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Journal article
Impact of light and temperature on the uptake of algal symbionts by coral juveniles
PloS one, Vol.7(11), pp.e50311-e50311
2012
PMCID: PMC3504000
PMID: 23185603
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Abstract
The effects of temperature and light on the breakdown of the coral-Symbiodinium symbiosis are well documented but current understanding of their roles during initial uptake and establishment of symbiosis is limited. In this study, we investigate how temperature and light affect the uptake of the algal symbionts, ITS1 types C1 and D, by juveniles of the broadcast-spawning corals Acropora tenuis and A. millepora. Elevated temperatures had a strong negative effect on Symbiodinium uptake in both coral species, with corals at 31 °C showing as little as 8% uptake compared to 87% at 28 °C. Juveniles in high light treatments (390 µmol photons m(-2) s(-1)) had lower cell counts across all temperatures, emphasizing the importance of the light environment during the initial uptake phase. The proportions of the two Symbiodinium types taken up, as quantified by a real time PCR assay using clade C- and D-specific primers, were also influenced by temperature, although variation in uptake dynamics between the two coral species indicates a host effect. At 28 °C, A. tenuis juveniles were dominated by C1 Symbiodinium, and while the number of D Symbiodinium cells increased at 31 °C, they never exceeded the number of C1 cells. In contrast, juveniles of A. millepora had approximately equal numbers of C1 and D cells at 28 °C, but were dominated by D at 30 °C and 31 °C. This study highlights the significant role that environmental factors play in the establishment of coral-Symbiodinium symbiosis and provides insights into how potentially competing Symbiodinium types take up residence in coral juveniles.
Details
- Title
- Impact of light and temperature on the uptake of algal symbionts by coral juveniles
- Creators
- David Abrego - Australian Institute of Marine ScienceBette L Willis - James Cook UniversityMadeleine J H van Oppen - Australian Institute of Marine Science
- Publication Details
- PloS one, Vol.7(11), pp.e50311-e50311
- Publisher
- United States
- Identifiers
- 991012888598302368
- Copyright
- (c) 2012 Abrego et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permitsunrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited
- Academic Unit
- National Marine Science Centre
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article