Coral fluorescence: a prey-lure in deep habitats

Ben-Zvi, Or; Lindemann, Yoav; Eyal, Gal; Loya, Yossi

doi:10.1038/s42003-022-03460-3

Cited by 13 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 73 publications

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“…While GFP-like proteins are likely to have additional functions for the coral holobiont ( Aihara et al, 2019 ; Ben-Zvi et al, 2022 ; Yamashita et al, 2021 ), optimisation of the symbiont light environment is arguably one of their primary roles. The effects of GFP-like proteins on the light environment experienced by coral symbionts are not simply dependent on the spectral properties of the isolated protein; rather, they are a product of the environmental and physiological regulation of the protein within its three-dimensional optical context.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Green fluorescent protein-like pigments optimise the internal light environment in symbiotic reef-building corals

Bollati

Lyndby

D’Angelo

et al. 2022

eLife

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Pigments homologous to the Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) have been proposed to fine-tune the internal light microclimate of corals, facilitating photoacclimation of photosynthetic coral symbionts (Symbiodiniaceae) to life in different reef habitats and environmental conditions. However, direct measurements of the in vivo light conditions inside the coral tissue supporting this conclusion are lacking. Here, we quantified the intra-tissue spectral light environment of corals expressing GFP-like proteins from widely different light regimes. We focus on (1) photoconvertible red fluorescent proteins (pcRFPs), thought to enhance photosynthesis in mesophotic habitats via wavelength conversion, and (2) chromoproteins (CPs), which provide photoprotection to the symbionts in shallow water via light absorption. Optical microsensor measurements indicated that both pigment groups strongly alter the coral tissue light environment. Estimates derived from light spectra measured in pcRFP-containing corals showed that fluorescence emission can contribute to >50% of orange-red light available to the photosynthetic symbionts at mesophotic depths. We further show that upregulation of pink CPs in shallow-water corals during bleaching leads to a reduction of orange light by 10-20% compared to low-CP tissue. Thus, screening by CPs has an important role in mitigating the light-enhancing effect of coral tissue scattering during bleaching. Our results provide the first experimental quantification of the importance of GFP-like proteins in fine-tuning the light microclimate of corals during photoacclimation.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Green fluorescent protein-like pigments optimise the internal light environment in symbiotic reef-building corals

Bollati

Lyndby

D’Angelo

et al. 2022

eLife

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“…We found UV induced fluorescence emissions primarily from the peristomes of various Nepenthes species/hybrids (Kurup et al 2013). Recent studies have demonstrated fluorescence as a visual signal in floral reproductive structures (Mori et al 2018), amphibians (frogs), marine organisms, segmented worms, reptiles and other organisms (Taboada et al 2017; Mori et al 2018; Kohler et al 2019; Ben-Zvi et al 2022). In another recent study, we demonstrated Nepenthes pitchers as CO2-encriched cavities, and open pitchers continually emit CO2 attracting preys towards them (Baby et al, 2017).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Similar fluorescence emissions from reproductive structures (anther, pollen) were proved to be visual cues attracting pollinators to flowers (Baby et al 2013; Mori et al 2018). Fluorescence also functions as signals in various amphibians (frogs) in terrestrial environments, marine organisms, segmented worms, reptiles and other organisms (Taboada et al 2017; Mori et al 2018; Kohler et al 2019; Ben-Zvi et al 2022). In Nepenthes , the peristome is a wettable surface with distinct microstructures (Bohn and Federle, 2004; Chen et al 2016).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nepenthespitchersversusthermogenic flowers: Thermal patterns and their role in prey capture and pollination

Sujatha,

Johnson,

Hussain

et al. 2023

Preprint

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Prey capture in Nepenthes and pollination in angiosperms are two antithetical events; one designed to trap insects and other arthropods (carnivory) and the other to transfer pollen through pollinators (reproduction). In this study, infrared thermography was extensively used to obtain thermal profiles of Nepenthes pitchers and thermogenic and non-thermogenic flowers in field conditions. Confocal and scanning electron microscopy were used to record peristome cross-sectional features and pitcher morphology. N. khasiana pitchers displayed below ambient temperatures during evening-night-morning hours (5 pm to 8-9-10 am); pitcher spots recorded lowest and highest temperatures as 14.4 (6-7 am) and 45.6°C (2 pm), respectively. The average humidities in the night and day periods were 77.15% and 50.15%, respectively. The prey capturing zones in Nepenthes pitchers (peristome, lid and their intersection) are colder favoring prey capture, whereas in thermogenic flowers, floral portions are hotter, providing the thermal requirements for the pollinator. In thermogenic plants, floral zones assist pollination by offering a thermal reward through enzymatic processes; but Nepenthes traps achieve lower temperature spots by physical (surface microstructures), chemical (nectar) and ecological (rain, humidity) factors. Both are contrasting life and death adaptations in nature.

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“…They have also been proposed to amplify light scattering and increase the temperature within coral tissue (Lyndby et al, 2016). It also has been suggested that animal CPs could help corals attract symbionts (Aihara et al, 2019) and prey such as plankton (Ben-Zvi et al, 2022).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Modulation of the symbionts light environment in hospite in scleractinian corals

Galindo-Martínez

Chaparro²,

Enríquez³

et al. 2022

Front. Mar. Sci.

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The upregulation of animal chromoproteins (CPs) during thermal stress produces “colorful” bleached corals that facilitate coral recovery after bleaching. In situ measurements indicate that animal CPs present in coral tissues reduce the elevated internal light environment of the remaining symbionts in bleached or low-pigmented stressed corals. However, there is still a lack of understanding regarding the extent to which animal CPs contribute to modifying the internal light environment of the symbionts in hospite. In this study, we evaluate the effect of three animal CPs on the optical properties of the coral tissue and their internal light environment using a numerical model. The model allows estimations of the absorbance spectra of corals as a function of changes in symbiont and animal pigmentation, as well as descriptions of the light environment in hospite of the symbionts. These descriptions were derived from the quantification of the contribution of each pigment component to light absorption, together with the contribution of the coral skeleton’s reflectance. Simulations indicate that animal CPs upregulation modifies the spectral distribution and the intensity of the internal light field. Animal CPs can reduce up to 11% of the light intensity in hospite when present individually, and up to 24% when present in combination. Such reduction may play a critical role in preventing the full development of the bleached phenotype when irradiance rises to excessive levels at low coral pigmentation, facilitating coral recovery and symbiont tissue re-colonization after bleaching. Accordingly, coral’s CPs components need to also be considered when selecting coral species for future restoration efforts.

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Coral fluorescence: a prey-lure in deep habitats

Cited by 13 publications

References 73 publications

Green fluorescent protein-like pigments optimise the internal light environment in symbiotic reef-building corals

Green fluorescent protein-like pigments optimise the internal light environment in symbiotic reef-building corals

Nepenthespitchersversusthermogenic flowers: Thermal patterns and their role in prey capture and pollination

Modulation of the symbionts light environment in hospite in scleractinian corals

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