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Coffroth MA, Buccella LA, Eaton KM, Lasker HR, Gooding AT, Franklin H. What makes a winner? Symbiont and host dynamics determine Caribbean octocoral resilience to bleaching. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadj6788. [PMID: 37992160 PMCID: PMC10664981 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adj6788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 11/24/2023]
Abstract
Unlike reef-building, scleractinian corals, Caribbean soft corals (octocorals) have not suffered marked declines in abundance associated with anthropogenic ocean warming. Both octocorals and reef-building scleractinians depend on a nutritional symbiosis with single-celled algae living within their tissues. In both groups, increased ocean temperatures can induce symbiont loss (bleaching) and coral death. Multiple heat waves from 2014 to 2016 resulted in widespread damage to reef ecosystems and provided an opportunity to examine the bleaching response of three Caribbean octocoral species. Symbiont densities declined during the heat waves but recovered quickly, and colony mortality was low. The dominant symbiont genotypes within a host generally did not change, and all colonies hosted symbiont species in the genus Breviolum. Their association with thermally tolerant symbionts likely contributes to the octocoral holobiont's resistance to mortality and the resilience of their symbiont populations. The resistance and resilience of Caribbean octocorals offer clues for the future of coral reefs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Louis A. Buccella
- Graduate Program in Evolution, Ecology and Behavior, University at Buffalo, Buffalo NY 14260, USA
| | - Katherine M. Eaton
- Department of Biological Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14260, USA
| | - Howard R. Lasker
- Department of Geology, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14260, USA
| | - Alyssa T. Gooding
- Department of Biological Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14260, USA
| | - Harleena Franklin
- Department of Geology, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14260, USA
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2
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Wang C, Zheng X, Kvitt H, Sheng H, Sun D, Niu G, Tchernov D, Shi T. Lineage-specific symbionts mediate differential coral responses to thermal stress. MICROBIOME 2023; 11:211. [PMID: 37752514 PMCID: PMC10521517 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-023-01653-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ocean warming is a leading cause of increasing episodes of coral bleaching, the dissociation between coral hosts and their dinoflagellate algal symbionts in the family Symbiodiniaceae. While the diversity and flexibility of Symbiodiniaceae is presumably responsible for variations in coral response to physical stressors such as elevated temperature, there is little data directly comparing physiological performance that accounts for symbiont identity associated with the same coral host species. Here, using Pocillopora damicornis harboring genotypically distinct Symbiodiniaceae strains, we examined the physiological responses of the coral holobiont and the dynamics of symbiont community change under thermal stress in a laboratory-controlled experiment. RESULTS We found that P. damicornis dominated with symbionts of metahaplotype D1-D4-D6 in the genus Durusdinium (i.e., PdD holobiont) was more robust to thermal stress than its counterpart with symbionts of metahaplotype C42-C1-C1b-C1c in the genus Cladocopium (i.e., PdC holobiont). Under ambient temperature, however, the thermally sensitive Cladocopium spp. exhibited higher photosynthetic efficiency and translocated more fixed carbon to the host, likely facilitating faster coral growth and calcification. Moreover, we observed a thermally induced increase in Durusdinium proportion in the PdC holobiont; however, this "symbiont shuffling" in the background was overwhelmed by the overall Cladocopium dominance, which coincided with faster coral bleaching and reduced calcification. CONCLUSIONS These findings support that lineage-specific symbiont dominance is a driver of distinct coral responses to thermal stress. In addition, we found that "symbiont shuffling" may begin with stress-forced, subtle changes in the rare biosphere to eventually trade off growth for increased resilience. Furthermore, the flexibility in corals' association with thermally tolerant symbiont lineages to adapt or acclimatize to future warming oceans should be viewed with conservative optimism as the current rate of environmental changes may outpace the evolutionary capabilities of corals. Video Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenying Wang
- Key Laboratory of Marine Ecology Conservation and Restoration, Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen, 361005, China
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China
| | - Xinqing Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Marine Ecology Conservation and Restoration, Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen, 361005, China.
- Observation and Research Station of Wetland Ecosystem in the Beibu Gulf, Ministry of Natural Resources, Beihai, 536015, China.
| | - Hagit Kvitt
- Marine Biology Department, The Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, 31905, Haifa, Israel
- Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research, National Center for Mariculture, 88112, Eilat, Israel
| | - Huaxia Sheng
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China
| | - Danye Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China
| | - Gaofeng Niu
- Marine Genomics and Biotechnology Program, Institute of Marine Science and Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266237, China
| | - Dan Tchernov
- Marine Biology Department, The Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, 31905, Haifa, Israel.
| | - Tuo Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China.
- Marine Genomics and Biotechnology Program, Institute of Marine Science and Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266237, China.
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Guangzhou, 510000, China.
