Highly Diverse Symbiodiniaceae Types Hosted by Corals in a Global Hotspot of Marine Biodiversity

Microbial Ecology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 87(1)

Published: July 10, 2024

Abstract Symbiotic dinoflagellates in the genus Symbiodiniaceae play vital roles promoting resilience and increasing stress tolerance their coral hosts. While much of world’s succumb to stresses associated with increasingly severe frequent thermal bleaching events, live cover Papua New Guinea (PNG) remains some highest reported globally despite historically warm waters surrounding country. Yet, spite high PNG acknowledged within hosts, these communities have not been characterized this global biodiversity hotspot. Using high-throughput sequencing ITS2 rDNA gene, we profiled endosymbionts four species, Diploastrea heliopora , Pachyseris speciosa Pocillopora acuta Porites lutea across six sites PNG. Our findings reveal patterns Cladocopium Durusdinium dominance similar other reefs Coral Triangle, albeit greater intra- intergenomic variation. Host- site-specific variations type profiles were observed collection sites, appearing be driven by environmental conditions. Notably, extensive variation, coupled many previously unreported sequences, highlight as a potential hotspot symbiont diversity. This work represents first characterization coral-symbiont community structure marine hotspot, serving baseline for future studies.

Language: Английский

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Temperature‐mediated acquisition of rare heterologous symbionts promotes survival of coral larvae under ocean warming

Global Change Biology, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 28(6), P. 2006 - 2025

Published: Dec. 27, 2021

Reef-building corals form nutritional symbioses with endosymbiotic dinoflagellates (Symbiodiniaceae), a relationship that facilitates the ecological success of coral reefs. These symbionts are mostly acquired anew each generation from environment during early life stages ("horizontal transmission"). Symbiodiniaceae species exhibit trait variation directly impacts health and performance host under ocean warming. Here, we test capacity for larvae horizontally transmitting coral, Acropora tenuis, to establish in four genera have varying thermal thresholds (the common symbiont genera, Cladocopium Durusdinium, less Fugacium Gerakladium). Over 2-week period January 2018, series both no-choice four-way choice experiments were conducted at three temperatures (27, 30, 31°C). Symbiont acquisition cell proliferation measured individual larvae. Larvae successfully maintained all experiments, >80% infected least when offered choice. Unexpectedly, Gerakladium increased dominance over time, high outcompeted which is regarded as thermally tolerant. Although displayed highest tolerance culture reached similar densities other 31°C, it remained background suggesting preference species. Larval survivorship 1 week was associated 27 30°C, however mortality treatments. We hypothesize currently rare (e.g., Gerakladium) may become more widespread climate Uptake such function survival strategy wild, has implications reef restoration practices use sexually produced stock.

Language: Английский

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Building Consensus around the Assessment and Interpretation of Symbiodiniaceae Diversity

Published: June 21, 2022

Within microeukaryotes, genetic and functional variation sometimes accumulate more quickly than morphological differences. To understand the evolutionary history ecology of such lineages, it is key to examine diversity at multiple levels organization. In dinoflagellate family Symbiodiniaceae, which can form endosymbioses with cnidarians (e.g., corals, octocorals, sea anemones, jellies), other marine invertebrates sponges, molluscs, flatworms), protists foraminifera), molecular data have been used extensively over past three decades describe phenotypes make ecological inferences. Despite advances in Symbiodiniaceae genomics, a lack consensus among researchers respect interpreting has slowed progress field acted as barrier reconciling observations. Here, we identify challenges regarding assessment interpretation across levels: species, populations, communities. We summarize areas agreement highlight techniques approaches that are broadly accepted. where debate remains, unresolved issues discuss technologies help fill knowledge gaps related phenotypic diversity. also ways stimulate progress, particular by fostering inclusive collaborative research community. hope this perspective will inspire accelerate coral reef science serving resource those designing experiments, publishing research, applying for funding their symbiotic partnerships.

Language: Английский

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Symbiont Community Changes Confer Fitness Benefits for Larvae in a Vertically Transmitting Coral

Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 15(1)

Published: Jan. 1, 2025

ABSTRACT Coral reefs worldwide are threatened by increasing ocean temperatures because of the sensitivity coral‐algal symbiosis to thermal stress. Reef‐building corals form symbiotic relationships with dinoflagellates (family Symbiodiniaceae), including those species which acquire their initial symbiont complement predominately from parents. Changes in composition communities, through mechanisms shuffling or switching, can modulate host's limits. However, role coral acclimatization heat is understudied offspring and date has largely focused on adults. To quantify potential fitness benefits consequences changes communities under a simulated heatwave early life‐history stages, we exposed larvae juveniles widespread, vertically transmitting coral, Montipora digitata , stress (32°C) tracked growth, survival, photosynthetic efficiency, community over time relative controls. We found negative impacts warming all fitness‐related traits, varied significantly among larval families across stages. Larvae that survived exposure exhibited favored symbionts canonically more tolerant. Compared larvae, showed rapid mortality were fixed regardless temperature treatment, suggesting an inability alter as acclimatory response Taken together, these findings suggest capacity for may be modified ontogeny, juvenile life stage less flexible at risk climate this species.

