIBERFES), Madrid, Spain
| | - Eva Terzibasi
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Naples, Campania, Italy
| | - Maria Angeles Rol de Lama
- Chronobiology Lab, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Murcia, Mare Nostrum Campus, IUIE, IMIB-Arrixaca, 30100, Murcia, Spain
- Ciber Fragilidad y Envejecimiento Saludable (CIBERFES), Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Pilar Mendiola
- Chronobiology Lab, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Murcia, Mare Nostrum Campus, IUIE, IMIB-Arrixaca, 30100, Murcia, Spain
- Ciber Fragilidad y Envejecimiento Saludable (CIBERFES), Madrid, Spain
| | - Jorge de Costa
- Chronobiology Lab, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Murcia, Mare Nostrum Campus, IUIE, IMIB-Arrixaca, 30100, Murcia, Spain
- Ciber Fragilidad y Envejecimiento Saludable (CIBERFES), Madrid, Spain
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Ferreira CM, Connell SD, Goldenberg SU, Nagelkerken I. Positive species interactions strengthen in a high-CO 2 ocean. Proc Biol Sci 2021; 288:20210475. [PMID: 34229493 PMCID: PMC8261209 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2021.0475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2021] [Accepted: 06/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Negative interactions among species are a major force shaping natural communities and are predicted to strengthen as climate change intensifies. Similarly, positive interactions are anticipated to intensify and could buffer the consequences of climate-driven disturbances. We used in situ experiments at volcanic CO2 vents within a temperate rocky reef to show that ocean acidification can drive community reorganization through indirect and direct positive pathways. A keystone species, the algal-farming damselfish Parma alboscapularis, enhanced primary productivity through its weeding of algae whose productivity was also boosted by elevated CO2. The accelerated primary productivity was associated with increased densities of primary consumers (herbivorous invertebrates), which indirectly supported increased secondary consumers densities (predatory fish) (i.e. strengthening of bottom-up fuelling). However, this keystone species also reduced predatory fish densities through behavioural interference, releasing invertebrate prey from predation pressure and enabling a further boost in prey densities (i.e. weakening of top-down control). We uncover a novel mechanism where a keystone herbivore mediates bottom-up and top-down processes simultaneously to boost populations of a coexisting herbivore, resulting in altered food web interactions and predator populations under future ocean acidification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camilo M. Ferreira
- Southern Seas Ecology Laboratories, School of Biological Sciences and the Environment Institute, University of Adelaide, DX 650 418, Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia
| | - Sean D. Connell
- Southern Seas Ecology Laboratories, School of Biological Sciences and the Environment Institute, University of Adelaide, DX 650 418, Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia
| | - Silvan U. Goldenberg
- Southern Seas Ecology Laboratories, School of Biological Sciences and the Environment Institute, University of Adelaide, DX 650 418, Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia
| | - Ivan Nagelkerken
- Southern Seas Ecology Laboratories, School of Biological Sciences and the Environment Institute, University of Adelaide, DX 650 418, Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia
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Chaves LDCT, Feitosa JLL, Xavier TF, Ferreira BP, Ferreira CEL. Drivers of damselfishes distribution patterns in the southwestern Atlantic: tropical and subtropical reefs compared. NEOTROPICAL ICHTHYOLOGY 2021. [DOI: 10.1590/1982-0224-2021-0010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Abstract Damselfishes are known keystone species of reef environments, however large-scale distribution patterns are poorly studied in the southwestern Atlantic. We evaluated main drivers of distribution of three conspicuous damselfishes, along tropical and subtropical coastal systems, in Brazil. Abundances were assessed against wave exposure, depth (within 1–7 m in tropical and 1–11 m in subtropical reefs) and benthic cover. Despite differences between systems, exposure and depth consistently explained damselfishes distribution. Stegastes fuscus, the larger damselfish species of the genus in the southwestern Atlantic, was dominant in both systems, inhabiting preferably shallow and sheltered reefs. Conversely, Stegastes variabilis occupied shallow habitats with higher exposure. Stegastes pictus was absent from tropical reefs sampled, inhabiting depths >7 m, in subtropical reefs. Species were weakly associated with benthic features, which poorly predicted changes in abundances. Regardless, S. fuscus showed association with articulated calcareous algae, and S. variabilis juveniles associated with erect macroalgae. Despite occurring in very distinctive reef systems, Brazilian damsels habitat requirements are consistent in both tropical and subtropical reefs. While highly persistent species, long term monitoring will inform us how they respond to pervasive global changes and human impacts along Brazilian reefs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - João L. L. Feitosa
- Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Brazil; Tropical Conservation Consortium, USA