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3
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Cruz AR, Davidowitz G, Moore CM, Bronstein JL. Mutualisms in a warming world. Ecol Lett 2023. [PMID: 37303268 DOI: 10.1111/ele.14264] [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: 11/17/2022] [Revised: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Predicting the impacts of global warming on mutualisms poses a significant challenge given the functional and life history differences that usually exist among interacting species. However, this is a critical endeavour since virtually all species on Earth depend on other species for survival and/or reproduction. The field of thermal ecology can provide physiological and mechanistic insights, as well as quantitative tools, for addressing this challenge. Here, we develop a conceptual and quantitative framework that connects thermal physiology to species' traits, species' traits to interacting mutualists' traits and interacting traits to the mutualism. We first identify the functioning of reciprocal mutualism-relevant traits in diverse systems as the key temperature-dependent mechanisms driving the interaction. We then develop metrics that measure the thermal performance of interacting mutualists' traits and that approximate the thermal performance of the mutualism itself. This integrated approach allows us to additionally examine how warming might interact with resource/nutrient availability and affect mutualistic species' associations across space and time. We offer this framework as a synthesis of convergent and critical issues in mutualism science in a changing world, and as a baseline to which other ecological complexities and scales might be added.
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Affiliation(s)
- Austin R Cruz
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Goggy Davidowitz
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
- Department of Entomology, The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | | | - Judith L Bronstein
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
- Department of Entomology, The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
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4
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Hamlet CL, Strickland WC, Battista N, Miller LA. Multiscale flow between the branches and polyps of gorgonians. J Exp Biol 2023; 226:287035. [PMID: 36789875 PMCID: PMC10038146 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.244520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2022] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2023]
Abstract
Gorgonians, including sea fans, are soft corals well known for their elaborate branching structure and how they sway in the ocean. This branching structure can modify environmental flows to be beneficial for feeding in a particular range of velocities and, presumably, for a particular size of prey. As water moves through the elaborate branches, it is slowed, and recirculation zones can form downstream of the colony. At the smaller scale, individual polyps that emerge from the branches expand their tentacles, further slowing the flow. At the smallest scale, the tentacles are covered in tiny pinnules where exchange occurs. In this paper, we quantified the gap to diameter ratios for various gorgonians at the scale of the branches, the polyp tentacles and the pinnules. We then used computational fluid dynamics to determine the flow patterns at all three levels of branching. We quantified the leakiness between the branches, tentacles and pinnules over the biologically relevant range of Reynolds numbers and gap-to-diameter ratios, and found that the branches and tentacles can act as either leaky rakes or solid plates depending upon these dimensionless parameters. The pinnules, in contrast, mostly impede the flow. Using an agent-based modeling framework, we quantified plankton capture as a function of the gap-to-diameter ratio of the branches and the Reynolds number. We found that the capture rate depends critically on both morphology and Reynolds number. The results of the study have implications for how gorgonians modify ambient flows for efficient feeding and exchange.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina L Hamlet
- Department of Mathematics, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, PA 17837, USA
| | - W Christopher Strickland
- Department of Mathematics and Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996-1320, USA
| | - Nicholas Battista
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, The College of New Jersey, Ewing Township, NJ 08628, USA
| | - Laura A Miller
- Department of Mathematics, University of Arizona, 617 N. Santa Rita Ave., Tuscon, AZ 85721-0089, USA
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5
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Zelli E, Simancas-Giraldo SM, Xiang N, Dessì C, Katzer ND, Tilstra A, Wild C. Individual and combined effect of organic eutrophication (DOC) and ocean warming on the ecophysiology of the Octocoral Pinnigorgia flava. PeerJ 2023; 11:e14812. [PMID: 36814959 PMCID: PMC9940650 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.14812] [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: 03/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) enrichment and ocean warming both negatively affect hard corals, but studies on their combined effects on other reef organisms are scarce. Octocorals are likely to become key players in future reef communities, but they are still highly under-investigated with regard to their responses to global and local environmental changes. Thus, we evaluated the individual and combined effects of DOC enrichment (10, 20 and 40 mg L-1 DOC, added as glucose) and warming (stepwise from 26 to 32 °C) on the widespread Indo-Pacific gorgonian Pinnigorgia flava in a 45-day laboratory experiment. Oxygen fluxes (net photosynthesis and respiration), as well as Symbiodiniaceae cell density and coral growth were assessed. Our results highlight a differential ecophysiological response to DOC enrichment and warming as well as their combination. Individual DOC addition