Corals from the Persian/Arabian Gulf as models for thermotolerant reef-builders: prevalence of clade C3 Symbiodinium, host fluorescence and ex situ temperature tolerance
Corals from the Persian/Arabian Gulf as models for thermotolerant reef-builders: prevalence of clade C3 Symbiodinium, host fluorescence and ex situ temperature tolerance
Corals in the Arabian/Persian Gulf endure summer temperatures of up to 36 °C, making them ideal subjects to study the mechanisms underlying thermal tolerance. Unexpectedly, we found the “generalist” Symbiodinium clade C3 to be the prevalent symbiont among seven coral species from Abu Dhabi (UAE) waters. Moreover, C3 represented the only dominant symbiont type in Porites spp. from this region. The “thermotolerant” symbionts D1a and C15 were not encountered, indicating that the association with these symbionts cannot be the sole reason for the heat tolerance of Gulf corals. The association of Porites lobata with specific symbiont types (C3 vs. C15) in samples from habitats with very different temperature regimes (Abu Dhabi vs. Fiji) remained unaffected by laboratory culture. During temperature stress experiments specimens from both locations strongly downregulated green fluorescent protein (GFP)-like pigments. However, the Abu Dhabi samples were less prone to bleaching and showed lower mortality.
coral reefs, global warming, bleaching, zooxanthellae, green fluorescent protein, heat stress
313-322
Hume, B.
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D'Angelo, C.
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Burt, J.
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Baker, A.C.
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Riegl, B.
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Wiedenmann, J.
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30 July 2013
Hume, B.
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D'Angelo, C.
0d35b03b-684d-43aa-a57a-87212ab07ee1
Burt, J.
062dac5e-7cc2-4ee7-b2ee-018f799f2bc3
Baker, A.C.
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Riegl, B.
76b9a28c-972a-4a9e-b50d-546b8dce78cc
Wiedenmann, J.
ad445af2-680f-4927-90b3-589ac9d538f7
Hume, B., D'Angelo, C., Burt, J., Baker, A.C., Riegl, B. and Wiedenmann, J.
(2013)
Corals from the Persian/Arabian Gulf as models for thermotolerant reef-builders: prevalence of clade C3 Symbiodinium, host fluorescence and ex situ temperature tolerance.
[in special issue: Coral Reefs of the Gulf: Past, Present and the Future of a Unique Ecosystem]
Marine Pollution Bulletin, 72 (2), .
(doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2012.11.032).
Abstract
Corals in the Arabian/Persian Gulf endure summer temperatures of up to 36 °C, making them ideal subjects to study the mechanisms underlying thermal tolerance. Unexpectedly, we found the “generalist” Symbiodinium clade C3 to be the prevalent symbiont among seven coral species from Abu Dhabi (UAE) waters. Moreover, C3 represented the only dominant symbiont type in Porites spp. from this region. The “thermotolerant” symbionts D1a and C15 were not encountered, indicating that the association with these symbionts cannot be the sole reason for the heat tolerance of Gulf corals. The association of Porites lobata with specific symbiont types (C3 vs. C15) in samples from habitats with very different temperature regimes (Abu Dhabi vs. Fiji) remained unaffected by laboratory culture. During temperature stress experiments specimens from both locations strongly downregulated green fluorescent protein (GFP)-like pigments. However, the Abu Dhabi samples were less prone to bleaching and showed lower mortality.
Text
Wiedenmann 2013 Hume et al Mar Poll Bull.pdf
- Accepted Manuscript
More information
Accepted/In Press date: January 2013
Published date: 30 July 2013
Additional Information:
RCUK-linked Funding: NERC (NE/H012303/1, NE/I01683X/1 to J.W., studentship to B.H./J.W.)
Keywords:
coral reefs, global warming, bleaching, zooxanthellae, green fluorescent protein, heat stress
Organisations:
Ocean and Earth Science
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 349895
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/349895
ISSN: 0025-326X
PURE UUID: 33c3e71c-2f32-4caa-bc4b-88dc4848cb25
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Date deposited: 13 Mar 2013 11:17
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 03:28
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Author:
B. Hume
Author:
J. Burt
Author:
A.C. Baker
Author:
B. Riegl
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