1
|
Lin S, Li L, Zhou Z, Yuan H, Saad OS, Tang J, Cai W, Yu K, Lin S. Higher genotypic diversity and distinct assembly mechanism of free-living Symbiodiniaceae assemblages than sympatric coral-endosymbiotic assemblages in a tropical coral reef. Microbiol Spectr 2024:e0051424. [PMID: 38874391 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00514-24] [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: 02/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024] Open
Abstract
While in hospite Symbiodiniaceae dinoflagellates are essential for coral health, ambient free-living counterparts are crucial for coral recruitment and resilience. Comparing free-living and in hospite Symbiodiniaceae communities can potentially provide insights into endosymbiont acquisition and recurrent recruitment in bleaching recovery. In this study, we studied coral-endosymbiotic and ambient free-living Symbiodiniaceae communities in the South China Sea. We collected samples from 183 coral and ambient plankton samples and conducted metabarcoding to investigate the diversity distribution, driving factors, and assembly mechanisms of the two groups of Symbiodiniaceae. Results revealed Cladocopium C1 and Durusdinium D1 as dominant genotypes. We detected a higher genotypic diversity in free-living than in hospite symbiodiniacean communities, but with shared dominant genotypes. This indicates a genetically diverse pool of Symbiodiniaceae available for recruitment by corals. Strikingly, we found that the cooler area had more Symbiodiniaceae thermosensitive genotypes, whereas the warmer area had more Symbiodiniaceae thermotolerant genotypes. Furthermore, in hospite and free-living Symbiodiniaceae communities were similarly affected by environmental factors, but shaped by different assembly mechanisms. The in hospite communities were controlled mainly by deterministic processes, whereas the ambient communities by stochastic processes. This study sheds light on the genetic diversity of source environmental Symbiodiniaceae and differential assembly mechanisms influencing Symbiodiniaceae inside and outside corals.IMPORTANCESymbiodiniaceae dinoflagellates play a pivotal role as key primary producers within coral reef ecosystems. Coral-endosymbiotic Symbiodiniaceae communities have been extensively studied, but relatively little work has been reported on the free-living Symbiodiniaceae community. Conducting a comparative analysis between sympatric coral-endosymbiotic and free-living Symbiodiniaceae communities can potentially enhance the understanding of how endosymbiont communities change in response to changing environments and the mechanisms driving these changes. Our findings shed light on the genetic diversity of source environmental Symbiodiniaceae and differential assembly mechanisms shaping free-living and in hospite Symbiodiniaceae communities, with implications in evaluating the adaptive and resilient capacity of corals in response to future climate change.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sitong Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Ling Li
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Zhi Zhou
- School of Marine Science and Engineering, Hainan University, Haikou, China
| | - Huatao Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Osama S Saad
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Jia Tang
- School of Marine Science and Engineering, Hainan University, Haikou, China
| | - Wenqi Cai
- School of Marine Science and Engineering, Hainan University, Haikou, China
| | - Kefu Yu
- School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Senjie Lin
- Department of Marine Sciences, University of Connecticut, Groton, Connecticut, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Chen B, Wei Y, Yu K, Liang Y, Yu X, Liao Z, Qin Z, Xu L, Bao Z. The microbiome dynamics and interaction of endosymbiotic Symbiodiniaceae and fungi are associated with thermal bleaching susceptibility of coral holobionts. Appl Environ Microbiol 2024; 90:e0193923. [PMID: 38445866 PMCID: PMC11022545 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01939-23] [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: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024] Open
Abstract
The thermal bleaching percentage of coral holobionts shows interspecific differences under heat-stress conditions, which are closely related to the coral-associated microbiome. However, the ecological effects of community dynamics and interactions between Symbiodiniaceae and fungi on coral thermal bleaching susceptibility remain unclear. In this study, we analyzed the diversity, community structure, functions, and potential interaction of Symbiodiniaceae and fungi among 18 coral species from a high thermal bleaching risk atoll using next-generation sequencing. The results showed that heat-tolerant C3u sub-clade and Durusdinium dominated the Symbiodiniaceae community of corals and that there were no core amplicon sequence variants in the coral-associated fungal community. Fungal richness and the abundance of confirmed functional animal-plant pathogens were significantly positively correlated with the coral thermal bleaching percentage. Fungal indicators, including Didymellaceae, Chaetomiaceae, Schizophyllum, and Colletotrichum, were identified in corals. Each coral species had a complex Symbiodiniaceae-fungi interaction network (SFIN), which was driven by the dominant Symbiodiniaceae sub-clades. The SFINs of coral holobionts with low thermal bleaching susceptibility exhibited low complexity and high betweenness centrality. These results indicate that the extra heat tolerance of coral in Huangyan Island may be linked to the high abundance of heat-tolerant Symbiodiniaceae. Fungal communities have high interspecific flexibility, and the increase of fungal diversity and pathogen abundance was correlated with higher thermal bleaching susceptibility of corals. Moreover, fungal indicators were associated with the degrees of coral thermal bleaching susceptibility, including both high and intermediate levels. The topological properties of SFINs suggest that heat-tolerant coral have limited fungal parasitism and strong microbial network resilience.IMPORTANCEGlobal warming and enhanced marine heatwaves have led to a rapid decline in coral reef ecosystems worldwide. Several studies have focused on the impact of coral-associated microbiomes on thermal bleaching susceptibility in corals; however, the ecological functions and interactions between Symbiodiniaceae and fungi remain unclear. We investigated the microbiome dynamics and potential interactions of Symbiodiniaceae and fungi among 18 coral species in Huangyan Island. Our study found that the Symbiodiniaceae community of corals was mainly composed of heat-tolerant C3u sub-clade and Durusdinium. The increase in fungal diversity and pathogen abundance has close associations with higher coral thermal bleaching susceptibility. We first constructed an interaction network between Symbiodiniaceae and fungi in corals, which indicated that restricting fungal parasitism and strong interaction network resilience would promote heat acclimatization of corals. Accordingly, this study provides insights into the role of microorganisms and their interaction as drivers of interspecific differences in coral thermal bleaching.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Biao Chen
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Coral Reef Research Center of China, School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Yuxin Wei
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Coral Reef Research Center of China, School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Kefu Yu
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Coral Reef Research Center of China, School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou, China
| | - Yanting Liang
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Coral Reef Research Center of China, School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Xiaopeng Yu
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Coral Reef Research Center of China, School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Zhiheng Liao
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Coral Reef Research Center of China, School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Change and Resource Use in Beibu Gulf, Ministry of Education, Nanning Normal University, Nanning, China
| | - Zhenjun Qin
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Coral Reef Research Center of China, School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Lijia Xu
- South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, MEE, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zeming Bao
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Coral Reef Research Center of China, School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Wang S, Lu C, Zhang Q, He X, Wang W, Li J, Su H. Microbial community and transcriptional responses to V. coralliilyticus stress in coral Favites halicora and Pocillopora damicornis holobiont. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 196:106394. [PMID: 38340371 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2024.106394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Revised: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 02/04/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
Variability in coral hosts susceptibility to Vibrio coralliilyticus is well-documented; however, the comprehensive understanding of tolerance of response to pathogen among coral species is lacked. Herein, we investigated the microbial communities and transcriptome dynamics of two corals in response to Vibrio coralliilyticus. Favites halicora displayed greater resistance to Vibrio coralliilyticus challenge than Pocillopora damicornis. Furthermore, the relative abundances of Flavobacteriaceae, Vibrionacea, Rhodobacteraceae, and Roseobacteraceae increased significantly in Favites halicora following pathogen stress, whereas that of Akkermansiaceae increased significantly in Pocillopora damicornis, leading to bacterial community imbalance. In contrast to the previous results, pathogen infection did not have much effect on the community structures of Symbiodiniaceae and fungi, but led to a decrease in the density of Symbiodiniaceae. Transcriptome analysis indicated that Vibrio infection triggered a coral immune response, resulting in higher expression of immune-related genes, which appeared to have higher transcriptional plasticity in Favites halicora than in Pocillopora damicornis. Specifically, the upregulated genes of Favites halicora were predominantly involved in the apoptosis pathway, whereas Pocillopora damicornis were significantly enriched in the nucleotide excision repair and base excision repair pathways. These findings suggest that coral holobionts activate different mechanisms across species in response to pathogens through shifts in microbial communities and transcriptomes, which provides novel insight into assessing the future coral assemblages suffering from disease outbreaks.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shuying Wang
- Coral Reef Research Center of China, Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, China; School of Resources, Environment and Materials, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, China
| | - Chunrong Lu
- Coral Reef Research Center of China, Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, China
| | - Qi Zhang
- Coral Reef Research Center of China, Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, China
| | - Xucong He
- Coral Reef Research Center of China, Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, China
| | - Weihui Wang
- Coral Reef Research Center of China, Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, China
| | - Jiani Li
- Coral Reef Research Center of China, Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, China
| | - Hongfei Su
- Coral Reef Research Center of China, Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, China.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Huang W, Meng L, Xiao Z, Tan R, Yang E, Wang Y, Huang X, Yu K. Heat-tolerant intertidal rock pool coral Porites lutea can potentially adapt to future warming. Mol Ecol 2024; 33:e17273. [PMID: 38265168 DOI: 10.1111/mec.17273] [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: 08/25/2023] [Revised: 12/31/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 01/25/2024]
Abstract
The growing threat of global warming on coral reefs underscores the urgency of identifying heat-tolerant corals and discovering their adaptation mechanisms to high temperatures. Corals growing in intertidal rock pools that vary markedly in daily temperature may have improved heat tolerance. In this study, heat stress experiments were performed on scleractinian coral Porites lutea from subtidal habitat and intertidal rock pool of Weizhou Island in the northern South China Sea. Thermotolerance differences in corals from the two habitats and their mechanisms were explored through phenotype, physiological indicators, ITS2, 16S rRNA, and RNA sequencing. At the extremely high temperature of 34°C, rock pool P. lutea had a stronger heat tolerance than those in the subtidal habitat. The strong antioxidant capacity of the coral host and its microbial partners was important in the resistance of rock pool corals to high temperatures. The host of rock pool corals at 34°C had stronger immune and apoptotic regulation, downregulated host metabolism and disease-infection-related pathways compared to the subtidal habitat. P. lutea, in this habitat, upregulated Cladocopium C15 (Symbiodiniaceae) photosynthetic efficiency and photoprotection, and significantly increased bacterial diversity and coral probiotics, including ABY1, Ruegeria, and Alteromonas. These findings indicate that rock pool corals can tolerate high temperatures through the integrated response of coral holobionts. These corals may be 'touchstones' for future warming. Our research provides new insights into the complex mechanisms by which corals resist global warming and the theoretical basis for coral reef ecosystem restoration and selection of stress-resistant coral populations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wen Huang