did not significantly affect oxygen fluxes nor Symbiodiniaceae cell density and growth, while warming significantly decreased photosynthesis rates and Symbiodiniaceae cell density. When DOC enrichment and warming were combined, no effect on P. flava oxygen fluxes was observed while growth responded to certain DOC conditions depending on the temperature. Our findings indicate that P. flava is insensitive to the individual effect of DOC enrichment, but not to warming and the two stressors combined. This suggests that, if temperature remains below certain thresholds, this gorgonian species may gain a competitive advantage over coral species that are reportedly more affected by DOC eutrophication. However, under the expected increasing temperature scenarios, it is also likely that this octocoral species will be negatively affected, with potential consequences on community structure. This study contributes to our understanding of the conditions that drive phase shift dynamics in coastal coral reef ecosystemds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edoardo Zelli
- Marine Ecology Department, Faculty of Biology & Chemistry (FB 2), University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany,School of Science, University of Waikato, Tauranga, New Zealand
| | | | - Nan Xiang
- Marine Ecology Department, Faculty of Biology & Chemistry (FB 2), University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany,Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Alfred Wegener Institute, Bremerhaven, Germany
| | - Claudia Dessì
- Marine Ecology Department, Faculty of Biology & Chemistry (FB 2), University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany,Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell’Ambiente, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Nadim Daniel Katzer
- Marine Ecology Department, Faculty of Biology & Chemistry (FB 2), University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
| | - Arjen Tilstra
- Marine Ecology Department, Faculty of Biology & Chemistry (FB 2), University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
| | - Christian Wild
- Marine Ecology Department, Faculty of Biology & Chemistry (FB 2), University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
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Davies SW, Gamache MH, Howe-Kerr LI, Kriefall NG, Baker AC, Banaszak AT, Bay LK, Bellantuono AJ, Bhattacharya D, Chan CX, Claar DC, Coffroth MA, Cunning R, Davy SK, del Campo J, Díaz-Almeyda EM, Frommlet JC, Fuess LE, González-Pech RA, Goulet TL, Hoadley KD, Howells EJ, Hume BCC, Kemp DW, Kenkel CD, Kitchen SA, LaJeunesse TC, Lin S, McIlroy SE, McMinds R, Nitschke MR, Oakley CA, Peixoto RS, Prada C, Putnam HM, Quigley K, Reich HG, Reimer JD, Rodriguez-Lanetty M, Rosales SM, Saad OS, Sampayo EM, Santos SR, Shoguchi E, Smith EG, Stat M, Stephens TG, Strader ME, Suggett DJ, Swain TD, Tran C, Traylor-Knowles N, Voolstra CR, Warner ME, Weis VM, Wright RM, Xiang T, Yamashita H, Ziegler M, Correa AMS, Parkinson JE. Building consensus around the assessment and interpretation of Symbiodiniaceae diversity. PeerJ 2023; 11:e15023. [PMID: 37151292 PMCID: PMC10162043 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.15023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Within microeukaryotes, genetic variation and functional variation sometimes accumulate more quickly than morphological differences. To understand the evolutionary history and ecology of such lineages, it is key to examine diversity at multiple levels of organization. In the dinoflagellate family Symbiodiniaceae, which can form endosymbioses with cnidarians (e.g., corals, octocorals, sea anemones, jellyfish), other marine invertebrates (e.g., sponges, molluscs, flatworms), and protists (e.g., foraminifera), molecular data have been used extensively over the past three decades to describe phenotypes and to make evolutionary and ecological inferences. Despite advances in Symbiodiniaceae genomics, a lack of consensus among researchers with respect to interpreting genetic data has slowed progress in the field and acted as a barrier to reconciling observations. Here, we identify key challenges regarding the assessment and interpretation of Symbiodiniaceae genetic diversity across three levels: species, populations, and communities. We summarize areas of agreement and highlight techniques and approaches that are broadly accepted. In areas where debate remains, we identify unresolved issues and discuss technologies and approaches that can help to fill knowledge gaps related to genetic and phenotypic diversity. We also discuss ways to stimulate progress, in particular by fostering a more inclusive and collaborative research community. We hope that this perspective will inspire and accelerate coral reef science by serving as a resource to those designing experiments, publishing research, and applying for funding related to Symbiodiniaceae and their symbiotic partnerships.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah W. Davies
- Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Matthew H. Gamache
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, United States
| | | | | | - Andrew C. Baker
- Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science, University of Miami, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Anastazia T. Banaszak
- Unidad Académica de Sistemas Arrecifales, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Puerto Morelos, Mexico
| | - Line Kolind Bay
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Australia
| | - Anthony J. Bellantuono
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Debashish Bhattacharya
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, United States
| | - Cheong Xin Chan
- Australian Centre for Ecogenomics, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Danielle C. Claar
- Nearshore Habitat Program, Washington State Department of Natural Resources, Olympia, WA, USA
| | | | - Ross Cunning
- Daniel P. Haerther Center for Conservation and Research, John G. Shedd Aquarium, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Simon K. Davy
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Javier del Campo
