1
|
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.
Collapse
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
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Saad OS, Lin X, Ng TY, Li L, Ang P, Lin S. Genome Size, rDNA Copy, and qPCR Assays for Symbiodiniaceae. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:847. [PMID: 32528423 PMCID: PMC7264167 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.00847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2020] [Accepted: 04/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Symbiodiniaceae community structure in corals is crucial for understanding the plasticity of different holobionts under environmental stress. While this relies on molecular analyses, accuracy of molecular quantification, as influenced by DNA extraction efficiency and rDNA copy number variations in particular, has rarely been systematically investigated. Here, we report the development of a set of genus-specific qPCR assays. First, a protocol for efficient DNA isolation and accurate measurements of genome size and rDNA copy number was established. Second, seven newly designed genus-specific ITS2 primer sets were validated using computational and empirical analyses and qPCR assays were developed. We find that while the genome size ranges between 1.75 ± 0.21 and 4.5 ± 0.96 Gbp, rDNA copy number shows over 10-fold variation among Symbiodiniaceae species. Our protocol produced standard curves with high efficiencies (89.8–99.3%; R2 ≥ 0.999) and tight Cq values over different PCR conditions, illustrating high specificity and sensitivity of the qPCR assays. Tested on mock communities of mixed culture species, our qPCR results agreed well with microscopic counts and facilitated calibration of metabarcoding data. To test the applicability of our protocol for field samples, we analyzed three different Hong Kong coral samples. Six Symbiodiniaceae genera were detected in Acropora valida, Oulastrea crispata, and Platygyra acuta, with Breviolum, Effrenium, Fugacium, and Gerakladium sp. being reported for the first time. Our results suggest that aggressively disrupting cells to ensure thorough cell lysis, estimating cell loss and DNA loss, and validating qPCR assays are critical for success. The number of species examined here is limited, but the primers are potentially applicable to most species in respective genera, and the protocol and the approach to develop it provide a base and template toward a standardized procedure for quantitatively characterizing Symbiodiniaceae communities in corals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Osama S Saad
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China.,Department of Biological Oceanography, Red Sea University, Port-Sudan, Sudan
| | - Xin Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Tsz Yan Ng
- Marine Science Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Ling Li
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Put Ang
- Marine Science Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.,Institute of Space and Earth Information Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Senjie Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China.,Department of Marine Sciences, University of Connecticut, Groton, CT, United States
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Ziegler M, Stone E, Colman D, Takacs-Vesbach C, Shepherd U. Patterns of Symbiodinium (Dinophyceae) diversity and assemblages among diverse hosts and the coral reef environment of Lizard Island, Australia. JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY 2018; 54:447-460. [PMID: 29696650 PMCID: PMC6105428 DOI: 10.1111/jpy.12749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2017] [Accepted: 04/06/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Large-scale environmental disturbances may impact both partners in coral host-Symbiodinium systems. Elucidation of the assembly patterns in such complex and interdependent communities may enable better prediction of environmental impacts across coral reef ecosystems. In this study, we investigated how the community composition and diversity of dinoflagellate symbionts in the genus Symbiodinium were distributed among 12 host species from six taxonomic orders (Actinaria, Alcyonacea, Miliolida, Porifera, Rhizostoma, Scleractinia) and in the reef water and sediments at Lizard Island, Great Barrier Reef before the 3rd Global Coral Bleaching Event. 454 pyrosequencing of the ITS2 region of Symbiodinium yielded 83 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) at a 97% similarity cut-off. Approximately half of the Symbiodinium OTUs from reef water or sediments were also present in symbio. OTUs belonged to six clades (A-D, F-G), but community structure was uneven. The two most abundant OTUs (100% matches to types C1 and A3) comprised 91% of reads and OTU C1 was shared by all species. However, sequence-based analysis of these dominant OTUs revealed host species specificity, suggesting that genetic similarity cut-offs of Symbiodinium ITS2 data sets need careful evaluation. Of the less abundant OTUs, roughly half occurred at only one site or in one species and the background Symbiodinium communities were distinct between individual samples. We conclude that sampling multiple host taxa with differing life history traits will be critical to fully understand the symbiont diversity of a given system and to predict coral ecosystem responses to environmental change and disturbance considering the differential stress response of the taxa within.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maren Ziegler