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Coral Reef Research Center of China, School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Linqing Meng
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Coral Reef Research Center of China, School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Zunyong Xiao
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Coral Reef Research Center of China, School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
- School of Resources, Environment and Materials, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Ronghua Tan
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Coral Reef Research Center of China, School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Enguang Yang
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Coral Reef Research Center of China, School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Yonggang Wang
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Coral Reef Research Center of China, School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Xueyong Huang
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Coral Reef Research Center of China, School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Kefu Yu
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Coral Reef Research Center of China, School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, Guangzhou, China
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Wei Y, Chen B, Yu K, Liao Z, Yu X, Qin Z, Bao Z, Xu L, Wang Y. Evolutionary radiation and microbial community dynamics shape the thermal tolerance of Fungiidae in the southern South China Sea. Microbiol Spectr 2024; 12:e0243623. [PMID: 38174936 PMCID: PMC10845974 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02436-23] [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: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Fungiidae have shown increased thermal adaptability in coral reef ecosystems under global warming. This study analyzes the evolutionary divergence and microbial communities of Fungiidae in the Sanjiao Reef of the southern South China Sea and explores the impact of coral evolution radiation and microbial dynamics on the heat tolerance of Fungiidae. The results found that Cycloseris was an ancient branch of Fungiidae, dating back approximately 147.8953 Mya, and Fungiidae differentiated into two ancestral clades (clades I and II) before 107.0312 Ma. Fungiidae exhibited specific symbioses with the Cladocopium C27 sub-clade. Notably, the Cladocopium C1 sub-clade has a high relative abundance in clade I, whereas the heat-tolerant Cladocopium C40 and C3u sub-clades subdominante in clade II. Regarding bacterial communities, Cycloseris costulata, the earliest divergent species, had higher bacterial β-diversity, while the latest divergent species, Lithophyllon scabra, displayed lower bacterial α-diversity and higher community stability. Beneficial bacteria dominante Fungiidae's bacterial community (54%). The co-occurrence network revealed that microbial networks in clade II exhibited lower complexity and greater resilience than those in clade I. Our study highlights that host evolutionary radiation and microbial communities shaped Fungiidae's thermal tolerance. The variability in subdominant Symbiodiniaceae populations may contribute to interspecific differences in thermal tolerance along the evolutionary branches of Fungiidae. The presence of abundant beneficial bacteria may further enhance the thermal ability of the Fungiidae. Furthermore, the later divergent species of Fungiidae have stronger heat tolerance, possibly driven by the increased regulation ability of the host on the bacterial community, greater microbial community stability, and interaction network resistance.IMPORTANCECoral reefs are facing significant threats due to global warming. The heat tolerance of coral holobionts depends on both the coral host and its microbiome. However, the association between coral evolutionary radiation and interspecific differences in microbial communities remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the role of evolutionary radiation and microbial community dynamics in shaping the thermal acclimation potential of Fungiidae in the Sanjiao Reef of the southern South China Sea. The study's results suggest that evolutionary radiation enhances the thermal tolerance of Fungiidae. Fungiidae species that have diverged more recently have exhibited a higher presence of heat-tolerant Symbiodiniaceae taxa, more stable bacterial communities, and a robust and resilient microbial interaction network, improving the thermal adaptability of Fungiidae. In summary, this study provides new insights into the thermal adaptation patterns of corals under global warming conditions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuxin Wei
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Coral Reef Research Center of China, School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Biao Chen
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Coral Reef Research Center of China, School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Kefu Yu
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Coral Reef Research Center of China, School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhiheng Liao
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Change and Resource Use in Beibu Gulf, Ministry of Education, Nanning Normal University, Nanning, China
| | - Xiaopeng Yu
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Coral Reef Research Center of China, School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Zhenjun Qin
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Coral Reef Research Center of China, School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Zeming Bao
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Coral Reef Research Center of China, School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Lijia Xu
- South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, MEE, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yongzhi Wang
- South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, MEE, Guangzhou, China
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Chen B, Yu K, Fu L, Wei Y, Liang J, Liao Z, Qin Z, Yu X, Deng C, Han M, Ma H. The diversity, community dynamics, and interactions of the microbiome in the world's deepest blue hole: insights into extreme environmental response patterns and tolerance of marine microorganisms. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0053123. [PMID: 37861344 PMCID: PMC10883803 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00531-23] [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: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE This study comprehensively examined the community dynamics, functional profiles, and interactions of the microbiome in the world's deepest blue hole. The findings revealed a positive correlation between the α-diversities of Symbiodiniaceae and archaea, indicating the potential reliance of Symbiodiniaceae on archaea in an extreme environment resulting from a partial niche overlap. The negative association between the α-diversity and β-diversity of the bacterial community suggested that the change rule of the bacterial community was consistent with the Anna Karenina effects. The core microbiome comprised nine microbial taxa, highlighting their remarkable tolerance and adaptability to sharp environmental gradient variations. Bacteria and archaea played significant roles in carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur cycles, while fungi contributed to carbon metabolism. This study advanced our understanding of the community dynamics, response patterns, and resilience of microorganisms populating the world's deepest blue hole, thereby facilitating further ecological and evolutional exploration of microbiomes in diverse extreme environments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Biao Chen
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Coral Reef Research Center of China, School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University , Nanning, China
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai) , Zhuhai, China
| | - Kefu Yu
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Coral Reef Research Center of China, School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University , Nanning, China
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai) , Zhuhai, China
| | - Liang Fu
- Sansha Track Ocean Coral Reef Conservation Research Institute Co. Ltd. , Qionghai, China
| | - Yuxin Wei
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Coral Reef Research Center of China, School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University , Nanning, China
| | - Jiayuan Liang
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Coral Reef Research Center of China, School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University , Nanning, China
| | - Zhiheng Liao
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Coral Reef Research Center of China, School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University , Nanning, China
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Change and Resource Use in Beibu Gulf, Ministry of Education, Nanning Normal University , Nanning, China
| | - Zhenjun Qin
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Coral Reef Research Center of China, School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University , Nanning, China
| | - Xiaopeng Yu
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Coral Reef Research Center of China, School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University , Nanning, China
| | - Chuanqi Deng
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Coral Reef Research Center of China, School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University , Nanning, China
| | - Minwei Han
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Coral Reef Research Center of China, School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University , Nanning, China
| | - Honglin Ma
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Change and Resource Use in Beibu Gulf, Ministry of Education, Nanning Normal University , Nanning, China
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Cheng K, Tong M, Cai Z, Jong MC, Zhou J, Xiao B. Prokaryotic and eukaryotic microbial communities associated with coral species have high host specificity in the South China Sea. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 867:161185. [PMID: 36581277 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.161185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2022] [Revised: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Reef-building corals are well known for their obligate association with Symbiodiniaceae, and an array of other microbes, including bacteria, fungi, and symbiotic algae (i.e., total microbiome), which together form the coral holobiont. The total microbiome plays an intricate part in maintaining the homeostasis of the coral holobiont and is closely associated with host health. However, the composition of the coral associated microbiome and interaction between its different members remains elusive because few analyses have bridged taxonomically disparate groups. This research gaps have prevented a holistic understanding of the total microbiome. Thus, to simultaneously characterize the bacterial, fungal and symbiotic algal communities associated with different coral species, and explore the relationship between these symbionts and coral health, healthy and bleached tissues from four coral species, Acropora muricata, Galaxea fascicularis, Platygyra daedalea, and Pavona explanulata, were collected from the Xisha Islands of the South China Sea. Using high throughput sequencing, a high degree of host-specificity was observed among bacterial, fungal, and algal groups across coral species. There were no obvious changes in the microbial community structure of apparently healthy and bleached corals, but host bleaching allowed colonization of the holobionts by diverse opportunistic microbes, resulting in a significant elevation in the α-diversity of microbial communities. In addition, co-occurrence analysis of the coral microbiota also identified more complex microbial interactions in bleached corals than in healthy ones. In summary, this study characterized the structure of coral-associated microbiomes across four coral species, and systematically studied microbiome differences between healthy and bleached corals. The findings improve our understanding of the heterogeneity of symbiotic microorganisms and the impact of coral's physiological status on its associated microbial communities composition.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Keke Cheng
- Shenzhen Public Platform for Screening and Application of Marine Microbial Resources, Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, PR China
| | - Mengmeng Tong
- Ocean College, Zhejiang University, Zhoushan 316021, PR China
| | - Zhonghua Cai
- Shenzhen Public Platform for Screening and Application of Marine Microbial Resources, Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, PR China
| | - Mui Choo Jong
- Institute of Environment and Ecology, Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, PR China
| | - Jin Zhou
- Shenzhen Public Platform for Screening and Application of Marine Microbial Resources, Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, PR China.