- Institut de Biologia Evolutiva (CSIC - Universitat Pompeu Fabra), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | | | - Jörg C. Frommlet
- Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Lauren E. Fuess
- Department of Biology, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX, United States
| | - Raúl A. González-Pech
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, United States
- Department of Biology, Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA, United States
| | - Tamar L. Goulet
- Department of Biology, University of Mississippi, University, MS, United States
| | - Kenneth D. Hoadley
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alabama—Tuscaloosa, Tuscaloosa, AL, United States
| | - Emily J. Howells
- National Marine Science Centre, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Southern Cross University, Coffs Harbour, NSW, Australia
| | | | - Dustin W. Kemp
- Department of Biology, University of Alabama—Birmingham, Birmingham, Al, United States
| | - Carly D. Kenkel
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Sheila A. Kitchen
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, United States
| | - Todd C. LaJeunesse
- Department of Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States
| | - Senjie Lin
- Department of Marine Sciences, University of Connecticut, Mansfield, CT, United States
| | - Shelby E. McIlroy
- Swire Institute of Marine Science, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
| | - Ryan McMinds
- Center for Global Health and Infectious Disease Research, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, United States
| | | | - Clinton A. Oakley
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Raquel S. Peixoto
- Red Sea Research Center (RSRC), Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Carlos Prada
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United States
| | - Hollie M. Putnam
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United States
| | | | - Hannah G. Reich
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United States
| | - James Davis Reimer
- Department of Biology, Chemistry and Marine Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Okinawa, Japan
| | | | - Stephanie M. Rosales
- The Cooperative Institute For Marine and Atmospheric Studies, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Osama S. Saad
- Department of Biological Oceanography, Red Sea University, Port-Sudan, Sudan
| | - Eugenia M. Sampayo
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Scott R. Santos
- Department of Biological Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, United States
| | - Eiichi Shoguchi
- Marine Genomics Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Edward G. Smith
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
| | - Michael Stat
- School of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
| | - Timothy G. Stephens
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, United States
| | - Marie E. Strader
- Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - David J. Suggett
- Red Sea Research Center (RSRC), Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
- Climate Change Cluster, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, Australia
| | - Timothy D. Swain
- Department of Marine and Environmental Science, Nova Southeastern University, Dania Beach, FL, United States
| | - Cawa Tran
- Department of Biology, University of San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Nikki Traylor-Knowles
- Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science, University of Miami, Miami, FL, United States
| | | | - Mark E. Warner
- School of Marine Science and Policy, University of Delaware, Lewes, DE, United States
| | - Virginia M. Weis
- Department of Integrative Biology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, United States
| | - Rachel M. Wright
- Department of Biological Sciences, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX, United States
| | - Tingting Xiang
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
| | - Hiroshi Yamashita
- Fisheries Technology Institute, Japan Fisheries Research and Education Agency, Ishigaki, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Maren Ziegler
- Department of Animal Ecology & Systematics, Justus Liebig University Giessen (Germany), Giessen, Germany
| | | | - John Everett Parkinson
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, United States
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7
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Towards heat tolerant metagenome functional prediction, coral microbial community composition, and enrichment analysis. ECOL INFORM 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoinf.2022.101635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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8
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Steinberg RK, Ainsworth TD, Moriarty T, Bednarek T, Dafforn KA, Johnston EL. Bleaching Susceptibility and Resistance of Octocorals and Anemones at the World's Southern-Most Coral Reef. Front Physiol 2022; 13:804193. [PMID: 35665222 PMCID: PMC9161773 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.804193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Coral reefs are amongst the most biodiverse ecosystems on earth, and while stony corals create the foundational complexity of these ecosystems, octocorals and anemones contribute significantly to their biodiversity and function. Like stony corals, many octocorals contain Symbiodiniaceae endosymbionts and can bleach when temperatures exceed the species' upper thermal limit. Here, we report octocoral bleaching susceptibility and resistance within the subtropical Lord Howe Island coral reef ecosystem during and after marine heatwaves in 2019. Octocoral and anemone surveys were conducted at multiple reef locations within the Lord Howe Island lagoon during, immediately after, and 7 months after the heatwaves. One octocoral species, Cladiella sp. 1, experienced bleaching and mortality, with some bleached colonies detaching from the reef structure during the heatwave (presumed dead). Those that