- Author for correspondence: Maren Ziegler, 4700 King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Building 2, Office 2227, 3955-6900 Thuwal, Saudi Arabia, Tel.: +966 12 808 2446,
| | - Elizabeth Stone
- Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Castetter Hall, MSC03-2020 1 University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131, USA
| | - Daniel Colman
- Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Castetter Hall, MSC03-2020 1 University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131, USA
| | - Cristina Takacs-Vesbach
- Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Castetter Hall, MSC03-2020 1 University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131, USA
| | - Ursula Shepherd
- Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Castetter Hall, MSC03-2020 1 University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131, USA; Honors College, University of New Mexico, Student Health Center Building, MSCO6-3890 1 University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131, USA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
|
5
|
Rouzé H, Lecellier GJ, Saulnier D, Planes S, Gueguen Y, Wirshing HH, Berteaux-Lecellier V. An updated assessment of Symbiodinium spp. that associate with common scleractinian corals from Moorea (French Polynesia) reveals high diversity among background symbionts and a novel finding of clade B. PeerJ 2017; 5:e2856. [PMID: 28168100 PMCID: PMC5289445 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.2856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2016] [Accepted: 12/02/2016] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The adaptative bleaching hypothesis (ABH) states that, depending on the symbiotic flexibility of coral hosts (i.e., the ability of corals to “switch” or “shuffle” their algal symbionts), coral bleaching can lead to a change in the composition of their associated Symbiodinium community and, thus, contribute to the coral’s overall survival. In order to determine the flexibility of corals, molecular tools are required to provide accurate species delineations and to detect low levels of coral-associated Symbiodinium. Here, we used highly sensitive quantitative (real-time) PCR (qPCR) technology to analyse five common coral species from Moorea (French Polynesia), previously screened using only traditional molecular methods, to assess the presence of low-abundance (background) Symbiodinium spp. Similar to other studies, each coral species exhibited a strong specificity to a particular clade, irrespective of the environment. In addition, however, each of the five species harboured at least one additional Symbiodinium clade, among clades A–D, at background levels. Unexpectedly, and for the first time in French Polynesia, clade B was detected as a coral symbiont. These results increase the number of known coral-Symbiodinium associations from corals found in French Polynesia, and likely indicate an underestimation of the ability of the corals in this region to associate with and/or “shuffle” different Symbiodinium clades. Altogether our data suggest that corals from French Polynesia may favor a trade-off between optimizing symbioses with a specific Symbiodinium clade(s), maintaining associations with particular background clades that may play a role in the ability of corals to respond to environmental change.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Héloïse Rouzé
- PSL CRIOBE USR3278 CNRS-EPHE-UPVD, Labex CORAIL , Papetoai , Moorea , French Polynesia
| | - Gaël J Lecellier
- PSL CRIOBE USR3278 CNRS-EPHE-UPVD, Labex CORAIL, Papetoai, Moorea, French Polynesia; Université de Paris Saclay, Departement de Biologie, Versailles-Saint Quentin, Paris, Versailles Cedex, France; Current affiliation: UMR250/9220 ENTROPIE IRD-CNRS-UR, Labex CORAIL, Promenade Roger-Laroque, Noumea cedex, New Caledonia, France
| | - Denis Saulnier
- UMR241 EIO Ifremer-ILM-IRD-UPF, Labex CORAIL , Taravao , French Polynesia
| | - Serge Planes
- PSL CRIOBE USR3278 CNRS-EPHE-UPVD, Labex CORAIL , Papetoai , Moorea , French Polynesia
| | - Yannick Gueguen
- UMR5244 IHPE, CNRS-Ifremer-UM-UPVD, Université de Montpellier , Montpellier , France
| | - Herman H Wirshing
- Department of Invertebrate Zoology, Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History , Washington, D.C. , USA
| | - Véronique Berteaux-Lecellier
- PSL CRIOBE USR3278 CNRS-EPHE-UPVD, Labex CORAIL, Papetoai, Moorea, French Polynesia; Current affiliation: UMR250/9220 ENTROPIE IRD-CNRS-UR, Labex CORAIL, Promenade Roger-Laroque, Noumea cedex, New Caledonia, France