| | - Baohua Xiao
- Shenzhen Institute of Guangdong Ocean University, Shenzhen 518114, PR China.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Mohamed HF, Abd‐Elgawad A, Cai R, Luo Z, Xu C. The bacterial signature offers vision into the machinery of coral fitness across high-latitude coral reef in the South China Sea. ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY REPORTS 2023; 15:13-30. [PMID: 36054576 PMCID: PMC10103774 DOI: 10.1111/1758-2229.13119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Coral-bacterial interaction is a major driver in coral acclimatization to the stressful environment. 16S rRNA High-throughput sequencing was used to classify the role of different coral reef compartments; sediment, water, and tissue; in the South China Sea (SCS), as well as different locations in shaping the microbial community. The majority of OTUs significantly shifted at impacted sites and indicated distinction in the relative abundance of bacteria compartment/site-wise. Richness and diversity were higher, and more taxa were enriched in the sediment communities. Proteobacteria dominated sediment samples, while Cyanobacteria dominated water samples. Coral tissue showed a shift among different sites with Proteobacteria remaining the dominant Phylum. Moreover, we report a dominance of Chlorobium genus in the healthy coral tissue sample collected from the severely damaged Site B, suggesting a contribution to tolerance and adaptation to the disturbing environment. Thus, revealing the complex functionally diverse microbial patterns associated with biotic and abiotic disturbed coral reefs will deliver understanding of the symbiotic connections and competitive benefit inside the hosts niche and can reveal a measurable footprint of the environmental impacts on coral ecosystems. We hence, urge scientists to draw more attention towards using coral microbiome as a self-sustaining tool in coral restoration.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hala F. Mohamed
- Third Institute of OceanographyMinistry of Natural ResourcesXiamenPeople's Republic of China
- Al‐Azhar University (Girls Branch)Faculty of Science, Botany & Microbiology DepartmentCairoEgypt
| | - Amro Abd‐Elgawad
- Third Institute of OceanographyMinistry of Natural ResourcesXiamenPeople's Republic of China
- Tourism Developing AuthorityCentral Adminstration for Environmental AffairsCairoEgypt
| | - Rongshuo Cai
- Third Institute of OceanographyMinistry of Natural ResourcesXiamenPeople's Republic of China
| | - Zhaohe Luo
- Third Institute of OceanographyMinistry of Natural ResourcesXiamenPeople's Republic of China
| | - Changan Xu
- Third Institute of OceanographyMinistry of Natural ResourcesXiamenPeople's Republic of China
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Wang X, Li Y, Lin M, Su Z, Liu X, Yu K. Variations in the coral community at the high-latitude Bailong Peninsula, northern South China Sea. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:274-286. [PMID: 35900625 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-21881-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2021] [Accepted: 07/01/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
High-latitude coral communities have attracted much attention due to their potential as refuges during global climate change. However, this function is being constrained by the combined pressure of global climate and anthropogenic activities. To determine how the reef has developed, we conducted a long-term monitoring study on coral communities along the Bailong Peninsula in the northern South China Sea. The results showed that the distribution area of corals was 3.67 km2 and that corals extended about 4.7 km along the coastline. The coral distribution pattern is scattered and uneven. Our results showed that the growth of reef-building corals and coral recruitment are improving, indicating that coral recruitment plays an important role in regulating the structure of adult coral populations and promoting the development of coral communities. Bailong Peninsula is expected to become a refuge for corals provided that human activities impacting coral restoration potential are controlled.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xin Wang
- School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, China
- Guangxi Key Lab of Mangrove Conservation and Utilization, Guangxi Mangrove Research Center of Guangxi Sciences Academy, Beihai, 536000, China
- Forestry College of Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, China
| | - Yinqiang Li
- School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, China
| | - Mingqing Lin
- Guangxi Key Lab of Mangrove Conservation and Utilization, Guangxi Mangrove Research Center of Guangxi Sciences Academy, Beihai, 536000, China
| | - Zhinan Su
- Guangxi Key Lab of Mangrove Conservation and Utilization, Guangxi Mangrove Research Center of Guangxi Sciences Academy, Beihai, 536000, China
| | - Xiong Liu
- Sea Area Use Dynamic Supervision Center, Fangchenggang, 53800, China
| | - Kefu Yu
- School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, China.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Ip JCH, Zhang Y, Xie JY, Yeung YH, Qiu JW. Stable Symbiodiniaceae composition in three coral species during the 2017 natural bleaching event in subtropical Hong Kong. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2022; 184:114224. [PMID: 36240631 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.114224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2022] [Revised: 09/29/2022] [Accepted: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Adaptive changes in endosymbiotic Symbiodiniaceae communities have been reported during and after bleaching events in tropical coral species, but little is known about such shifts in subtropical species. Here we examined the Symbiodiniaceae communities in three coral species (Montipora peltiformis, Pavona decussata, and Platygyra carnosa) based on samples collected during and after the 2017 bleaching event in subtropical Hong Kong waters. In all of the collected samples, ITS2 meta-sequencing revealed that P. decussata and P. carnosa were predominantly associated with Cladocopium C1 and C1c, whereas M. peltiformis was mainly associated with two Cladocopium C21 types and C1. For each species, the predominant endosymbionts exhibited high fidelity, and the relatively low abundance ITS2-types showed minor changes between the bleached and recovered corals. Our study provided the first details of coral-algal association in Hong Kong waters, suggesting the selection of certain genotypes as a potential adaptive mechanism to the marginal environmental conditions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jack Chi-Ho Ip
- Department of Biology, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China; Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou 511458, China; HKBU Institute of Research and Continuing Education, Virtual University Park, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yanjie Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou, China
| | - James Y Xie
- Department of Biology, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Yip Hung Yeung
- Department of Biology, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Jian-Wen Qiu
- Department of Biology, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China; Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou 511458, China; HKBU Institute of Research and Continuing Education, Virtual University Park, Shenzhen, China.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Huang W, Yang E, Yu K, Meng L, Wang Y, Liang J, Huang X, Wang G. Lower cold tolerance of tropical Porites lutea is possibly detrimental to its migration to relatively high latitude refuges in the South China Sea. Mol Ecol 2022; 31:5339-5355. [PMID: 35976256 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2022] [Revised: 08/08/2022] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
As high temperature stress due to climate change threatens tropical corals, cooler areas at relatively high latitudes may be potential refuges. Tolerance to low temperatures is critical in determining whether corals can successfully migrate to higher latitudes. However, the physiological and molecular adaptations that protect corals from low temperature stress are unclear. In this study, scleractinian Porites lutea samples from the tropical Xisha Islands (XS) and subtropical Daya Bay (DY) in the South China Sea were subjected to a reduction in ambient temperature from 26 to 12°C. Differences in physiological changes and gene expression were analysed. P. lutea from both XS and DY exhibited physiological bleaching under low temperature stress, and the Symbiodiniaceae density, Fv/Fm, and chlorophyll-α content were significantly reduced. Symbiosome antioxidative stress and metabolic enzyme activity first increased and then decreased. RNA-seq analysis showed that the host responded to low temperature stress by activating immune, apoptotic, and autophagic pathways and reducing metabolic levels. Nevertheless, Symbiodiniaceae lacked the physiological regulatory capacity to adapt to low temperatures. The lower cold tolerance of XS tropical P. lutea may attribute to lower oxidative stress resistance, lower photosynthetic capacity, worse energy supply, and higher susceptibility to bacterial and viral infections and diseases in XS corals. The difference in cold tolerance may result from genetic differences between the geographic populations and is possibly detrimental to the migration of tropical coral to relatively high latitude refuges. This study provides a theoretical basis for anthropogenically assisted coral migration as a response to global change.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wen Huang
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Coral Reef Research Center of China, School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Enguang Yang
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Coral Reef Research Center of China, School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Kefu Yu
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Coral Reef Research Center of China, School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning, China.,Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, Zhuhai, China
| | - Linqing Meng
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Coral Reef Research Center of China, School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Yonggang Wang
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Coral Reef Research Center of China, School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Jiayuan Liang
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Coral Reef Research Center of China, School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Xueyong Huang
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Coral Reef Research Center of China, School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Guanghua Wang
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Coral Reef Research Center of China, School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Lee LK, Leaw CP, Lee LC, Lim ZF, Hii KS, Chan AA, Gu H, Lim PT. Molecular diversity and assemblages of coral symbionts (Symbiodiniaceae) in diverse scleractinian coral species. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 179:105706. [PMID: 35872442 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2022.105706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2022] [Revised: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 07/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The scleractinian coral-associated symbiotic algae Symbiodiniaceae plays an important role in bleaching tolerance and coral resilience. In this study, coral-associated Symbiodiniaceae communities of 14 reef sites of Perhentian and Redang Islands Marine Parks (Malaysia, South China Sea) were characterized using the high-throughput next-generation amplicon sequencing on the ITS2 rDNA marker to inventory the Symbiodiniaceae diversity from a healthy tropical reef system and to generate a baseline for future studies. A total of 64 coral-Symbiodiniaceae associations were characterized in 18 genera (10 families) of scleractinian corals using the SymPortal analytical framework. The results revealed the predominance of Symbiodiniaceae genera Cladocopium (average 82%) and Durusdinium (18%), while Symbiodinium, Breviolum, Fugacium, and Gerakladium were found as minor groups (<0.01%). Of the 39 Cladocopium and Durusdinium major ITS2 sequences, 14 were considered dominant/sub-dominant, with C3u as the predominant type (63.3%), followed by D1 (15%), C27 (10.1%), and C15 (6.9%). A total of 19 and 13 Cladocopium and Durusdinium ITS2-type profiles were detected across the coral species, respectively. Symbiodiniaceae diversity and richness recorded in this study were higher when compared to other reefs in the proximity. With the increasing coral-Symbiodiniaceae associations archived, the database would provide a baseline to assess the changes of Symbiodiniaceae communities in the coral hosts and to explore the potential adaptive roles of this coral-algal association.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Li Keat Lee
- Bachok Marine Research Station, Institute of Ocean and Earth Sciences, University of Malaya, 16310, Bachok, Kelantan, Malaysia
| | - Chui Pin Leaw
- Bachok Marine Research Station, Institute of Ocean and Earth Sciences, University of Malaya, 16310, Bachok, Kelantan, Malaysia.