remained attached to the benthos survived the event and recovered endosymbionts within 7 months of bleaching. Cladiella sp. 1 Symbiodiniaceae density (in cells per µg protein), chlorophyll a and c 2 per µg protein, and photosynthetic efficiency were significantly lower in bleached colonies compared to unbleached colonies, while chlorophyll a and c 2 per symbiont were higher. Interestingly, no other symbiotic octocoral species of the Lord Howe Island lagoonal reef bleached. Unbleached Xenia cf crassa colonies had higher Symbiodiniaceae and chlorophyll densities during the marine heatwave compared to other monitoring intervals, while Cladiella sp. 2 densities did not change substantially through time. Previous work on octocoral bleaching has focused primarily on gorgonian octocorals, while this study provides insight into bleaching variability in other octocoral groups. The study also provides further evidence that octocorals may be generally more resistant to bleaching than stony corals in many, but not all, reef ecosystems. Responses to marine heating events vary and should be assessed on a species by species basis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosemary K Steinberg
- Evolution and Ecology Research Centre and Centre for Marine Science and Innovation, School of Biological, Earth, and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Sydney Institute of Marine Science, Mosman, NSW, Australia
| | - Tracy D Ainsworth
- Evolution and Ecology Research Centre and Centre for Marine Science and Innovation, School of Biological, Earth, and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Tess Moriarty
- School of Environmental and Life Sciences, The University of Newcastle, Ourimbah, NSW, Australia
| | - Teresa Bednarek
- Evolution and Ecology Research Centre and Centre for Marine Science and Innovation, School of Biological, Earth, and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- RUHR Universtad Bouchum, Bouchum, Germany
| | | | - Emma L Johnston
- Evolution and Ecology Research Centre and Centre for Marine Science and Innovation, School of Biological, Earth, and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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9
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Regime shifts on tropical coral reef ecosystems: future trajectories to animal-dominated states in response to anthropogenic stressors. Emerg Top Life Sci 2021; 6:95-106. [PMID: 34927689 DOI: 10.1042/etls20210231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2021] [Revised: 11/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/25/2021] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Despite the global focus on the occurrence of regime shifts on shallow-water tropical coral reefs over the last two decades, most of this research continues to focus on changes to algal-dominated states. Here, we review recent reports (in approximately the last decade) of regime shifts to states dominated by animal groups other than zooxanthellate Scleractinian corals. We found that while there have been new reports of regime shifts to reefs dominated by Ascidacea, Porifera, Octocorallia, Zoantharia, Actiniaria and azooxanthellate Scleractinian corals, some of these changes occurred many decades ago, but have only just been reported in the literature. In most cases, these reports are over small to medium spatial scales (<4 × 104 m2 and 4 × 104 to 2 × 106 m2, respectively). Importantly, from the few studies where we were able to collect information on the persistence of the regime shifts, we determined that these non-scleractinian states are generally unstable, with further changes since the original regime shift. However, these changes were not generally back to coral dominance. While there has been some research to understand how sponge- and octocoral-dominated systems may function, there is still limited information on what ecosystem services have been disrupted or lost as a result of these shifts. Given that many coral reefs across the world are on the edge of tipping points due to increasing anthropogenic stress, we urgently need to understand the consequences of non-algal coral reef regime shifts.
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10
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Simancas-Giraldo SM, Xiang N, Kennedy MM, Nafeh R, Zelli E, Wild C. Photosynthesis and respiration of the soft coral Xenia umbellata respond to warming but not to organic carbon eutrophication. PeerJ 2021; 9:e11663. [PMID: 34395065 PMCID: PMC8323596 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.11663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2020] [Accepted: 06/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Eutrophication with dissolved organic carbon (DOC) as a far under-investigated stressor, and ocean warming, can strongly affect coral reefs and hard corals as major reefs ecosystem engineers. However, no previous studies have investigated the metabolic responses of soft corals to DOC eutrophication, or its interaction with ocean warming. Thus, we investigated respiration and photosynthesis response of Xenia umbellata, a common mixotrophic soft coral from the Indo-pacific, to (1) three levels of DOC eutrophication simulated by glucose addition over the first 21 days of experiment and (2) ocean warming scenarios where the temperature was gradually increased from 26 °C (control condition) to 32 °C over another 24 days in an aquarium experiment. We found no significant difference in response to DOC treatments and all corals survived regardless of the DOC concentrations, whilst subsequent exposure to simulated ocean warming significantly decreased gross photosynthesis by approximately 50% at 30 °C, and 65% at 32 °C, net photosynthesis by 75% at 30 °C and 79% at 32 °C, and respiration by a maximum of 75% at 30 °C; with a slight increase at 32 °C of 25%. The ratio between gross photosynthesis and respiration decreased by the end of the warming period but remained similar between controls and colonies previously exposed to DOC. Our findings suggest that soft corals may be more resistant than hard corals to DOC eutrophication and in consequence, may potentially experiment in less magnitude the negative effects of increased temperature or subsequently both stressors. The results of this study may contribute to explain the successful role of soft corals in phase shifts as reported from many coral reefs. Where predicted declines in reef ecosystems health due to increased eutrophication levels can be exacerbated by future warming.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nan Xiang