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Malul D, Holzman R, Shavit U. Coral tentacle elasticity promotes an out-of-phase motion that improves mass transfer. Proc Biol Sci 2020; 287:20200180. [PMID: 32576109 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2020.0180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Corals rely almost exclusively on the ambient flow of water to support their respiration, photosynthesis, prey capture, heat exchange and reproduction. Coral tentacles extend to the flow, interact with it and oscillate under the influence of waves. Such oscillating motions of flexible appendages are considered adaptive for reducing the drag force on flexible animals in wave-swept environments, but their significance under slower flows is unclear. Using in situ and laboratory measurements of the motion of coral tentacles under wave-induced flow, we investigated the dynamics of the tentacle motion and its impact on mass transfer. We found that tentacle velocity preceded the water velocity by approximately one-quarter of a period. This out-of-phase behaviour enhanced mass transfer at the tentacle tip by up to 25% as compared with an in-phase motion. The enhancement was most pronounced under flows slower than 3.2 cm s-1, which are prevalent in many coral-reef environments. We found that the out-of-phase motion results from the tentacles' elasticity, which can presumably be modified by the animal. Our results suggest that the mechanical properties of coral tentacles may represent an adaptive advantage that improves mass transfer under the limiting conditions of slow ambient flows. Because the mechanism we describe operates by enhancing convective processes, it is expected to enhance other fitness-determining transport phenomena such as heat exchange and particle capture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dror Malul
- Civil and Environmental Engineering, Technion IIT, Haifa 32000, Israel.,The Inter-University Institute for Marine Sciences, POB 469, Eilat 88103, Israel
| | - Roi Holzman
- The Inter-University Institute for Marine Sciences, POB 469, Eilat 88103, Israel.,School of Zoology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Uri Shavit
- Civil and Environmental Engineering, Technion IIT, Haifa 32000, Israel
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Chase TJ, Pratchett MS, McWilliam MJ, Hein MY, Tebbett SB, Hoogenboom MO. Damselfishes alleviate the impacts of sediments on host corals. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2020; 7:192074. [PMID: 32431885 PMCID: PMC7211878 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.192074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2019] [Accepted: 02/24/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Mutualisms play a critical role in ecological communities; however, the importance and prevalence of mutualistic associations can be modified by external stressors. On coral reefs, elevated sediment deposition can be a major stressor reducing the health of corals and reef resilience. Here, we investigated the influence of severe sedimentation on the mutualistic relationship between small damselfishes (Pomacentrus moluccensis and Dascyllus aruanus) and their coral host (Pocillopora damicornis). In an aquarium experiment, corals were exposed to sedimentation rates of approximately 100 mg cm-2 d-1, with and without fishes present, to test whether: (i) fishes influence the accumulation of sediments on coral hosts, and (ii) fishes moderate partial colony mortality and/or coral tissue condition. Colonies with fishes accumulated much less sediment compared with colonies without fishes, and this effect was strongest for colonies with D. aruanus (fivefold less sediment than controls) as opposed to P. moluccensis (twofold less sediment than controls). Colonies with symbiont fishes also had up to 10-fold less sediment-induced partial mortality, as well as higher chlorophyll and protein concentrations. These results demonstrate that fish mutualisms vary in the strength of their benefits, and indicate that some mutualistic or facilitative interactions might become more important for species health and resilience at high-stress levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- T. J. Chase
- Marine Biology and Aquaculture Group, College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, 4811, Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia
| | - M. S. Pratchett
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia
| | - M. J. McWilliam
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia
- Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawai'i at Manoa, Kaneohe, HI, 96744, USA
| | - M. Y. Hein
- Marine Biology and Aquaculture Group, College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, 4811, Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia
| | - S. B. Tebbett
- Marine Biology and Aquaculture Group, College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, 4811, Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia
| | - M. O. Hoogenboom
- Marine Biology and Aquaculture Group, College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, 4811, Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia
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Martinez-Outschoorn UE, Bartrons M, Bartrons R. Editorial: Cancer Ecosystems. Front Oncol 2019; 9:718. [PMID: 31482062 PMCID: PMC6710358 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2019.00718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2019] [Accepted: 07/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Ubaldo E Martinez-Outschoorn
- Department of Medical Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Mireia Bartrons