| | - Li Chuen Lee
- Bachok Marine Research Station, Institute of Ocean and Earth Sciences, University of Malaya, 16310, Bachok, Kelantan, Malaysia
| | - Zhen Fei Lim
- Bachok Marine Research Station, Institute of Ocean and Earth Sciences, University of Malaya, 16310, Bachok, Kelantan, Malaysia
| | - Kieng Soon Hii
- Bachok Marine Research Station, Institute of Ocean and Earth Sciences, University of Malaya, 16310, Bachok, Kelantan, Malaysia
| | - Albert Apollo Chan
- Marine Park and Resource Management Division, Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture, 62628, Putrajaya, Malaysia
| | - Haifeng Gu
- Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen, 361005, China
| | - Po Teen Lim
- Bachok Marine Research Station, Institute of Ocean and Earth Sciences, University of Malaya, 16310, Bachok, Kelantan, Malaysia.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Zhu Y, Liao X, Han T, Chen JY, He C, Lu Z. Symbiodiniaceae microRNAs and their targeting sites in coral holobionts: A transcriptomics-based exploration. Genomics 2022; 114:110404. [PMID: 35714829 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygeno.2022.110404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2022] [Revised: 05/30/2022] [Accepted: 06/09/2022] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Corals should make excellent models for cross-kingdom research because of their natural animal-photobiont holobiont composition, yet a lack of studies and experimental data restricts their use. Here we integrate new full-length transcriptomes and small RNAs of four common reef-building corals with the published Cladocopium genomes to gain deeper insight into gene regulation in coral-Symbiodiniaceae holobionts. Eleven novel Symbiodiniaceae miRNAs get identified, and enrichment results of their target genes show that they might play a role in downregulating rejection from host coral cells, protecting symbiont from autophagy and apoptosis in parallel. This work provides evidence for the early origin of cross-kingdom regulation as a mechanism of self-defense autotrophs can use against heterotrophs, sheds more light on coral-Symbiodiniaceae holobionts, and contributes valuable data for further coral research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yunchi Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xin Liao
- Guangxi Key Lab of Mangrove Conservation and Utilization, Guangxi Mangrove Research Center, Beihai, Guangxi, China
| | - Tingyu Han
- State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - J-Y Chen
- Nanjing Institute of Paleontology and Geology, Nanjing, China
| | - Chunpeng He
- State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Zuhong Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Lin S, Yu K, Zhou Z. Editorial: Physiological Regulation and Homeostasis Among Coral Holobiont Partners. Front Physiol 2022; 13:921401. [PMID: 35620601 PMCID: PMC9127969 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.921401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2022] [Accepted: 04/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Senjie Lin
- Department of Marine Sciences, University of Connecticut, Groton, CT, United States
- *Correspondence: Senjie Lin, ; Kefu Yu, ; Zhi Zhou,
| | - Kefu Yu
- School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
- *Correspondence: Senjie Lin, ; Kefu Yu, ; Zhi Zhou,
| | - Zhi Zhou
- Department of Marine Sciences, College of Marine Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou, China
- *Correspondence: Senjie Lin, ; Kefu Yu, ; Zhi Zhou,
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Ge R, Liang J, Yu K, Chen B, Yu X, Deng C, Chen J, Xu Y, Qin L. Regulation of the Coral-Associated Bacteria and Symbiodiniaceae in Acropora valida Under Ocean Acidification. Front Microbiol 2022; 12:767174. [PMID: 34975794 PMCID: PMC8718875 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.767174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Accepted: 11/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Ocean acidification is one of many stressors that coral reef ecosystems are currently contending with. Thus, understanding the response of key symbiotic microbes to ocean acidification is of great significance for understanding the adaptation mechanism and development trend of coral holobionts. Here, high-throughput sequencing technology was employed to investigate the coral-associated bacteria and Symbiodiniaceae of the ecologically important coral Acropora valida exposed to different pH gradients. After 30 days of acclimatization, we set four acidification gradients (pH 8.2, 7.8, 7.4, and 7.2, respectively), and each pH condition was applied for 10 days, with the whole experiment lasting for 70 days. Although the Symbiodiniaceae density decreased significantly, the coral did not appear to be bleached, and the real-time photosynthetic rate did not change significantly, indicating that A. valida has strong tolerance to acidification. Moreover, the Symbiodiniaceae community composition was hardly affected by ocean acidification, with the C1 subclade (Cladocopium goreaui) being dominant among the Symbiodiniaceae dominant types. The relative abundance of the Symbiodiniaceae background types was significantly higher at pH 7.2, indicating that ocean acidification might increase the stability of the community composition by regulating the Symbiodiniaceae rare biosphere. Furthermore, the stable symbiosis between the C1 subclade and coral host may contribute to the stability of the real-time photosynthetic efficiency. Finally, concerning the coral-associated bacteria, the stable symbiosis between Endozoicomonas and coral host is likely to help them adapt to ocean acidification. The significant increase in the relative abundance of Cyanobacteria at pH 7.2 may also compensate for the photosynthesis efficiency of a coral holobiont. In summary, this study suggests that the combined response of key symbiotic microbes helps the whole coral host resist the threats of ocean acidification.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ruiqi Ge
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Coral Reef Research Center of China, School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Jiayuan Liang
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Coral Reef Research Center of China, School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning, China.,Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Zhuhai, China
| | - Kefu Yu
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Coral Reef Research Center of China, School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning, China.,Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Zhuhai, China
| | - Biao Chen
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Coral Reef Research Center of China, School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Xiaopeng Yu
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Coral Reef Research Center of China, School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Chuanqi Deng
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Coral Reef Research Center of China, School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Jinni Chen
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Coral Reef Research Center of China, School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Yongqian Xu
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Coral Reef Research Center of China, School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Liangyun Qin
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Coral Reef Research Center of China, School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Liang J, Luo W, Yu K, Xu Y, Chen J, Deng C, Ge R, Su H, Huang W, Wang G. Multi-Omics Revealing the Response Patterns of Symbiotic Microorganisms and Host Metabolism in Scleractinian Coral Pavona minuta to Temperature Stresses. Metabolites 2021; 12:metabo12010018. [PMID: 35050140 PMCID: PMC8780272 DOI: 10.3390/metabo12010018] [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: 12/01/2021] [Revised: 12/21/2021] [Accepted: 12/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Global climate change has resulted in large-scale coral reef decline worldwide, for which the ocean warming has paid more attention. Coral is a typical mutually beneficial symbiotic organism with diverse symbiotic microorganisms, which maintain the stability of physiological functions. This study compared the responses of symbiotic microorganisms and host metabolism in a common coral species, Pavona minuta, under indoor simulated thermal and cold temperatures. The results showed that abnormal temperature stresses had unfavorable impact on the phenotypes of corals, resulting in bleaching and color change. The compositions of symbiotic bacteria and dinoflagellate communities only presented tiny changes under temperature stresses. However, some rare symbiotic members have been showed to be significantly influenced by water temperatures. Finally, by using ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC–MS) method, we found that different temperature stresses had very different impacts on the metabolism of coral holobiont. The thermal and cold stresses induced the decrease of anti-oxidation metabolites, several monogalactosyldiacylglycerols (MGDGs), and the increase of lipotoxic metabolite, 10-oxo-nonadecanoic acid, in the coral holobiont, respectively. Our study indicated the response patterns of symbiotic microorganisms and host metabolism in coral to the thermal and cold stresses, providing theoretical data for the adaptation and evolution of coral to a different climate in the future.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jiayuan Liang
- Coral Reef Research Center of China, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China; (J.L.); (H.S.); (W.H.); (G.W.)