- Marine Ecology Department, Universität Bremen, Bremen, Germany
- Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Alfred Wegener Institute, Bremerhaven, Germany
| | | | - Rassil Nafeh
- Marine Ecology Department, Universität Bremen, Bremen, Germany
| | - Edoardo Zelli
- Marine Ecology Department, Universität Bremen, Bremen, Germany
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biologiche, Geologiche ed Ambientali (BiGeA) & Centro Interdipartimentale di Ricerca per le Scienze Ambientali (CIRSA), University of Bologna, Italy
| | - Christian Wild
- Marine Ecology Department, Universität Bremen, Bremen, Germany
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11
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Edmunds PJ. High ecological resilience of the sea fan Gorgonia ventalina during two severe hurricanes. PeerJ 2020; 8:e10315. [PMID: 33240641 PMCID: PMC7666550 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.10315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2020] [Accepted: 10/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Since about the turn of the millennium, octocorals have been increasing in abundance on Caribbean reefs. The mechanisms underlying this trend have not been resolved, but the emergent species assemblage appears to be more resilient than the scleractinians they are replacing. The sea fan Gorgonia ventalina is an iconic species in the contemporary octocoral fauna, and here its population dynamics are described from St. John, US Virgin Islands, from 2013 to 2019. Mean densities of G. ventalina at Yawzi Point (9-m depth) varied from 1.4-1.5 colonies m-2, and their mean heights from 24-30 cm; nearby at Tektite (14-m depth), they varied from 0.6-0.8 colonies m-2 and from 25-33 cm. These reefs were impacted by two Category 5 hurricanes in 2017, but neither the density of G. ventalina, the density of their recruits (< 5-cm tall), nor the height of colonies, differed among years, although growth was depressed after the hurricanes. Nevertheless, at Tektite, colony height trended upwards over time, in part because colonies 10.1-20 cm tall were reduced in abundance after the hurricanes. These trends were sustained without density-associated effects mediating recruitment or self-thinning of adults. The dynamics of G. ventalina over seven years reveals the high resilience of this species that will contribute to the persistence of octocorals as a dominant state on Caribbean reefs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter J. Edmunds
- Department of Biology, California State University, Northridge, CA, United States of America
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12
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Lasker HR, Bramanti L, Tsounis G, Edmunds PJ. The rise of octocoral forests on Caribbean reefs. ADVANCES IN MARINE BIOLOGY 2020; 87:361-410. [PMID: 33293017 DOI: 10.1016/bs.amb.2020.08.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Coral reefs throughout the tropics have experienced large declines in the abundance of scleractinian corals over the last few decades, and some reefs are becoming functionally dominated by animal taxa other than scleractinians. This phenomenon is striking on many shallow reefs in the tropical western Atlantic, where arborescent octocorals now are numerically and functionally dominant. Octocorals are one of several taxa that have been overlooked for decades in analyses of coral reef community dynamics, and our understanding of why octocorals are favoured (whereas scleractinians are not) on some modern reefs, and how they will affect the function of future reef communities, is not commensurate with the task of scientifically responding to the coral reef crisis. We summarize the biological and ecological features predisposing octocorals for success under contemporary conditions, and focus on those features that could have generated resistance and resilience of octocoral populations to environmental change on modern reefs. There is a rich set of opportunities for rapid advancement in understanding the factors driving the success of octocorals on modern reefs, but we underscore three lines of inquiry: (1) the functional implications of strongly mixotrophic, polytrophic, and plastic nutrition, (2) the capacity to recruit at high densities and maintain rapid initial rates of vertical growth, and (3) the emergent properties associated with dense animal forests at high colony densities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Howard R Lasker
- Department of Environment and Sustainability and Department of Geology, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, United States.
| | - Lorenzo Bramanti
- CNRS-Sorbonne Université, Laboratoire d'Ecogéochimie des Environnements Benthiques, LECOB, Observatoire Océanologique de Banyuls sur Mer, Banyuls sur Mer, France
| | - Georgios Tsounis
- Department of Biology, California State University, Northridge, CA, United States
| | - Peter J Edmunds
- Department of Biology, California State University, Northridge, CA, United States
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13