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Diversity, Distribution and Stability of Symbiodinium in Reef Corals of the Eastern Tropical Pacific. CORAL REEFS OF THE EASTERN TROPICAL PACIFIC 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/978-94-017-7499-4_13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
|
7
|
Krediet CJ, DeNofrio JC, Caruso C, Burriesci MS, Cella K, Pringle JR. Rapid, Precise, and Accurate Counts of Symbiodinium Cells Using the Guava Flow Cytometer, and a Comparison to Other Methods. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0135725. [PMID: 26291447 PMCID: PMC4546242 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0135725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2015] [Accepted: 07/25/2015] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
In studies of both the establishment and breakdown of cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbiosis, it is often necessary to determine the number of Symbiodinium cells relative to the quantity of host tissue. Ideally, the methods used should be rapid, precise, and accurate. In this study, we systematically evaluated methods for sample preparation and storage and the counting of algal cells using the hemocytometer, a custom image-analysis program for automated counting of the fluorescent algal cells, the Coulter Counter, or the Millipore Guava flow-cytometer. We found that although other methods may have value in particular applications, for most purposes, the Guava flow cytometer provided by far the best combination of precision, accuracy, and efficient use of investigator time (due to the instrument's automated sample handling), while also allowing counts of algal numbers over a wide range and in small volumes of tissue homogenate. We also found that either of two assays of total homogenate protein provided a precise and seemingly accurate basis for normalization of algal counts to the total amount of holobiont tissue.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cory J. Krediet
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, United States of America
| | - Jan C. DeNofrio
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, United States of America
| | - Carlo Caruso
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, United States of America
| | - Matthew S. Burriesci
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, United States of America
| | - Kristen Cella
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, United States of America
| | - John R. Pringle
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Wilkinson SP, Fisher PL, van Oppen MJH, Davy SK. Intra-genomic variation in symbiotic dinoflagellates: recent divergence or recombination between lineages? BMC Evol Biol 2015; 15:46. [PMID: 25887753 PMCID: PMC4381663 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-015-0325-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2014] [Accepted: 02/24/2015] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The symbiosis between corals and the dinoflagellate alga Symbiodinium is essential for the development and survival of coral reefs. Yet this fragile association is highly vulnerable to environmental disturbance. A coral’s ability to tolerate temperature stress depends on the fitness of its resident symbionts, whose thermal optima vary extensively between lineages. However, the in hospite population genetic structure of Symbiodinium is poorly understood and mostly based on analysis of bulk DNA extracted from thousands to millions of cells. Using quantitative single-cell PCR, we enumerated DNA polymorphisms in the symbionts of the reef-building coral Pocillopora damicornis, and applied a model selection approach to explore the potential for recombination between coexisting Symbiodinium populations. Results Two distinct Symbiodinium ITS2 sequences (denoted C100 and C109) were retrieved from all P. damicornis colonies analysed. However, the symbiont assemblage consisted of three distinct Symbiodinium populations: cells featuring pure arrays of ITS2 type C109, near-homogeneous cells of type C100 (with trace ITS2 copies of type C109), and those with co-dominant C100 and C109 ITS2 repeats. The symbiont consortia of some colonies consisted almost entirely of these putative C100 × C109 recombinants. Conclusions Our results are consistent with the occurrence of sexual recombination between Symbiodinium types C100 and C109. While the multiple-copy nature of the ITS2 dictates that the observed pattern of intra-genomic co-dominance may be a result of incomplete concerted evolution of intra-genomic polymorphisms, this is a less likely explanation given the occurrence of homogeneous cells of the C109 type. Conclusive evidence for inter-lineage recombination and introgression in this genus will require either direct observational evidence or a single-cell genotyping approach targeting multiple, single-copy loci. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12862-015-0325-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shaun P Wilkinson
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Kelburn Parade, Wellington, 6012, New Zealand.
| | - Paul L Fisher
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Kelburn Parade, Wellington, 6012, New Zealand.