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Nanning 530004, China
- School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China; (W.L.); (Y.X.); (J.C.); (C.D.); (R.G.)
| | - Wenwen Luo
- School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China; (W.L.); (Y.X.); (J.C.); (C.D.); (R.G.)
| | - Kefu Yu
- Coral Reef Research Center of China, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China; (J.L.); (H.S.); (W.H.); (G.W.)
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Nanning 530004, China
- School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China; (W.L.); (Y.X.); (J.C.); (C.D.); (R.G.)
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, Zhuhai 519080, China
- Correspondence: ; Tel./Fax: +86-771-3231358
| | - Yongqian Xu
- School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China; (W.L.); (Y.X.); (J.C.); (C.D.); (R.G.)
| | - Jinni Chen
- School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China; (W.L.); (Y.X.); (J.C.); (C.D.); (R.G.)
| | - Chuanqi Deng
- School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China; (W.L.); (Y.X.); (J.C.); (C.D.); (R.G.)
| | - Ruiqi Ge
- School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China; (W.L.); (Y.X.); (J.C.); (C.D.); (R.G.)
| | - Hongfei Su
- Coral Reef Research Center of China, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China; (J.L.); (H.S.); (W.H.); (G.W.)
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Nanning 530004, China
- School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China; (W.L.); (Y.X.); (J.C.); (C.D.); (R.G.)
| | - Wen Huang
- Coral Reef Research Center of China, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China; (J.L.); (H.S.); (W.H.); (G.W.)
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Nanning 530004, China
- School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China; (W.L.); (Y.X.); (J.C.); (C.D.); (R.G.)
| | - Guanghua Wang
- Coral Reef Research Center of China, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China; (J.L.); (H.S.); (W.H.); (G.W.)
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Nanning 530004, China
- School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China; (W.L.); (Y.X.); (J.C.); (C.D.); (R.G.)
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Factors Limiting the Range Extension of Corals into High-Latitude Reef Regions. DIVERSITY 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/d13120632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Reef-building corals show a marked decrease in total species richness from the tropics to high latitude regions. Several hypotheses have been proposed to account for this pattern in the context of abiotic and biotic factors, including temperature thresholds, light limitation, aragonite saturation, nutrient or sediment loads, larval dispersal constraints, competition with macro-algae or other invertebrates, and availability of suitable settlement cues or micro-algal symbionts. Surprisingly, there is a paucity of data supporting several of these hypotheses. Given the immense pressures faced by corals in the Anthropocene, it is critical to understand the factors limiting their distribution in order to predict potential range expansions and the role that high latitude reefs can play as refuges from climate change. This review examines these factors and outlines critical research areas to address knowledge gaps in our understanding of light/temperature interactions, coral-Symbiodiniaceae associations, settlement cues, and competition in high latitude reefs.
Collapse
|
18
|
Yu X, Yu K, Liao Z, Chen B, Deng C, Yu J, Yao Q, Qin Z, Liang J. Seasonal fluctuations in symbiotic bacteria and their role in environmental adaptation of the scleractinian coral Acropora pruinosa in high-latitude coral reef area of the South China Sea. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 792:148438. [PMID: 34153755 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.148438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2021] [Revised: 06/09/2021] [Accepted: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Coral-associated bacterial communities are paramount for coral ecosystems and holobiont health. However, the role of symbiotic bacteria in the adaptation of high-latitude corals to seasonal fluctuations remains underexplored. Therefore, we used 16S rRNA-based high-throughput sequencing to analyze the symbiotic bacterial diversity, composition, and core bacterial community in high-latitude coral and explored the seasonal fluctuation characteristics of symbiotic bacterial communities. We found that bacterial richness and α-diversity changed significantly across different seasons. Additionally, the community structure recombined seasonally, with different dominant bacterial phyla and genera in different seasons. However, the symbiotic bacterial community structures of Acropora pruinosa in winter and spring were similar. Proteobacteria were the dominant bacteria in spring, autumn, and winter. In summer, the dominant bacterial taxa were Bacteroidota and Proteobacteria. Ralstonia was the dominant bacterial genus in spring and winter, whereas in autumn, BD1-7_clade was dominant. Linear discriminant analysis effect size identified 20 abundant genera between the different groups. Core microbiome analysis revealed that 12 core bacterial operational taxonomic units were associated with A. pruinosa in all seasons, seven of which varied with the seasons, changing between dominant and rare. Distance-based redundancy and variation partitioning analyses revealed that sea surface temperature was the major contributor of variation in the microbial community structure. We hypothesized that the high diversity and abundance of symbiotic bacteria and the increase in Prosthecochloris abundance in coral in summer can help A. pruinosa maintain its physiological functions, ameliorating the negative physiological effects of the decrease in Symbiodiniaceae density under high-temperature stress. Thus, the rapid reorganization of the symbiotic bacterial community structure and core microflora in different seasons may allow the corals to adapt to large seasonal environmental fluctuations. In conclusion, seasonal variation of bacteria plays an important role in coral adaptation to large environmental fluctuations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaopeng Yu
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Coral Reef Research Center of China, School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Kefu Yu
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Coral Reef Research Center of China, School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning, China; Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), China.
| | - Zhiheng Liao
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Coral Reef Research Center of China, School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Biao Chen
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Coral Reef Research Center of China, School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Chuanqi Deng
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Coral Reef Research Center of China, School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Jiaoyang Yu
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Coral Reef Research Center of China, School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Qiucui Yao
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Coral Reef Research Center of China, School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Zhenjun Qin
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Coral Reef Research Center of China, School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Jiayuan Liang
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Coral Reef Research Center of China, School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Influence of temperature changes on symbiotic Symbiodiniaceae and bacterial communities’ structure: an experimental study on soft coral Sarcophyton trocheliophorum (Anthozoa: Alcyoniidae). JOURNAL OF TROPICAL ECOLOGY 2021. [DOI: 10.1017/s0266467421000109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
AbstractIt is well concluded that microbial composition and diversity of coral species can be affected under temperature alterations. However, the interaction of environmental accumulation of corals and temperature stress on symbiotic Symbiodiniaceae and bacterial communities are rarely studied. In this study, two groups of soft coral Sarcophyton trocheliophorum were cultured under constant (26 °C) and inconstant (22 °C to 26 °C) temperature conditions for 30 days as control treatments. After that, water was cooled rapidly to decrease to 20 °C in 24 h. The results of diversity analysis showed that symbiotic Symbiodiniaceae and bacterial communities had a significant difference between the two accumulated groups. The principal coordinate analyses confirmed that symbiotic Symbiodiniaceae and bacterial communities of both control treatments were clustered into two groups. Our results evidenced that rapid cooling stress could not change symbiotic Symbiodiniaceae and bacterial communities’ composition. On the other hand, cooling stress could alter only bacterial communities in constant group. In conclusion, our study represents a clear relationship between environmental accumulation and the impact of short-term cooling stress in which microbial composition structure can be affected by early adaptation conditions.
Collapse
|
20
|
Cross-Linked Regulation of Coral-Associated Dinoflagellates and Bacteria in Pocillopora sp. during High-Temperature Stress and Recovery. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9091972. [PMID: 34576867 PMCID: PMC8468813 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9091972] [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: 08/23/2021] [Revised: 09/06/2021] [Accepted: 09/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
As the problem of ocean warming worsens, the environmental adaptation potential of symbiotic Symbiodiniaceae and bacteria is directly related to the future and fate of corals. This study aimed to analyse the comprehensive community dynamics and physiology of these two groups of organisms in the coral Pocillopora sp. through indoor simulations of heat stress (which involved manually adjusting the temperature between both 26 °C and 34 °C). Heat treatment (≥30 °C) significantly reduced the abundance of Symbiodiniaceae and bacteria by more than 70%. After the temperature was returned to 26 °C for one month, the Symbiodiniaceae density was still low, while the absolute number of bacteria quickly recovered to 55% of that of the control. At this time point, the Fv/Fm value rose to 91% of the pretemperature value. The content of chlorophyll b associated with Cyanobacteria increased by 50% compared with that under the control conditions. Moreover, analysis of the Symbiodiniaceae subclade composition suggested that the relative abundance of C1c.C45, C1, and C1ca increased during heat treatment, indicating that they might constitute heat-resistant subgroups. We suggest that the increase in the absolute number of bacteria during the recovery period could be an important indicator of coral holobiont recovery after heat stress. This study provides insight into the cross-linked regulation of key symbiotic microbes in the coral Pocillopora sp. during high-temperature stress and recovery and provides a scientific basis for exploring the mechanism underlying coral adaptation to global warming.