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Parisi MG, Parrinello D, Stabili L, Cammarata M. Cnidarian Immunity and the Repertoire of Defense Mechanisms in Anthozoans. BIOLOGY 2020; 9:E283. [PMID: 32932829 PMCID: PMC7563517 DOI: 10.3390/biology9090283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2020] [Revised: 09/04/2020] [Accepted: 09/04/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Anthozoa is the most specious class of the phylum Cnidaria that is phylogenetically basal within the Metazoa. It is an interesting group for studying the evolution of mutualisms and immunity, for despite their morphological simplicity, Anthozoans are unexpectedly immunologically complex, with large genomes and gene families similar to those of the Bilateria. Evidence indicates that the Anthozoan innate immune system is not only involved in the disruption of harmful microorganisms, but is also crucial in structuring tissue-associated microbial communities that are essential components of the cnidarian holobiont and useful to the animal's health for several functions including metabolism, immune defense, development, and behavior. Here, we report on the current state of the art of Anthozoan immunity. Like other invertebrates, Anthozoans possess immune mechanisms based on self/non-self-recognition. Although lacking adaptive immunity, they use a diverse repertoire of immune receptor signaling pathways (PRRs) to recognize a broad array of conserved microorganism-associated molecular patterns (MAMP). The intracellular signaling cascades lead to gene transcription up to endpoints of release of molecules that kill the pathogens, defend the self by maintaining homeostasis, and modulate the wound repair process. The cells play a fundamental role in immunity, as they display phagocytic activities and secrete mucus, which acts as a physicochemical barrier preventing or slowing down the proliferation of potential invaders. Finally, we describe the current state of knowledge of some immune effectors in Anthozoan species, including the potential role of toxins and the inflammatory response in the Mediterranean Anthozoan Anemonia viridis following injection of various foreign particles differing in type and dimensions, including pathogenetic bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Giovanna Parisi
- Department of Earth and Marine Sciences, University of Palermo, 90128 Palermo, Italy;
| | - Daniela Parrinello
- Department of Earth and Marine Sciences, University of Palermo, 90128 Palermo, Italy;
| | - Loredana Stabili
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, University of Salento, 73100 Lecce, Italy;
| | - Matteo Cammarata
- Department of Earth and Marine Sciences, University of Palermo, 90128 Palermo, Italy;
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14
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Andar A, Hasan MS, Srinivasan V, Al-Adhami M, Gutierrez E, Burgenson D, Ge X, Tolosa L, Kostov Y, Rao G. Wood Microfluidics. Anal Chem 2019; 91:11004-11012. [PMID: 31361950 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.9b01232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
As nonbiodegradable plastics continue to pollute our land and oceans, countries are starting to ban the use of single-use plastics. In this paper, we demonstrated the fabrication of wood-based microfluidic devices and their adaptability for single-use, point-of-care (POC) applications. These devices are made from easily sourced renewable materials for fabrication while exhibiting all the advantages of plastic devices without the problem of nonbiodegradable waste and cost. To build these wood devices, we utilized laser engraving and traditional mechanical methods and have adapted specific surface coatings to counter the wicking effect of wood. To demonstrate their versatility, wood microfluidic devices were adapted for (i) surface plasmon coupled enhancement (SPCE) of fluorescence for detection of proteins, (ii) T-/Y-geometry microfluidic channel mixers, and (iii) devices for rapid detection of microbial contamination. These provide proof of concept for the use of wooden platforms for POC applications. In this study, we measured the fluorescence intensities of recombinant green fluorescent protein (GFP) standards (ranging from 1.5-25 ng/μL) and 6XHis-G-CSF (ranging from 0.1-100 ng/μL) expressed in cell-free translation systems. All tested devices perform as well as or better than their plastic counterparts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhay Andar
- Center for Advanced Sensor Technology, Department of Chemical, Biochemical and Environmental Engineering , University of Maryland , Baltimore County, 1000 Hilltop Circle , Baltimore , Maryland 21250 , United States
| | - Md-Sadique Hasan
- Center for Advanced Sensor Technology, Department of Chemical, Biochemical and Environmental Engineering , University of Maryland , Baltimore County, 1000 Hilltop Circle , Baltimore , Maryland 21250 , United States
| | - Venkatesh Srinivasan
- Center for Advanced Sensor Technology, Department of Chemical, Biochemical and Environmental Engineering , University of Maryland , Baltimore County, 1000 Hilltop Circle , Baltimore , Maryland 21250 , United States
| | - Mustafa Al-Adhami
- Center for Advanced Sensor Technology, Department of Chemical, Biochemical and Environmental Engineering , University of Maryland , Baltimore County, 1000 Hilltop Circle , Baltimore , Maryland 21250 , United States
| | - Erick Gutierrez
- Center for Advanced Sensor Technology, Department of Chemical, Biochemical and Environmental Engineering , University of Maryland , Baltimore County, 1000 Hilltop Circle , Baltimore , Maryland 21250 , United States
| | - David Burgenson
- Center for Advanced Sensor Technology, Department of Chemical, Biochemical and Environmental Engineering , University of Maryland , Baltimore County, 1000 Hilltop Circle , Baltimore , Maryland 21250 , United States
| | - Xudong Ge
- Center for Advanced Sensor Technology, Department of Chemical, Biochemical and Environmental Engineering , University of Maryland , Baltimore County, 1000 Hilltop Circle , Baltimore , Maryland 21250 , United States
| | - Leah Tolosa
- Center for Advanced Sensor Technology, Department of Chemical, Biochemical and Environmental Engineering , University of Maryland , Baltimore County, 1000 Hilltop Circle , Baltimore , Maryland 21250 , United States
| | - Yordan Kostov
- Center for Advanced Sensor Technology, Department of Chemical, Biochemical and Environmental Engineering , University of Maryland , Baltimore County, 1000 Hilltop Circle , Baltimore , Maryland 21250 , United States
| | - Govind Rao
- Center for Advanced Sensor Technology, Department of Chemical, Biochemical and Environmental Engineering , University of Maryland , Baltimore County, 1000 Hilltop Circle , Baltimore , Maryland 21250 , United States