| | | | - Simon K Davy
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Kelburn Parade, Wellington, 6012, New Zealand.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Biogeography, Biodiversity and Connectivity of Bermuda’s Coral Reefs. CORAL REEFS OF THE WORLD 2013. [DOI: 10.1007/978-94-007-5965-7_12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
|
10
|
Silverstein RN, Correa AMS, Baker AC. Specificity is rarely absolute in coral-algal symbiosis: implications for coral response to climate change. Proc Biol Sci 2012; 279:2609-18. [PMID: 22367985 PMCID: PMC3350700 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2012.0055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 112] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2012] [Accepted: 02/03/2012] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Some reef-building corals have been shown to respond to environmental change by shifting the composition of their algal symbiont (genus Symbiodinium) communities. These shifts have been proposed as a potential mechanism by which corals might survive climate stressors, such as increased temperatures. Conventional molecular methods suggest this adaptive capacity may not be widespread because few (∼25%) coral species have been found to associate with multiple Symbiodinium clades. However, these methods can fail to detect low abundance symbionts (typically less than 10-20% of the total algal symbiont community). To determine whether additional Symbiodinium clades are present, but are not detected using conventional techniques, we applied a high-resolution, real-time PCR assay to survey Symbiodinium (in clades A-D) from 39 species of phylogenetically and geographically diverse scleractinian corals. This survey included 26 coral species thought to be restricted to hosting a single Symbiodinium clade ('symbiotic specialists'). We detected at least two Symbiodinium clades (C and D) in at least one sample of all 39 coral species tested; all four Symbiodinium clades were detected in over half (54%) of the 26 symbiotic specialist coral species. Furthermore, on average, 68 per cent of all sampled colonies within a given coral species hosted two or more symbiont clades. We conclude that the ability to associate with multiple symbiont clades is common in scleractinian (stony) corals, and that, in coral-algal symbiosis, 'specificity' and 'flexibility' are relative terms: specificity is rarely absolute. The potential for reef corals to adapt or acclimatize to environmental change via symbiont community shifts may therefore be more phylogenetically widespread than has previously been assumed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rachel N Silverstein
- Division of Marine Biology and Fisheries, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33149, USA.
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
11
|
Staniewski MA, Short CM, Short SM. Contrasting community versus population-based estimates of grazing and virus-induced mortality of phytoplankton. MICROBIAL ECOLOGY 2012; 64:25-38. [PMID: 22327271 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-012-0019-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2011] [Accepted: 01/28/2012] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
In this study, grazing and virus-induced mortality of phytoplankton was investigated in a freshwater pond at the University of Toronto Mississauga, Canada, during September 2009. The modified dilution assay, which partitions phytoplankton mortality into virus and grazing-induced fractions, was used along with newly designed, taxon-specific quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assays that target psbA gene fragments to estimate growth and mortality rates for both the entire phytoplankton community and four distinct phytoplankton populations. Community mortality was estimated via fluorometric determination of chlorophyll a (Chl a) concentrations, whereas the relative mortality of individual phytoplankton populations was estimated via qPCR. The sources and amounts of mortality for individual phytoplankton populations differed from those of the whole community, as well as from each other. Grazing was found to be the only significant source of mortality for the community (0.32 day(-1)), and the Prymnesiales (1.65 day(-1)) and Chroococcales (2.79 day(-1)) populations studied. On the other hand, the Chlamydomonadales population examined experienced both significant grazing (1.01 day(-1)) and viral lysis (0.96 day(-1)), while the Chlorellales population only experienced significant mortality as a result of viral lysis (1.38 day(-1)). Our results demonstrate that the combination of qPCR and the modified dilution method can be used to estimate both viral lysis and grazing pressure on several individual phytoplankton populations within a community simultaneously. Further, previously noted limitations of the modified dilution method associated with the dilution of specific phytoplankton populations at low abundances can be overcome with the qPCR-based approach. Most importantly, this study demonstrates that when used alone, whole community-based methods of assessing mortality can overlook valuable information about carbon flow in aquatic microbial food webs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michael A Staniewski
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
12
|
Abstract