Collapse
|
21
|
Qin Z, Yu K, Chen S, Chen B, Liang J, Yao Q, Yu X, Liao Z, Deng C, Liang Y. Microbiome of juvenile corals in the outer reef slope and lagoon of the South China Sea: insight into coral acclimatization to extreme thermal environments. Environ Microbiol 2021; 23:4389-4404. [PMID: 34110067 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.15624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2021] [Revised: 04/18/2021] [Accepted: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Environmental conditions between the outer reef slope (ORS) and lagoon in tropical atolls are significantly different, but the variations of juvenile coral-microbiomes in the two environments and their relationship with coral thermal acclimatization are poorly understood. We explored this issue based on local water conditions and the microbiome of juvenile corals in the ORS and lagoon in the central South China Sea. Coral-symbiotic Symbiodiniaceae showed significant differences among coral species; Pocillopora verrucosa and Pachyseris rugosa in the ORS, and Acropora formosa in the lagoon were dominated by Durusdinium, but other corals were dominated by Cladocopium. Although A. formosa in the ORS were dominated by Cladocopium (C3u), they were dominated by Durusdinium (D1/D1a) and Cladocopium (C50) in the lagoon. Other coral species were both dominated by Cladocopium in the lagoon and ORS. The relative abundance of bacteria in the Deinococcus-Thermus was generally higher in the lagoon corals than in the ORS corals. Our study indicates that P. verrucosa, P. rugosa and Porites lutea may have high thermal tolerance based on the relatively high abundance of heat-tolerant Durusdinium and Thermus scotoductus. Likewise, A. formosa in the lagoon may acclimatize to the thermal environment based on a high relative abundance of heat-tolerant Durusdinium.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhenjun Qin
- Coral Reef Research Center of China, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, China.,Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Nanning, 530004, China.,School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, China
| | - Kefu Yu
- Coral Reef Research Center of China, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, China.,Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Nanning, 530004, China.,School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, China.,Southern Marine and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, Zhuhai, China
| | - Shuchang Chen
- Coral Reef Research Center of China, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, China.,Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Nanning, 530004, China.,School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, China
| | - Biao Chen
- Coral Reef Research Center of China, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, China.,Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Nanning, 530004, China.,School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, China
| | - Jiayuan Liang
- Coral Reef Research Center of China, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, China.,Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Nanning, 530004, China.,School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, China
| | - Qiucui Yao
- Coral Reef Research Center of China, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, China.,Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Nanning, 530004, China.,School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, China
| | - Xiaopeng Yu
- Coral Reef Research Center of China, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, China.,Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Nanning, 530004, China.,School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, China
| | - Zhiheng Liao
- Coral Reef Research Center of China, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, China.,Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Nanning, 530004, China.,School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, China
| | - Chuanqi Deng
- Coral Reef Research Center of China, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, China.,Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Nanning, 530004, China.,School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, China
| | - Yanting Liang
- Coral Reef Research Center of China, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, China.,Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Nanning, 530004, China.,School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, China
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Silva-Lima AW, Froes AM, Garcia GD, Tonon LAC, Swings J, Cosenza CAN, Medina M, Penn K, Thompson JR, Thompson CC, Thompson FL. Mussismilia braziliensis White Plague Disease Is Characterized by an Affected Coral Immune System and Dysbiosis. MICROBIAL ECOLOGY 2021; 81:795-806. [PMID: 33000311 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-020-01588-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2019] [Accepted: 08/14/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Infectious diseases are one of the major drivers of coral reef decline worldwide. White plague-like disease (WPL) is a widespread disease with a complex etiology that infects several coral species, including the Brazilian endemic species Mussismilia braziliensis. Gene expression profiles of healthy and WPL-affected M. braziliensis were analyzed in winter and summer seasons. The de novo assembly of the M. braziliensis transcriptome from healthy and white plague samples produced a reference transcriptome containing 119,088 transcripts. WPL-diseased samples were characterized by repression of immune system and cellular defense processes. Autophagy and cellular adhesion transcripts were also repressed in WPL samples, suggesting exhaustion of the coral host defenses. Seasonal variation leads to plasticity in transcription with upregulation of intracellular signal transduction, apoptosis regulation, and oocyte development in the summer. Analysis of the active bacterial rRNA indicated that Pantoea bacteria were more abundant in WPL corals, while Tistlia, Fulvivirga, and Gammaproteobacteria Ga0077536 were more abundant in healthy samples. Cyanobacteria proliferation was also observed in WPL, mostly in the winter. These results indicate a scenario of dysbiosis in WPL-affected M. braziliensis, with the loss of potentially symbiotic bacteria and proliferation of opportunistic microbes after the start of the infection process.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- A W Silva-Lima
- Laboratório de Microbiologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Av. Carlos Chagas Fo. S/N-CCS-IB-Lab de Microbiologia-BLOCO A (Anexo) A3-sl 102, Cidade Universitária, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21941-599, Brazil
| | - A M Froes
- Laboratório de Microbiologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Av. Carlos Chagas Fo. S/N-CCS-IB-Lab de Microbiologia-BLOCO A (Anexo) A3-sl 102, Cidade Universitária, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21941-599, Brazil
| | - G D Garcia
- Laboratório de Microbiologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Av. Carlos Chagas Fo. S/N-CCS-IB-Lab de Microbiologia-BLOCO A (Anexo) A3-sl 102, Cidade Universitária, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21941-599, Brazil
- Sage/Coppe, Centro de Gestão Tecnológica-CT2, Rua Moniz de Aragão, no. 360-Bloco 2, Ilha do Fundão-Cidade Universitária, Rio de Janeiro, 21941-972, Brazil
| | - L A C Tonon
- Laboratório de Microbiologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Av. Carlos Chagas Fo. S/N-CCS-IB-Lab de Microbiologia-BLOCO A (Anexo) A3-sl 102, Cidade Universitária, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21941-599, Brazil
- Sage/Coppe, Centro de Gestão Tecnológica-CT2, Rua Moniz de Aragão, no. 360-Bloco 2, Ilha do Fundão-Cidade Universitária, Rio de Janeiro, 21941-972, Brazil
| | - J Swings
- Laboratório de Microbiologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Av. Carlos Chagas Fo. S/N-CCS-IB-Lab de Microbiologia-BLOCO A (Anexo) A3-sl 102, Cidade Universitária, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21941-599, Brazil
- Sage/Coppe, Centro de Gestão Tecnológica-CT2, Rua Moniz de Aragão, no. 360-Bloco 2, Ilha do Fundão-Cidade Universitária, Rio de Janeiro, 21941-972, Brazil
| | - C A N Cosenza
- Sage/Coppe, Centro de Gestão Tecnológica-CT2, Rua Moniz de Aragão, no. 360-Bloco 2, Ilha do Fundão-Cidade Universitária, Rio de Janeiro, 21941-972, Brazil
| | - M Medina
- Pennsylvania State University, 324 Mueller Lab, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - K Penn
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - J R Thompson
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - C C Thompson
- Laboratório de Microbiologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Av. Carlos Chagas Fo. S/N-CCS-IB-Lab de Microbiologia-BLOCO A (Anexo) A3-sl 102, Cidade Universitária, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21941-599, Brazil
- Sage/Coppe, Centro de Gestão Tecnológica-CT2, Rua Moniz de Aragão, no. 360-Bloco 2, Ilha do Fundão-Cidade Universitária, Rio de Janeiro, 21941-972, Brazil
| | - F L Thompson
- Laboratório de Microbiologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Av. Carlos Chagas Fo. S/N-CCS-IB-Lab de Microbiologia-BLOCO A (Anexo) A3-sl 102, Cidade Universitária, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21941-599, Brazil.
- Sage/Coppe, Centro de Gestão Tecnológica-CT2, Rua Moniz de Aragão, no. 360-Bloco 2, Ilha do Fundão-Cidade Universitária, Rio de Janeiro, 21941-972, Brazil.
