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Phosphate deficiency promotes coral bleaching and is reflected by the ultrastructure of symbiotic dinoflagellates

Phosphate deficiency promotes coral bleaching and is reflected by the ultrastructure of symbiotic dinoflagellates
Phosphate deficiency promotes coral bleaching and is reflected by the ultrastructure of symbiotic dinoflagellates
Enrichment of reef environments with dissolved inorganic nutrients is considered a major threat to the survival of corals living in symbiosis with dinoflagellates (Symbiodinium sp.). We argue, however, that the direct negative effects on the symbiosis are not necessarily caused by the nutrient enrichment itself but by the phosphorus starvation of the algal symbionts that can be caused by skewed nitrogen (N) to phosphorus (P) ratios. We exposed corals to imbalanced N:P ratios in long-term experiments and found that the undersupply of phosphate severely disturbed the symbiosis, indicated by the loss of coral biomass, malfunctioning of algal photosynthesis and bleaching of the corals. In contrast, the corals tolerated an undersupply with nitrogen at high phosphate concentrations without negative effects on symbiont photosynthesis, suggesting a better adaptation to nitrogen limitation. Transmission electron microscopy analysis revealed that the signatures of ultrastructural biomarkers represent versatile tools for the classification of nutrient stress in symbiotic algae. Notably, high N:P ratios in the water were clearly identified by the accumulation of uric acid crystals.
0025-326X
180–187
Rosset, Sabrina
22555676-237a-498b-8252-c8c7cb9dca08
D'angelo, Maria
0d35b03b-684d-43aa-a57a-87212ab07ee1
Reed, Adam
ec734ee2-469c-4259-91d6-4abcfbe65e3b
Wiedenmann, Joerg
ad445af2-680f-4927-90b3-589ac9d538f7
Rosset, Sabrina
22555676-237a-498b-8252-c8c7cb9dca08
D'angelo, Maria
0d35b03b-684d-43aa-a57a-87212ab07ee1
Reed, Adam
ec734ee2-469c-4259-91d6-4abcfbe65e3b
Wiedenmann, Joerg
ad445af2-680f-4927-90b3-589ac9d538f7

Rosset, Sabrina, D'angelo, Maria, Reed, Adam and Wiedenmann, Joerg (2017) Phosphate deficiency promotes coral bleaching and is reflected by the ultrastructure of symbiotic dinoflagellates. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 118 (1-2), 180–187. (doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2017.02.044).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Enrichment of reef environments with dissolved inorganic nutrients is considered a major threat to the survival of corals living in symbiosis with dinoflagellates (Symbiodinium sp.). We argue, however, that the direct negative effects on the symbiosis are not necessarily caused by the nutrient enrichment itself but by the phosphorus starvation of the algal symbionts that can be caused by skewed nitrogen (N) to phosphorus (P) ratios. We exposed corals to imbalanced N:P ratios in long-term experiments and found that the undersupply of phosphate severely disturbed the symbiosis, indicated by the loss of coral biomass, malfunctioning of algal photosynthesis and bleaching of the corals. In contrast, the corals tolerated an undersupply with nitrogen at high phosphate concentrations without negative effects on symbiont photosynthesis, suggesting a better adaptation to nitrogen limitation. Transmission electron microscopy analysis revealed that the signatures of ultrastructural biomarkers represent versatile tools for the classification of nutrient stress in symbiotic algae. Notably, high N:P ratios in the water were clearly identified by the accumulation of uric acid crystals.

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Accepted/In Press date: 15 February 2017
e-pub ahead of print date: 24 February 2017
Published date: 15 May 2017
Organisations: Ocean and Earth Science, Marine Biology & Ecology

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 407927
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/407927
ISSN: 0025-326X
PURE UUID: 5b1d5ed3-bc59-4992-b759-5f69a9cbf892
ORCID for Adam Reed: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0003-2200-5067
ORCID for Joerg Wiedenmann: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0003-2128-2943

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 29 Apr 2017 01:03
Last modified: 16 Mar 2024 03:53

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Contributors

Author: Sabrina Rosset
Author: Maria D'angelo
Author: Adam Reed ORCID iD

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