Efficient light harvesting in deep-water zooxanthellate corals

Kahng, Samuel E.; Hochberg, Eric J.; Apprill, Amy; Wagner, Daniel; Luck, Daniel; Perez, Denise; Bidigare, Robert R.

doi:10.3354/meps09657

Cited by 71 publications

(66 citation statements)

References 73 publications

(90 reference statements)

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“…Coral fluorescence emission is ubiquitous in shallow corals; 97% of reef flat corals at a site on the Great Barrier Reef exhibit medium to high levels of fluorescence (Salih et al 2000). While coral fluorescence has been observed from mesophotic-restricted corals (Schlichter & Fricke 1990, Kahng et al 2012, the distribution and abundance of fluorescent coral morphs in the deep mesophotic zone is unknown. Additionally, shallow corals exhibit different patterns of fluorescence emission including uniform (fluorescence over the whole coral), highlighted (varying fluorescence with concentrations in particular anatomical regions such as the oral disc), and complementary (different FPs expressed in specific anatomical regions) (Gruber et al 2008).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…While obligate symbiotic corals have been observed as deep as 165 m (Maragos & Jokiel 1986), the extent to which mesophotic corals rely on photosynthetic products from Symbiodinium remains poorly understood. The downwelling irradiance in the mesophotic zone (~65-115 m) is about 3−10% of surface irradiance (Kahng et al 2012). The dramatic decline in the quantity of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) is compounded by a remarkable change in quality (spectral composition) at depth.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Fluorescent proteins in dominant mesophotic reef-building corals

Röth¹,

Padilla-Gamiño²,

Pochon³

et al. 2015

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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Reef-building corals inhabiting the mesophotic zone (30−150 m) not only survive but thrive in light-limiting environments. Similar to shallow corals, mesophotic corals also exhibit coral fluorescence. Because fluorescent proteins (FPs) absorb high-energy light and emit lowerenergy light, FPs could play an important role in mesophotic coral physiology and ecology. For 4 species of the Hawaiian mesophotic reef-building coral Leptoseris (65−125 m), we investigated the abundance of fluorescent morphs, types of FPs, fluorescence emission phenotypes, and the physiological relationship between coral fluorescence and endosymbiotic Symbiodinium (dinoflagellate; Dinophyta). Cyan/green coral fluorescence emission was widespread in mesophotic Leptoseris spp.; more than 70% of corals fluoresced, yet fluorescent and nonfluorescent corals cooccurred at all depths investigated. Coral fluorescence was attributed to 2 proteins, a cyan fluorescent protein (CFP, λ ex = 424 nm, λ em = 490 nm) and a green fluorescent protein (GFP, λ ex = 478 nm, λ em = 502 nm). The type of FP in Leptoseris colonies was correlated with depth; CFP was dominant in corals from shallower depths (65−85 m), GFP was dominant in corals from deeper depths (96−125 m), and CFP and GFP were present in corals from middle depths (86−95 m). Coral FP emission was primarily localized in the coenosarc and/or the oral disc. Symbiodinium from corals with and without fluorescence emission had similar genotypes, abundances, photosynthetic pigments, photosynthetic efficiencies, photosynthetic rates, and chlorophyll excitation spectra. As such, it is unlikely that these FPs play a significant role in enhancing symbiont photosynthesis. The high abundance of fluorescent morphs (> 70%) dominating this energetically limited environment may suggest that FPs play an integral and conserved physiological role in corals.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fluorescent proteins in dominant mesophotic reef-building corals

Röth¹,

Padilla-Gamiño²,

Pochon³

et al. 2015

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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“…In general, shade-dwelling corals have flat morphologies and small sizes of coralla, mostly 20-60 cm (Dinesen 1983). MCEs are dominated by platy or encrusting corals, and such a morphology is broadly considered as photoadaptive growth (e.g., Macintyre 1976, 1982;Rosen et al 2002;Anthony and Hoegh-Guldberg 2003;Kahng et al 2010Kahng et al , 2012Kahng et al , 2014. Platy morphologies in scleractinians were possibly widespread in Meso-and Cainozoic reefs (Rosen et al 2002), and are indicative of photosymbiosis in fossil record (e.g., Insalaco 1996;Rosen et al 2002;Santodomingo et al 2015).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Deep in shadows, deep in time: the oldest mesophotic coral ecosystems from the Devonian of the Holy Cross Mountains (Poland)

et al. 2017

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“…The spacing and size of polyps might also be adjusted, as light exposure is higher in corallites than in coenosarcs tissues (Wangpraseurt et al, 2012). Depth specialist coral genera such as Leptoseris have skeletal structures that enable the absorption of more light than shallow water Porites (Kahng et al, 2012). In combination with an arrangement of symbiont cells in a mono-layer, corals of the mesophotic genus Leptoseris maximize light capture and photosynthetic efficiency under low light conditions (Schlichter et al, 1986).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mesophotic coral depth acclimatization is a function of host-specific symbiont physiology

et al. 2015

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Mesophotic coral ecosystems receive increasing attention owing to their potential as deep coral refuges in times of global environmental change. Here, the mechanisms of coral holobiont photoacclimatization over a 60 m depth gradient in the central Red Sea were examined for the four coral genera Porites, Leptoseris, Pachyseris, and Podabacia. General acclimatization strategies were common to all host-symbiont combinations, e.g., Symbiodinium cell densities and photoprotective (PP) to light-harvesting pigment ratios both significantly decreased with water depth. Porites harbored Symbiodinium type C15 over the whole 60 m depth range, while Pachyseris and Podabacia had limited vertical distributions and hosted mainly Symbiodinium type C1. Symbiodinium type C15 had generally higher xanthophyll de-epoxidation rates and lower maximum quantum yields than C1, and also exhibited a strong photoacclimatory signal over depth that relates to the large distribution range of Porites. Interestingly, the coral host had an effect on Symbiodinium pigment composition. When comparing Symbiodinium type C1 in Podabacia and Pachyseris, the ß-carotene chl a −1 , the peridinin chl a −1 , and diadinoxanthin chl a −1 ratios were significantly different between host species. Our data support a view that depth acclimatization of corals in the mesophotics is facilitated by Symbiodinium physiology, which in turn is host-specific.

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Efficient light harvesting in deep-water zooxanthellate corals

Cited by 71 publications

References 73 publications

Fluorescent proteins in dominant mesophotic reef-building corals

Fluorescent proteins in dominant mesophotic reef-building corals

Deep in shadows, deep in time: the oldest mesophotic coral ecosystems from the Devonian of the Holy Cross Mountains (Poland)

Mesophotic coral depth acclimatization is a function of host-specific symbiont physiology

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