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Wang J, Chen J, Wang S, Li F, Fu C, Wang Y. Monoclonal Culture and Characterization of Symbiodiniaceae C1 Strain From the Scleractinian Coral Galaxea fascicularis. Front Physiol 2021; 11:621111. [PMID: 33536938 PMCID: PMC7848188 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2020.621111] [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: 10/25/2020] [Accepted: 12/31/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The symbiosis between cnidarian hosts and photosynthetic dinoflagellates of the family Symbiodiniaceae (i.e., zooxanthellae) provides the energy foundation of coral reef ecosystems in oligotrophic waters. The structure of symbiont biota and the dominant species of algal symbiont partly shape the environmental adaptability of coral symbiotes. In this study, the algal symbiont cells were isolated from the tentacles of Galaxea fascicularis, a hermatypic coral with obvious differentiation in heat resistance, and were cultured in vitro with an improved L1 medium. An algal monoclonal cell line was established using separated algal culture drops and soft agar plating method, and named by GF19C1 as it was identified as Cladocopium sp. C1 (Symbiodiniaceae) based on its ITS1, ITS2, and the non-coding region of the plastid psbA minicircle (psbAncr) sequences. Most GF19C1 cells were at the coccoid stage of the gymnodinioid, their markedly thickened (ca. two times) cell wall suggests that they developed into vegetative cysts and have sexual and asexual reproductive potential. The average diameter of GF19C1 cells decreased significantly, probably due to the increasing mitotic rate. The chloroplasts volume density of GF19C1 was significantly lower than that of their symbiotic congeners, while the surface area density of thylakoids relative to volumes of chloroplasts was not significantly changed. The volume fraction of vacuoles increased by nearly fivefold, but there was no significant change in mitochondria and accumulation bodies. Light-temperature orthogonal experiments showed that, GF19C1 growth preferred the temperature 25 ± 1°C (at which it is maintained post-isolation) rather than 28 ± 1°C under the light intensity of 42 ± 2 or 62 ± 2 μmol photons m–2 s–1, indicating an inertia for temperature adaptation. The optimum salinity for GF19C1 growth ranged between 28–32 ppt. The monoclonal culture techniques established in this study were critical to clarify the physiological and ecological characteristics of various algal symbiont species, and will be instrumental to further reveal the roles of algal symbionts in the adaptive differentiation of coral-zooxanthellae holobionts in future studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jun Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Resource Utilization in South China Sea, College of Marine Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou, China
| | - Jiaqi Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Resource Utilization in South China Sea, College of Marine Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou, China
| | - Shaoyu Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Resource Utilization in South China Sea, College of Marine Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou, China
| | - Fuyu Li
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Resource Utilization in South China Sea, College of Marine Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou, China
| | - Chengchong Fu
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Resource Utilization in South China Sea, College of Marine Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou, China
| | - Yan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Resource Utilization in South China Sea, College of Marine Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou, China
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Liang Y, Yu K, Pan Z, Qin Z, Liao Z, Chen B, Huang X, Xu L. Intergeneric and geomorphological variations in Symbiodiniaceae densities of reef-building corals in an isolated atoll, central South China Sea. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2021; 163:111946. [PMID: 33360728 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111946] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2020] [Revised: 12/04/2020] [Accepted: 12/13/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The healthy status of corals in the isolated atolls of the central South China Sea (SCS) remains unclear. Symbiodiniaceae density (SD) can effectively reflect the thermal tolerance and health of hard corals. Here, the SDs of 238 samples from the Huangyan Atoll (HA) were analyzed. The results revealed significantly intergeneric and geomorphological differences in SD. Intergeneric variation may reflect that corals with high SD have stronger thermal tolerance. Geomorphic analysis showed that the SDs at the outer reef slope were higher than in the lagoon. Hydrodynamics and sea surface temperature were likely the main influencing factors. Most notably, corals in SCS HA had higher SDs than those at neighboring reefs, indicating that their thermal tolerance were strong, which may be related to HA's local upwelling. These results suggest that the HA has the potential to serve as a refuge for corals, but increasing human disturbance limit its function.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yanting Liang
- Coral Reef Research Center of China, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China; Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Nanning 530004, China; School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Kefu Yu
- Coral Reef Research Center of China, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China; Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Nanning 530004, China; School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China; Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, Zhuhai, China.
| | - Ziliang Pan
- Coral Reef Research Center of China, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China; Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Nanning 530004, China; School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Zhenjun Qin
- Coral Reef Research Center of China, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China; Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Nanning 530004, China; School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Zhiheng Liao
- Coral Reef Research Center of China, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China; Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Nanning 530004, China; School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Biao Chen
- Coral Reef Research Center of China, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China; Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Nanning 530004, China; School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Xueyong Huang
- Coral Reef Research Center of China, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China; Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Nanning 530004, China; School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Lijia Xu
- South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment of PRC, Guangzhou 510530, China
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Yu X, Yu K, Huang W, Liang J, Qin Z, Chen B, Yao Q, Liao Z. Thermal acclimation increases heat tolerance of the scleractinian coral Acropora pruinosa. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 733:139319. [PMID: 32446076 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.139319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2019] [Revised: 04/28/2020] [Accepted: 05/07/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Field ecological observations indicate that scleractinian coral exposed to early thermal stress are likely to develop higher tolerance to subsequent heat stress. The causes of this phenomenon, however, remain enigmatic. To unravel the mechanisms underlying the increased heat tolerance, we applied different thermal treatments to the scleractinian coral Acropora pruinosa and studied the resulting differences in appearance, physiological index, Symbiodiniaceae and bacterial communities, and transcriptome response. We found that early heat stress improved the thermal tolerance of the coral holobiont. After thermal acclimation, the community structure and symbiotic bacterial diversity in the microbiota were reorganized, whereas those of Symbiodiniaceae remained stable. RNA-seq analysis revealed that the downregulated coral host genes were mainly involved in pathways relating to metabolism, particularly the nitrogen metabolism pathway. This indicates that thermal acclimation led to decrease in the metabolism level in the coral host, which might be a self-protection mechanism. We suggest that thermal acclimation may increase scleractinian coral thermal tolerance by slowing host metabolism, altering the dominant bacterial population, and increasing bacterial diversity. This study offers new insights into the adaptive potential of scleractinian coral to heat stress from global warming.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaopeng Yu
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Guangxi University, Nanning, China; Coral Reef Research Center of China, Guangxi University, Nanning, China; School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Kefu Yu
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Guangxi University, Nanning, China; Coral Reef Research Center of China, Guangxi University, Nanning, China; School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning, China; Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory(Zhuhai), China.
| | - Wen Huang
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Guangxi University, Nanning, China; Coral Reef Research Center of China, Guangxi University, Nanning, China; School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Jiayuan Liang
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Guangxi University, Nanning, China; Coral Reef Research Center of China, Guangxi University, Nanning, China; School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Zhenjun Qin
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Guangxi University, Nanning, China; Coral Reef Research Center of China, Guangxi University, Nanning, China; School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Biao Chen
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Guangxi University, Nanning, China; Coral Reef Research Center of China, Guangxi University, Nanning, China; School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Qiucui Yao
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Guangxi University, Nanning, China; Coral Reef Research Center of China, Guangxi University, Nanning, China; School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Zhiheng Liao
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Guangxi University, Nanning, China; Coral Reef Research Center of China, Guangxi University, Nanning, China; School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Yu X, Yu K, Liao Z, Liang J, Deng C, Huang W, Huang Y. Potential molecular traits underlying environmental tolerance of Pavona decussata and Acropora pruinosa in Weizhou Island, northern South China Sea. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2020; 156:111199. [PMID: 32510361 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2020] [Revised: 04/16/2020] [Accepted: 04/17/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Coral species display varying susceptibilities to biotic or abiotic stress. To address the causes underlying this phenomenon, we profiled the Symbiodiniaceae clade type, bacterial communities and coral transcriptome responses in Pavona decussata and Acropora pruinosa, two species displaying different environmental tolerances in the Weizhou Island. We found that C1 was the most dominant Symbiodiniaceae subclade, with no difference detected between A. pruinosa and P. decussata. Nevertheless, P. decussata exhibited higher microbial diversity and significantly different community structure compared with that of A. pruinosa. Transcriptome analysis revealed that coral genes with significantly high expression in P. decussata were mostly related to immune and stress-resistance responses, whereas, those with significantly low expression were metabolism-related. We postulate that the higher tolerance of P. decussata as compared with that of A. pruinosa is the result of several traits, such as higher microbial diversity, different dominant bacteria, higher immune and stress-resistant response, and lower metabolic rate.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaopeng Yu
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China; Coral Reef Research Center of China, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China; School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China.
| | - Kefu Yu
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China; Coral Reef Research Center of China, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China; School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China; Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, Zhuhai 519000, China.
| | - Zhiheng Liao
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China; Coral Reef Research Center of China, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China; School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Jiayuan Liang
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China; Coral Reef Research Center of China, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China; School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Chuanqi Deng
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China; Coral Reef Research Center of China, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China; School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Wen Huang
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China; Coral Reef Research Center of China, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China; School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Yanhua Huang
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China; Coral Reef Research Center of China, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China; School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Chen B, Yu K, Qin Z, Liang J, Wang G, Huang X, Wu Q, Jiang L. Dispersal, genetic variation, and symbiont interaction network of heat-tolerant endosymbiont Durusdinium trenchii: Insights into the adaptive potential of coral to climate change. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 723:138026. [PMID: 32213418 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.138026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2020] [Revised: 03/10/2020] [Accepted: 03/16/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Global warming has degraded coral reef ecosystems worldwide. Some corals develop thermal tolerance by associating with heat-tolerant Symbiodiniaceae. Here, we studied the mechanisms surrounding the dispersal, genetic variation and symbionts interaction of heat-tolerant Durusdinium trenchii across 13° latitudes in the South China Sea (SCS), to explore the possible mechanisms underlying these changes. Our results showed that Durusdinium trenchii are widely distributed in the seawater from the SCS. Our analyses of microsatellite loci revealed that D. trenchii has a high genetic diversity in the SCS; STRUCTURE analysis indicated that D. trenchii can be divided into four populations within the SCS; There exist positive correlations between genetic variation and geographic isolation, average sea surface temperature (SST) and variations in SST. Network modelling inferences showed that D. trenchii is a key species in the Symbiodiniaceae communities in the tropical SCS and contributes the greatest number of co-exclusion relationships. These results indicated that D. trenchii can affect the rare Symbiodiniaceae community. The long lifespan and the monsoon-driven ocean currents have shaped the wide distribution of D. trenchii. But low SST limits the ability of D. trenchii to establish stable symbioses with coral in the subtropical habitats. Geographical isolation and SST have shaped significant genetic variation of D.trenchii around the SCS. Our data reveals the biogeography and genetic population characteristics of D. trenchii in the Indo-Pacific region, and suggests that heat-tolerance and high genetic diversity of D. trenchii aid the corals with their adaptation to climate change.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Biao Chen
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Guangxi University, Nanning, China; Coral Reef Research Center of China, Guangxi University, Nanning, China; School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Kefu Yu
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Guangxi University, Nanning, China; Coral Reef Research Center of China, Guangxi University, Nanning, China; School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning, China.
