Imaging PAM fluorometry reveals stable photosynthetic efficiency in multibiont symbioses on coral reefs DOI Creative Commons
Susanne Bähr, Sancia E. T. van der Meij, Érika P. Santoro

et al.

Frontiers in Marine Science, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 12

Published: April 22, 2025

Many cryptic invertebrates residing within the coral reef matrix exhibit symbiotic relationships with scleractinian hosts. Despite their contribution to biodiversity, these host-symbiont associations and potential impact on fitness survival remain poorly understood. Additionally, presence of Symbiodiniaceae tissue further enhances complexity multibiont relationships. This study focuses coral-dwelling gall crabs (Cryptochiridae) that structurally modify host’s skeleton. By using Imaging Pulse-Amplitude-Modulated (PAM) fluorometry, which provides a spatial assessment maximum quantum yields PSII fluorescence ( F v /F m values), we investigated cryptochirids photosynthetic performance corals’ algae in eight coral-crab associations, encompassing six species from central Red Sea. Visual output values at fragment scale showed no distinct effects cryptochirid uninhabited areas. However, measurements near crabs’ dwellings (<3 mm) significant increases (3–6%) three colonies decreases (4–12%) two colonies. Although exact cause increased efficiency remains speculative, filamentous trapped sediment dwelling likely accounts for reduced observed one Echinopora associations. Considering most studied corals was not affected by crabs, suggest has widespread negative multisymbiotic highlights need additional research better understand ecological function assemblages reefs.

Language: Английский

Imaging PAM fluorometry reveals stable photosynthetic efficiency in multibiont symbioses on coral reefs DOI Creative Commons
Susanne Bähr, Sancia E. T. van der Meij, Érika P. Santoro

et al.

Frontiers in Marine Science, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 12

Published: April 22, 2025

Many cryptic invertebrates residing within the coral reef matrix exhibit symbiotic relationships with scleractinian hosts. Despite their contribution to biodiversity, these host-symbiont associations and potential impact on fitness survival remain poorly understood. Additionally, presence of Symbiodiniaceae tissue further enhances complexity multibiont relationships. This study focuses coral-dwelling gall crabs (Cryptochiridae) that structurally modify host’s skeleton. By using Imaging Pulse-Amplitude-Modulated (PAM) fluorometry, which provides a spatial assessment maximum quantum yields PSII fluorescence ( F v /F m values), we investigated cryptochirids photosynthetic performance corals’ algae in eight coral-crab associations, encompassing six species from central Red Sea. Visual output values at fragment scale showed no distinct effects cryptochirid uninhabited areas. However, measurements near crabs’ dwellings (<3 mm) significant increases (3–6%) three colonies decreases (4–12%) two colonies. Although exact cause increased efficiency remains speculative, filamentous trapped sediment dwelling likely accounts for reduced observed one Echinopora associations. Considering most studied corals was not affected by crabs, suggest has widespread negative multisymbiotic highlights need additional research better understand ecological function assemblages reefs.

Language: Английский

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