Language: Английский

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Limited persistence of the heat-tolerant zooxanthella, Durusdinium trenchii, in corals transplanted to a barrier reef where it is rare among natal colonies

Coral Reefs, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: March 12, 2025

Language: Английский

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Unusual Ecofunctional Traits ofEndozoicomonas: A Pan-Genomic Perspective

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: March 11, 2025

Abstract Background Endozoicomonas is a widely distributed genus of marine bacteria, associated with various organisms, and recognized for its ecological importance in host health, nutrient cycling, disease dynamics. Despite significance, genomic features remain poorly characterized due to limited availability high-quality genome assemblies. Results In this study, we sequenced 5 novel strains re-sequenced 1 known strain improve resolution. By integrating these 6 genomes 31 others that were publicly available, identified distinct, coral-associated clade not by the previous two-clade classification. Pan-genomic analysis revealed significant variation genetic trait distribution among clades. Notably, lacks quorum sensing capabilities, suggesting resistance quenching mechanisms. It also ability synthesize transport vitamin B12, indicating it primary source holobionts. A remarkable feature abundance giant proteins, ranging from 15 65 kbp. We 92 such which clustered into three major groups based on amino acid similarity, each specialized functions, as antimicrobial synthesis, exotoxin production, cell adhesion. Additionally, explored prophages CRISPR-Cas systems. found acquired diverse sources via infection or other types gene transfer. sequences suggest independent evolutionary trajectories both prophage acquisition phylogenetic lineage, implying potential influence geographic environmental pressures. Conclusions This study provides new insights diversity adaptation hosts. Identification features, including deficiencies B12 synthesis sensing, presence prophages, systems, underscores roles These findings open avenues research interactions.

Language: Английский

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Restoration innovation: Fusing microbial memories to engineer coral resilience

One Earth, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 8(3), P. 101193 - 101193

Published: March 1, 2025

Language: Английский

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Global Free‐Living Symbiodiniaceae Biodiversity Mirrors Local Environments

Journal of Biogeography, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: April 7, 2025

ABSTRACT Aim For free‐living Symbiodiniaceae, we aim to synthesise current knowledge, identify gaps in our understanding of biogeography and conduct the first quantitative genetic analysis at a global scale. Location Global. Taxon Free‐living dinoflagellates Family Symbiodiniaceae. Methods Publicly available sequences were used characterise Symbiodiniaceae community environment. Using ITS2 marker combined with DADA2 pipeline, amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) assess diversity, abundance distribution patterns from local scales. Results Relative abundances, composition diversity differed significantly between wider Caribbean Indo‐Pacific, within across three study regions: Great Barrier Reef (GBR), Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary (FGBNMS) Moorea French Polynesia. assemblage was most different GBR FGBNMS, dominance Cladocopium Breviolum FGBNMS. There also significant variability these regions, as shown through beta dispersion test. The highest indices found GBR, followed by Main Conclusions We locations Importantly, mirrored local‐scale patterns. These biogeographical hospite symbiont With studies highlight need for expanded sampling efforts unexplored regions such Indian Ocean. Given potentially role coral acclimation climate change, identifying protecting taxa should be conservation priority.

Language: Английский

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Augmenting coral adaptation to climate change via coral gardening (the nursery phase)

Journal of Environmental Management, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 291, P. 112727 - 112727

Published: May 3, 2021

Language: Английский

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Reef environments shape microbial partners in a highly connected coral population

Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 289(1967)

Published: Jan. 19, 2022

Evidence is mounting that composition of microorganisms within a host can play an essential role in total holobiont health. In corals, for instance, studies have identified algal and bacterial taxa significantly influence coral function these communities depend on environmental context. However, few linked genetics to microbial partners across environments single population. Here, using 2b-RAD sequencing corals metabarcoding their associated (ITS2) (16S) communities, we show evidence reef zones (locales differ proximity shore other characteristics) structure at different scales highly connected population (

Language: Английский

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