- Aquatic Ecology Group, University of Vic - Central University of Catalonia, Vic, Spain
| | - Ramon Bartrons
- Unitat de Bioquímica, Departament de Ciències Fisiològiques, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
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Sahm A, Almaida-Pagán P, Bens M, Mutalipassi M, Lucas-Sánchez A, de Costa Ruiz J, Görlach M, Cellerino A. Analysis of the coding sequences of clownfish reveals molecular convergence in the evolution of lifespan. BMC Evol Biol 2019; 19:89. [PMID: 30975078 PMCID: PMC6460853 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-019-1409-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2018] [Accepted: 03/10/2019] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Standard evolutionary theories of aging postulate that reduced extrinsic mortality leads to evolution of longevity. Clownfishes of the genus Amphiprion live in a symbiotic relationship with sea anemones that provide protection from predators. We performed a survey and identified at least two species with a lifespan of over 20 years. Given their small size and ease of captive reproduction, clownfish lend themselves as experimental models of exceptional longevity. To identify genetic correlates of exceptional longevity, we sequenced the transcriptomes of Amphiprion percula and A. clarkii and performed a scan for positively-selected genes (PSGs). Results The PSGs that we identified in the last common clownfish ancestor were compared with PSGs detected in long-lived mole rats and short-lived killifishes revealing convergent evolution in processes such as mitochondrial biogenesis. Among individual genes, the Mitochondrial Transcription Termination Factor 1 (MTERF1), was positively-selected in all three clades, whereas the Glutathione S-Transferase Kappa 1 (GSTK1) was under positive selection in two independent clades. For the latter, homology modelling strongly suggested that positive selection targeted enzymatically important residues. Conclusions These results indicate that specific pathways were recruited in independent lineages evolving an exceptionally extended or shortened lifespan and point to mito-nuclear balance as a key factor. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12862-019-1409-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arne Sahm
- Leibniz Institute on Aging, Fritz Lipmann Institute, Jena, Germany
| | | | - Martin Bens
- Leibniz Institute on Aging, Fritz Lipmann Institute, Jena, Germany
| | | | | | | | - Matthias Görlach
- Leibniz Institute on Aging, Fritz Lipmann Institute, Jena, Germany
| | - Alessandro Cellerino
- Leibniz Institute on Aging, Fritz Lipmann Institute, Jena, Germany. .,Bio@SNS, Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa, Italy.
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Chase TJ, Pratchett MS, Frank GE, Hoogenboom MO. Coral-dwelling fish moderate bleaching susceptibility of coral hosts. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0208545. [PMID: 30550591 PMCID: PMC6294555 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0208545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2018] [Accepted: 11/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Global environmental change has the potential to disrupt well established species interactions, with impacts on nutrient cycling and ecosystem function. On coral reefs, fish living within the branches of coral colonies can promote coral performance, and it has been hypothesized that the enhanced water flow and nutrients provided by fish to corals could ameliorate coral bleaching. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of small, aggregating damselfish on the health of their host corals (physiology, recovery, and survival) before, during, and after a thermal-bleaching event. When comparing coral colonies with and without fish, those with resident fish exhibited higher Symbiodinium densities and chlorophyll in both field and experimentally-induced bleaching conditions, and higher protein concentrations in field colonies. Additionally, colonies with damselfish in aquaria exhibited both higher photosynthetic efficiency (FV/FM) during bleaching stress and post-bleaching recovery, compared to uninhabited colonies. These results demonstrate that symbiotic damselfishes, and the services they provide, translate into measureable impacts on coral tissue, and can influence coral bleaching susceptibility/resilience and recovery. By mediating how external abiotic stressors influence coral colony health, damselfish can affect the functional responses of these interspecific interactions in a warming ocean.
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Affiliation(s)
- T. J. Chase
- Marine Biology and Aquaculture, College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville QLD, Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville QLD, Australia
- * E-mail:
| | - M. S. Pratchett
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville QLD, Australia
| | - G. E. Frank
- Marine Biology and Aquaculture, College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville QLD, Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville QLD, Australia
| | - M. O. Hoogenboom
- Marine Biology and Aquaculture, College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville QLD, Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville QLD, Australia
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11
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Knight K. Damselfish are coral fans. J Exp Biol 2017. [DOI: 10.1242/jeb.161760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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