Metagenomics is a discipline that enables the genomic study of uncultured microorganisms. Faster, cheaper sequencing technologies and the ability to sequence uncultured microbes sampled directly from their habitats are expanding and transforming our view of the microbial world. Distilling meaningful information from the millions of new genomic sequences presents a serious challenge to bioinformaticians. In cultured microbes, the genomic data come from a single clone, making sequence assembly and annotation tractable. In metagenomics, the data come from heterogeneous microbial communities, sometimes containing more than 10,000 species, with the sequence data being noisy and partial. From sampling, to assembly, to gene calling and function prediction, bioinformatics faces new demands in interpreting voluminous, noisy, and often partial sequence data. Although metagenomics is a relative newcomer to science, the past few years have seen an explosion in computational methods applied to metagenomic-based research. It is therefore not within the scope of this article to provide an exhaustive review. Rather, we provide here a concise yet comprehensive introduction to the current computational requirements presented by metagenomics, and review the recent progress made. We also note whether there is software that implements any of the methods presented here, and briefly review its utility. Nevertheless, it would be useful if readers of this article would avail themselves of the comment section provided by this journal, and relate their own experiences. Finally, the last section of this article provides a few representative studies illustrating different facets of recent scientific discoveries made using metagenomics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- John C. Wooley
- Community Cyberinfrastructure for Marine Microbial Ecology Research and Analysis, California Institute for Telecommunications and Information Technology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Adam Godzik
- Community Cyberinfrastructure for Marine Microbial Ecology Research and Analysis, California Institute for Telecommunications and Information Technology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
- Program in Bioinformatics and Systems Biology, Burnham Institute for Medical Research, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Iddo Friedberg
- Department of Microbiology, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, United States of America
- Department of Computer Science and Software Engineering, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Mayfield AB, Hirst MB, Gates RD. Gene expression normalization in a dual-compartment system: a real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction protocol for symbiotic anthozoans. Mol Ecol Resour 2009; 9:462-70. [PMID: 21564675 DOI: 10.1111/j.1755-0998.2008.02349.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Traditional real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction protocols cannot be used accurately with symbiotic organisms unless the relative contribution of each symbiotic compartment to the total nucleic acid pool is known. A modified 'universal reference gene' protocol was created for reef-building corals and sea anemones, anthozoans that harbour endosymbiotic dinoflagellates belonging to the genus Symbiodinium. Gene expression values are first normalized to an RNA spike and then to a symbiont molecular proxy that represents the number of Symbiodinium cells extracted and present in the RNA. The latter is quantified using the number of genome copies of heat shock protein-70 (HSP70) amplified in the real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Gene expression values are then normalized to the total concentration of RNA to account for differences in the amount of live tissue extracted among experimental treatments and replicates. The molecular quantification of symbiont cells and effect of increasing symbiont contributions to the nucleic acid pool on gene expression were tested in vivo using differentially infected sea anemones Aiptasia pulchella. This protocol has broad application to researchers who seek to measure gene expression in mixed organism assemblages.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anderson B Mayfield
- Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, 46-007 Lilipuna Road, Kaneohe, HI 96744, USA and Department of Zoology, University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2538 McCarthy Mall, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
14
|
MIEOG JC, VAN OPPEN MJH, BERKELMANS R, STAM WT, OLSEN JL. Quantification of algal endosymbionts (Symbiodinium) in coral tissue using real-time PCR. Mol Ecol Resour 2009; 9:74-82. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1755-0998.2008.02222.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
|
15
|
Venn AA, Loram JE, Trapido-Rosenthal HG, Joyce DA, Douglas AE. Importance of time and place: patterns in abundance of Symbiodinium clades A and B in the tropical sea anemone Condylactis gigantea. THE BIOLOGICAL BULLETIN 2008; 215:243-252. [PMID: 19098145 DOI: 10.2307/25470708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
The capacity of some corals and other cnidarians to form symbioses with multiple algae (Symbiodinium) is a candidate route by which these symbioses tolerate variable environmental conditions. On Bermuda, the coral reef dwelling anemone Condylactis gigantea bears Symbiodinium of clades A and B. At thermally variable inshore and nearshore sites, clade A predominates (as sole symbiont or in mixed infection with clade B), whereas animals at offshore sites with more uniform temperatures bear only clade B or mixed infections. Individual animals at one nearshore site monitored over a year by sampling tentacles showed increased prevalence of clade A in March-November, when sea waters were warm (average 26 degrees C), and increased clade B in November-March when cool waters prevailed (average 18.5 degrees C). In laboratory analyses of excised tentacles, the symbiosis with clade B, but not clade A, bleached at elevated temperature (32 degrees C), suggesting that thermal tolerance may contribute to the higher prevalence of clade A at inshore/nearshore sites and in the summer. The temporal changes in the algal complement were not accompanied by bleaching, and Symbiodinium density fluctuated in hosts with stable Symbiodinium composition but not in hosts with variable composition. This suggests that changes in the relative abundance of Symbiodinium clades do not require bleaching and may even protect the symbiosis from large fluctuations in algal density.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- A A Venn
- Department of Biology, University of York, York, YO10 5YW, United Kingdom.