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15
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McCauley M, Goulet TL. Caribbean gorgonian octocorals cope with nutrient enrichment. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2019; 141:621-628. [PMID: 30955777 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.02.067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2018] [Revised: 02/16/2019] [Accepted: 02/26/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Corals inhabit oligotrophic waters, thriving amidst limited nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorous. When nutrient levels increase, usually due to human activity, the symbiosis of dinoflagellates (family Symbiodiniaceae) with scleractinian corals can break down. Although gorgonian corals dominate many Caribbean reefs, the impact of enrichment on them and their algae is understudied. We exposed two gorgonian species, Pseudoplexaura porosa and Eunicea tourneforti, to elevated concentrations of either ammonium (10 μM or 50 μM) or phosphate (4 μM). Enrichment with 10 μM ammonium increased chlorophyll content and algal density in both species, whereas the host biochemical composition was unaffected. Exposure to 50 μM ammonium only reduced the quantum yield in P. porosa and mitotic indices in both species. Conversely, algal carbon and nitrogen content within E. tourneforti increased with 4 μM phosphate exposure. These gorgonian species coped with short-term nutrient enrichment, furthering our understanding of the success of Caribbean gorgonians.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark McCauley
- Department of Biology, University of Mississippi, University, MS, 38677, USA.
| | - Tamar L Goulet
- Department of Biology, University of Mississippi, University, MS, 38677, USA.
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16
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Linking host morphology and symbiont performance in octocorals. Sci Rep 2018; 8:12823. [PMID: 30150781 PMCID: PMC6110782 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-31262-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2017] [Accepted: 07/19/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Octocorals represent an important group in reef communities throughout the tropical seas and, like scleractinian corals, they can be found in symbiosis with the dinoflagellate Symbiodinium. However, while there is extensive research on this symbiosis and its benefits in scleractinians, research on octocorals has focused so far mainly on the host without addressing their symbiosis. Here, we characterized and compared the photophysiological features of nine Caribbean octocoral species with different colony morphologies (sea fan, plumes, whips and rods) and related key morphological features with their respective symbiont photobiology. Colony features (branch shape and thickness), as well as micromorphological features (polyp size, density), were found to be significantly correlated with symbiont performance. Sea fans and plumes, with thinner branches and smaller polyps, favor higher metabolic rates, compared to sea rods with thicker branches and larger polyps. Daily integrated photosynthesis to respiration ratios > 1 indicated that the autotrophic contribution to organisms’ energy demands was important in all species, but especially in sea whips. This information represents an important step towards a better understanding of octocoral physiology and its relationship to host morphology, and might also explain to some extent species distribution and susceptibility to environmental stress.
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van de Water JAJM, Allemand D, Ferrier-Pagès C. Host-microbe interactions in octocoral holobionts - recent advances and perspectives. MICROBIOME 2018; 6:64. [PMID: 29609655 PMCID: PMC5880021 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-018-0431-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2017] [Accepted: 03/01/2018] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Octocorals are one of the most ubiquitous benthic organisms in marine ecosystems from the shallow tropics to the Antarctic deep sea, providing habitat for numerous organisms as well as ecosystem services for humans. In contrast to the holobionts of reef-building scleractinian corals, the holobionts of octocorals have received relatively little attention, despite the devastating effects of disease outbreaks on many populations. Recent advances have shown that octocorals possess remarkably stable bacterial communities on geographical and temporal scales as well as under environmental stress. This may be the result of their high capacity to regulate their microbiome through the production of antimicrobial and quorum-sensing interfering compounds. Despite decades of research relating to octocoral-microbe interactions, a synthesis of this expanding field has not been conducted to date. We therefore provide an urgently needed review on our current knowledge about octocoral holobionts. Specifically, we briefly introduce the ecological role of octocorals and the concept of holobiont before providing detailed overviews of (I) the symbiosis between octocorals and the algal symbiont Symbiodinium; (II) the main fungal, viral, and bacterial taxa associated with octocorals; (III) the dominance of the microbial assemblages by a few microbial species, the stability of these associations, and their evolutionary history with the host organism; (IV) octocoral diseases; (V) how octocorals use their immune system to fight pathogens; (VI) microbiome regulation by the octocoral and its associated microbes; and (VII) the discovery of natural products with microbiome regulatory activities. Finally, we present our perspectives on how the field of octocoral research should move forward, and the recognition that these organisms may be suitable model organisms to study coral-microbe symbioses.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Denis Allemand
- Centre Scientifique de Monaco, 8 Quai Antoine 1er, 98000, Monaco, Monaco
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