Unlocking the Complex Cell Biology of Coral–Dinoflagellate Symbiosis: A Model Systems Approach

Annual Review of Genetics, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 57(1), P. 411 - 434

Published: Sept. 19, 2023

Symbiotic interactions occur in all domains of life, providing organisms with resources to adapt new habitats. A prime example is the endosymbiosis between corals and photosynthetic dinoflagellates. Eukaryotic dinoflagellate symbionts reside inside coral cells transfer essential nutrients their hosts, driving productivity most biodiverse marine ecosystem. Recent advances molecular genomic characterization have revealed symbiosis-specific genes mechanisms shared among symbiotic cnidarians. In this review, we focus on cellular processes that underpin interaction symbiont host. We discuss acquisition via phagocytosis, modulation host innate immunity, integration into cell metabolism, nutrient exchange as a fundamental aspect stable associations. emphasize importance using model systems dissect complexity endosymbiosis, which ultimately serves basis for understanding its ecology capacity face climate change.

Language: Английский

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Facultative lifestyle drives diversity of coral algal symbionts

Trends in Ecology & Evolution, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 39(3), P. 239 - 247

Published: Nov. 10, 2023

The photosynthetic symbionts of corals sustain biodiverse reefs in nutrient-poor, tropical waters. Recent genomic data illuminate the evolution coral under genome size constraints and suggest that retention facultative lifestyle, widespread among these algae, confers a selective advantage when compared with strict symbiotic existence. We posit symbiosis is analogous to 'bioreactor' selects winner genotypes allows them rise high numbers sheltered habitat prior release by host. Our observations lead novel hypothesis, 'stepping-stone model', which predicts local adaptation both free-living stages, stepwise fashion, accelerates alga diversity origin endemic strains species.

Language: Английский

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Genomic Insights From Natural History Collections Reveal Cryptic Speciation in Coral Guard Crabs (Family: Trapeziidae)

Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 15(2)

Published: Feb. 1, 2025

ABSTRACT Mutualistic relationships such as the one between Trapezia crabs and coral colonies are common in reef organisms play a crucial role resilience resistance to climate‐induced stressor, yet very little is known about taxonomic diversity evolutionary history of species involved. Despite being essential actors reefs threatened by ongoing degradation their habitat, genetic information available for crabs, including exact number relationships. To overcome this limitation, we sampled Natural History Collections, an important underutilized source genomic data. We used novel approach optimized degraded DNA generate high‐quality data from combination 166 museum tissues freshly collected samples recovered strongly supported phylogeny genus, clarifying majority taxa suggesting potential division into two genera. then focused on most widespread T. bidentata identified four distinct clusters, high divergence cryptic speciation Indian Ocean Marquesas Islands. Populations Central West Pacific showed signs admixture across heterogeneous seascape, attributing potentially long pelagic dispersal phase expansive gene pool. Our results highlight need further explore within other coral‐associated organisms, they likely exhibit more complex patterns than previously understood.

Language: Английский

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Species-specific proton and oxygen flux in Hawaiian corals under ocean acidification—a microsensor analysis of the concentration boundary layer

Research Square (Research Square), Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: May 7, 2025

Coral reefs are essential for the foundation of marine ecosystems. However, ocean acidification (OA) driven by rising atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) threatens coral growth and biological homeostasis. In this study, we examined microenvironmental fluxes two Hawaiian species—Montipora capitata Pocillopora acuta to elevated pCO₂, focusing on proton (H⁺) oxygen (O₂) flux within concentration boundary layer (CBL) at zone primary calcification (ZPC). Utilizing pH O₂ microsensors under controlled light dark conditions, characterized species-specific CBL traits quantified material fluxes. Our results revealed that while both species maintained a positive net flux, P. showed pronounced reduction in efflux (-188%) significant increase O₂ (+ 175%), suggesting impaired metabolic dynamics. contrast, M. minimal changes parameters similar OA conditions. Statistical analyses using linear models several interactions between species, treatment, identifying physical, chemical, drivers responses OA. We also present conceptual model correlating external measures with internal physiologies explain our findings. indicate exacerbates microchemical gradients potentially acts reduce vulnerable like highlighting resistance capitata. This study advances understanding how processes could influence changing chemistry.