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
16
|
Godhe A, Asplund ME, Härnström K, Saravanan V, Tyagi A, Karunasagar I. Quantification of diatom and dinoflagellate biomasses in coastal marine seawater samples by real-time PCR. Appl Environ Microbiol 2008; 74:7174-82. [PMID: 18849462 PMCID: PMC2592920 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01298-08] [Citation(s) in RCA: 133] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2008] [Accepted: 10/02/2008] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Two real-time PCR assays targeting the small-subunit (SSU) ribosomal DNA (rDNA) were designed to assess the proportional biomass of diatoms and dinoflagellates in marine coastal water. The reverse primer for the diatom assay was designed to be class specific, and the dinoflagellate-specific reverse primer was obtained from the literature. For both targets, we used universal eukaryotic SSU rDNA forward primers. Specificity was confirmed by using a BLAST search and by amplification of cultures of various phytoplankton taxa. Reaction conditions were optimized for each primer set with linearized plasmids from cloned SSU rDNA fragments. The number of SSU rDNA copies per cell was estimated for six species of diatoms and nine species of dinoflagellates; these were significantly correlated to the biovolumes of the cells. Nineteen field samples were collected along the Swedish west coast and subjected to the two real-time PCR assays. The linear regression of the proportion of SSU rDNA copies of dinoflagellate and diatom origin versus the proportion of dinoflagellate and diatom biovolumes or biomass per liter was significant. For diatoms, linear regression of the number of SSU rDNA copies versus biovolume or biomass per liter was significant, but no such significant correlation was detected in the field samples for dinoflagellates. The method described will be useful for estimating the proportion of dinoflagellate versus diatom biovolume or biomass and the absolute diatom biovolume or biomass in various aquatic disciplines.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anna Godhe
- Department of Marine Ecology, University of Gothenburg, Göteborg, Sweden.
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
17
|
Cell cultures from the symbiotic soft coral Sinularia flexibilis. In Vitro Cell Dev Biol Anim 2008; 44:330-8. [PMID: 18661193 DOI: 10.1007/s11626-008-9128-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2008] [Accepted: 05/22/2008] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
The symbiotic octocoral Sinularia flexibilis is a producer of potential pharmaceuticals. Sustainable mass production of these corals as a source of such compounds demands innovative approaches, including coral cell culture. We studied various cell dissociation methodologies and the feasibility of cultivation of S. flexibilis cells on different media and cell dissociation methodologies. Mechanical dissociation of coral tissue always yielded the highest number of cells and allowed subsequent cellular growth in all treatments. The best results from chemical dissociation reagents were found with trypsin-ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid. Coral cells obtained from spontaneous dissociation did not grow. Light intensity was found to be important for coral cell culture showing an enduring symbiosis between the cultured cells and their intracellular algae. The Grace's insect medium and Grace's modified insect medium were found to be superior substrates. To confirm the similarity of the cultured cells and those in the coral tissue, a molecular test with Internal Transcribed Spacer primers was performed. Thereby, the presence of similar cells of both the coral cells and zooxanthella in different culture media was confirmed.
Collapse
|
18
|
Loram JE, Trapido-Rosenthal HG, Douglas AE. Functional significance of genetically different symbiotic algae Symbiodinium in a coral reef symbiosis. Mol Ecol 2007; 16:4849-57. [PMID: 17868294 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-294x.2007.03491.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The giant sea anemone Condylactis gigantea associates with members of two clades of the dinoflagellate alga Symbiodinium, either singly or in mixed infection, as revealed by clade-specific quantitative polymerase chain reaction of large subunit ribosomal DNA. To explore the functional significance of this molecular variation, the fate of photosynthetically fixed carbon was investigated by (14)C radiotracer experiments. Symbioses with algae of clades A and B released ca. 30-40% of fixed carbon to the animal tissues. Incorporation into the lipid fraction and the low molecular weight fraction dominated by amino acids was significantly higher in symbioses with algae of clade A than of clade B, suggesting that the genetically different algae in C. gigantea are not functionally equivalent. Symbioses with mixed infections yielded intermediate values, such that this functional trait of the symbiosis can be predicted from the traits of the contributing algae. Coral and sea anemone symbioses with Symbiodinium break down at elevated temperature, a process known as 'coral bleaching'. The functional response of the C. gigantea symbiosis to heat stress varied between the algae of clades A and B, with particularly depressed incorporation of photosynthetic carbon into lipid of the clade B algae, which are more susceptible to high temperature than the algae of clade A. This study provides a first exploration of how the core symbiotic function of photosynthate transfer to the host varies with the genotype of Symbiodinium, an algal symbiont which underpins corals and, hence, coral reef ecosystems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- J E Loram
- Department of Biology (Area 2), University of York, York YO10 5YW, UK.
| | | | | |
Collapse
|