| | - Zhenjun Qin
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Guangxi University, Nanning, China; Coral Reef Research Center of China, Guangxi University, Nanning, China; School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Jiayuan Liang
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Guangxi University, Nanning, China; Coral Reef Research Center of China, Guangxi University, Nanning, China; School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Guanghua Wang
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Guangxi University, Nanning, China; Coral Reef Research Center of China, Guangxi University, Nanning, China; School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Xueyong Huang
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Guangxi University, Nanning, China; Coral Reef Research Center of China, Guangxi University, Nanning, China; School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Qian Wu
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Guangxi University, Nanning, China; Coral Reef Research Center of China, Guangxi University, Nanning, China; School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Leilei Jiang
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Guangxi University, Nanning, China; Coral Reef Research Center of China, Guangxi University, Nanning, China; School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Swain TD, Lax S, Backman V, Marcelino LA. Uncovering the role of Symbiodiniaceae assemblage composition and abundance in coral bleaching response by minimizing sampling and evolutionary biases. BMC Microbiol 2020; 20:124. [PMID: 32429833 PMCID: PMC7236918 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-020-01765-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2019] [Accepted: 03/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Biodiversity and productivity of coral-reef ecosystems depend upon reef-building corals and their associations with endosymbiotic Symbiodiniaceae, which offer diverse functional capabilities to their hosts. The number of unique symbiotic partners (richness) and relative abundances (evenness) have been hypothesized to affect host response to climate change induced thermal stress. Symbiodiniaceae assemblages with many unique phylotypes may provide greater physiological flexibility or form less stable symbioses; assemblages with low abundance phylotypes may allow corals to retain thermotolerant symbionts or represent associations with less-suitable symbionts. RESULTS Here we demonstrate that true richness of Symbiodiniaceae phylotype assemblages is generally not discoverable from direct enumeration of unique phylotypes in association records and that cross host-species comparisons are biased by sampling and evolutionary patterns among species. These biases can be minimized through rarefaction of richness (rarefied-richness) and evenness (Probability of Interspecific Encounter, PIE), and analyses that account for phylogenetic patterns. These standardized metrics were calculated for individual Symbiodiniaceae assemblages composed of 377 unique ITS2 phylotypes associated with 123 coral species. Rarefied-richness minimized correlations with sampling effort, while maintaining important underlying characteristics across host bathymetry and geography. Phylogenetic comparative methods reveal significant increases in coral bleaching and mortality associated with increasing Symbiodiniaceae assemblage richness and evenness at the level of host species. CONCLUSIONS These results indicate that the potential flexibility afforded by assemblages characterized by many phylotypes present at similar relative abundances does not result in decreased bleaching risk and point to the need to characterize the overall functional and genetic diversity of Symbiodiniaceae assemblages to quantify their effect on host fitness under climate change.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Timothy D Swain
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA
- Integrative Research Center, Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, IL, 60605, USA
- Department of Marine and Environmental Science, Nova Southeastern University, Dania Beach, FL, 33004, USA
| | - Simon Lax
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA
- Physics of Living Systems, Department of Physics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Vadim Backman
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA
| | - Luisa A Marcelino
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA.
- Integrative Research Center, Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, IL, 60605, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Qin Z, Yu K, Liang Y, Chen B, Huang X. Latitudinal variation in reef coral tissue thickness in the South China Sea: Potential linkage with coral tolerance to environmental stress. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 711:134610. [PMID: 32000316 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.134610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2019] [Accepted: 09/21/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Coral tissue thickness (CTT) is an effective indicator of the adaptability of corals to environmental stress, but the relationships between the spatial and intergeneric variation of coral tissue across latitudes and tolerance to environmental stress are not well understood. To investigate this, the CTT of 768 specimens of 10 typical coral genera and surrounding seawater parameters were measured in six coral reef regions (CRRs) across the 9-22°N latitudes in the South China Sea (SCS). Results showed significant differences in CTT between different genera of corals and CRRs. CTTs were significantly higher in the northern SCS than in the southern SCS. There was also notable intergeneric variation, with the abundance of branching Acropora and foliaceous Pavona being significantly lower than that of massive Porites, Galaxea, Favia, Favites, Hydnophora, Platygyra, and encrusting Montipora, Psammocora across these CRRs. Redundancy analysis showed that dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN), soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP), sea surface temperature (SST), turbidity, and transparency were the main factors affecting CTT. Overall CTT, irrespective of genus, was significantly positively correlated with DIN, SRP, and latitude, but was significantly negatively correlated with transparency and SST. Further analysis suggested that corals in the southern SCS are mainly threatened by thermal stress, whereas in the northern SCS, corals have often suffered from destructive anthropogenic disturbance. Although seawater conditions were normal during on-site investigation, a large number of branching corals (e.g., Acropora corals) have been lost in the last several decades due to destructive human activity. In contrast, massive and encrusting corals may have higher energy reserves and photo-protective capacities due to their thicker tissues, and consequently have higher tolerance to environmental stress. Therefore, the coral communities of the SCS have gradually been transformed from branching corals to massive/encrusting corals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhenjun Qin
- Coral Reef Research Center of China, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China; Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Nanning 530004, China; School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Kefu Yu
- Coral Reef Research Center of China, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China; Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Nanning 530004, China; School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China.
| | - Yanting Liang
- Coral Reef Research Center of China, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China; Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Nanning 530004, China; School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Biao Chen
- Coral Reef Research Center of China, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China; Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Nanning 530004, China; School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Xueyong Huang
- Coral Reef Research Center of China, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China; Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Nanning 530004, China; School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Qin Z, Yu K, Chen B, Wang Y, Liang J, Luo W, Xu L, Huang X. Diversity of Symbiodiniaceae in 15 Coral Species From the Southern South China Sea: Potential Relationship With Coral Thermal Adaptability. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:2343. [PMID: 31681208 PMCID: PMC6813740 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.02343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2019] [Accepted: 09/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
It is well-known that the adaptability of coral-Symbiodiniaceae symbiosis to thermal stress varies among coral species, but the cause and/or mechanism behind it are not well-understood. In this study, we aimed to explore this issue based on zooxanthellae density (ZD) and Symbiodiniaceae genus/subclade. Hemocytometry and next-generation sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer region 2 (ITS2) marker gene were used to observe ZDs and Symbiodiniaceae genera/subclades associated with 15 typical coral species in the southern South China Sea (SCS). Average ZDs of all corals were in low levels, ranging from 0.84 to 1.22 × 106 cells cm−2, with a total of five Symbiodiniaceae genera, Symbiodinium, Cladocopium, Durusdinium, Fugacium, and Gerakladium, as well as 24 dominant subclades, were detected and varied among these coral species. Pocillopora verrucosa was dominated by Durusdinium (subclade D1/D1a), and other colonial corals were dominated by Cladocopium, but the subclades were varied among these species. Porites lutea and Montipora efflorescens were dominated by C15, and Echinopora lamellosa, Hydnophora exesa, and Coscinaraea exesa were dominated by C40. Acropora corymbosa, Merulina ampliata, and five species of Faviidae were mainly associated with Cladocopium types of C3u and Cspc. In contrast to other colonial corals, the dominant subclade of solitary Fungia fungites was C27, with high host specificity. Our study indicates that coral thermal stress adaptability is mainly affected by dominant Symbiodiniaceae type instead of ZD in the southern SCS. Some heat-sensitive corals, such as P. verrucosa corals, have acquired a high abundance of heat-tolerant Durusdinium to adapt to thermal stress. This could be the main reason for these corals becoming the dominant corals in this reef region. Background subclades analyses showed significant differences among coral species in subclade quantity and diversity. These suggest that numbers of coral species may have adapted to high environmental temperature by adopting various symbionts and/or associating with heat-tolerant Symbiodiniaceae.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhenjun Qin
- Coral Reef Research Center of China, Guangxi University, Nanning, China.,Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Nanning, China.,School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning, China.,College of Forestry, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Kefu Yu
- Coral Reef Research Center of China, Guangxi University, Nanning, China.,Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Nanning, China.,School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Biao Chen
- Coral Reef Research Center of China, Guangxi University, Nanning, China.,Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Nanning, China.,School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Yinghui Wang
- Coral Reef Research Center of China, Guangxi University, Nanning, China.,Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Nanning, China.,School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Jiayuan Liang
- Coral Reef Research Center of China, Guangxi University, Nanning, China.,Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Nanning, China.,School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Wenwen Luo
- Coral Reef Research Center of China, Guangxi University, Nanning, China.,Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Nanning, China.,School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning, China.,College of Forestry, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Lijia Xu
- Coral Reef Research Center of China, Guangxi University, Nanning, China.,Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Nanning, China.,School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Xueyong Huang
- Coral Reef Research Center of China, Guangxi University, Nanning, China.,Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Nanning, China.,School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning, China.,College of Forestry, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| |
Collapse
|