Language: Английский

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Rebuilding Coral Reefs: How tourism can be a driver behind solutions in a changing ocean

EarthArXiv (California Digital Library), Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: July 6, 2023

Coral reefs are threatened by multiple stressors that have driven a decline in the cover of reef-building coral species, resulting loss reef structure and function. Restoration science provides useful conservation tools to preserve restore key species ecological functions these ecosystems. However, gaps remain restoring ecosystem at large scales. This study guide how invest apply innovative solutions immediate action strategies from tourism-hotel sector alliance with academia stakeholders, Throught development implementation multi-species restoration program two sites Mexican Caribbean: Manchoncitos Reef, Riviera Maya La Francesita Cozumel. Where we identified effective propagation outplanting techniques for critically endangered as well genotypes resistant temperature stress Stony Tissue Loss Disease (SCTLD). We include comparative analysis over time (2020-2022) showing positive processes recovery reflected increased cover, structural complexity fish biomass. genetic stock available nurseries develop education, research, technological innovation, recreation tourism activities. Baseline assessment areas will make it possible adapt repopulation not only hard corals, but also advance comprehensive incorporate new elements reef, such fish, crab or sea urchin postlarvae accelerate herbivory turn improve natural reefs, allowing return equilibrium. The project understanding use tool climate change adaptation especially collaboration private sector.

Language: Английский

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The Effects of Climate Change on Hawaii’s Coral Reef Ecosystem Over the Past 20 Years

Journal of Student Research, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 12(4)

Published: Nov. 30, 2023

The Hawaiian islands are known for their rich marine biodiversity in coral reef ecosystems. However, the last 20 years, changes sea surface temperatures, levels, carbon dioxide and ocean pH have severely impacted these corals can experience heat stress with temperatures as little 1-2 °C above average thermal events were prevalent from 2014-2017, causing bleaching increasing mortality. increase level ecosystems has caused reefs to “drown” lack of sufficient sunlight thus suffer bleaching. Coral disease is linked high seen through common reef-building white syndrome. Invasive species outbreaks, Acanthaster planci an example, also correlated climate communities. With loss coral, there been consequences on Specifically, three most native genera, porites, montipora, pocillopora, which important reefs, declining population. As a result, higher threat statuses observed among turtles, fish, mammals that reliant protection food sources.

Language: Английский

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Differential Gene Expression Analysis and Gene Ontology in Triploid and Diploid Pocillopora Acuta

Aresty Rutgers Undergraduate Research Journal, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 1(4)

Published: Dec. 1, 2022

Corals are marine invertebrates that facing life-threatening environmental stressors due to climate change. Polyploidy can, in such cases, be an important source of variation and adaptation corals other species. is the genomic condition wherein cells a normally diploid organism have more than one pair chromosomes. Pocillopora acuta, also known as cauliflower coral, brooding coral can reproduce asexually. It stress-sensitive which means it shows clear physiological changes response like temperature, salinity, pH. In this study, about 60% stony acuta samples collected from Kāneʻohe Bay, Oahu, HI, were triploid. The aim study was identify differences gene expression patterns between triploid cluster 1 (T1), 2 (T2), (D) P. acuta. Pairwise comparisons carried out all categories: T1 vs. D, T2 T2. While there large number genes exhibiting similar both clusters, many differentially regulated when compared This result provides evidence suggesting two lineages originated separate triploidization events Bay. expressed shared these lineages, lineage, suggests cellular physiology polyploidization. Functional analysis provide deeper insight into specific, molecular functions biological processes triploids Future studies involving comparative functional enrichment with will caused coral’s stressors.

Language: Английский

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