Physiological response of the symbiotic gorgonian<i>Eunicella singularis</i>to a long-term temperature increase

Ferrier‐Pagés, Christine; Tambutté, Éric; Zamoum, Thamilla; Segonds, N.; Merle, Pierre-Laurent; Bensoussan, Nathaniel; Allemand, Denis; Garrabou, Joaquim; Tambutté, Sylvie

doi:10.1242/jeb.031823

Cited by 44 publications

(45 citation statements)

References 39 publications

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“…Conversely, the Mediterranean gorgonian Eunicella singularis at 15 m depth had lower average Symbiodinium photosynthetic (∼1) and respiration (∼0.55) rates per cm 2 [56]. The differences could be due to E. singularis in deeper waters being exposed to lower irradiance levels than those in the current study [56], [57]. In our study, the four gorgonian species did not exhibit photoinhibition, similar to what has been observed in other symbioses between Symbiodinium and cnidarians [58].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 84%

Symbiodinium Photosynthesis in Caribbean Octocorals

et al. 2014

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Symbioses with the dinoflagellate Symbiodinium form the foundation of tropical coral reef communities. Symbiodinium photosynthesis fuels the growth of an array of marine invertebrates, including cnidarians such as scleractinian corals and octocorals (e.g., gorgonian and soft corals). Studies examining the symbioses between Caribbean gorgonian corals and Symbiodinium are sparse, even though gorgonian corals blanket the landscape of Caribbean coral reefs. The objective of this study was to compare photosynthetic characteristics of Symbiodinium in four common Caribbean gorgonian species: Pterogorgia anceps, Eunicea tourneforti, Pseudoplexaura porosa, and Pseudoplexaura wagenaari. Symbiodinium associated with these four species exhibited differences in Symbiodinium density, chlorophyll a per cell, light absorption by chlorophyll a, and rates of photosynthetic oxygen production. The two Pseudoplexaura species had higher Symbiodinium densities and chlorophyll a per Symbiodinium cell but lower chlorophyll a specific absorption compared to P. anceps and E. tourneforti. Consequently, P. porosa and P. wagenaari had the highest average photosynthetic rates per cm2 but the lowest average photosynthetic rates per Symbiodinium cell or chlorophyll a. With the exception of Symbiodinium from E. tourneforti, isolated Symbiodinium did not photosynthesize at the same rate as Symbiodinium in hospite. Differences in Symbiodinium photosynthetic performance could not be attributed to Symbiodinium type. All P. anceps (n = 9) and P. wagenaari (n = 6) colonies, in addition to one E. tourneforti and three P. porosa colonies, associated with Symbiodinium type B1. The B1 Symbiodinium from these four gorgonian species did not cluster with lineages of B1 Symbiodinium from scleractinian corals. The remaining eight E. tourneforti colonies harbored Symbiodinium type B1L, while six P. porosa colonies harbored type B1i. Understanding the symbioses between gorgonian corals and Symbiodinium will aid in deciphering why gorgonian corals dominate many Caribbean reefs.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 84%

Symbiodinium Photosynthesis in Caribbean Octocorals

et al. 2014

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“…Such an experimental design may alleviate difficulties found in other circumstances as well (e.g. Ferrier-Pagès et al, 2009). With colonies of P. parrini, neither of the paired comparison experiments found a significant difference in oxygen formation in the light.…”

Section: Research Articlementioning

confidence: 99%

Physiological correlates of symbiont migration during bleaching of two octocoral species

Netherton

Scheer

Morrison

et al. 2014

Journal of Experimental Biology

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Perturbed colonies of Phenganax parrini and Sarcothelia sp. exhibit migration of symbionts of Symbiodinium spp. into the stolons. Densitometry and visual inspection indicated that polyps bleached while stolons did not. When migration was triggered by temperature, light and confinement, colonies of Sarcothelia sp. decreased rates of oxygen formation in the light (due to the effects of perturbation on photosynthesis and respiration) and increased rates of oxygen uptake in the dark (due to the effects of perturbation on respiration alone). Colonies of P. parrini, by contrast, showed no significant changes in either aspect of oxygen metabolism. When migration was triggered by light and confinement, colonies of Sarcothelia sp. showed decreased rates of oxygen formation in the light and increased rates of oxygen uptake in the dark, while colonies of P. parrini maintained the former and increased the latter. During symbiont migration into their stolons, colonies of both species showed dramatic increases in reactive oxygen species (ROS), as visualized with a fluorescent probe, with stolons of Sarcothelia sp. exhibiting a nearly immediate increase of ROS. Differences in symbiont type may explain the greater sensitivity of colonies of Sarcothelia sp. Using fluorescent probes, direct measurements of migrating symbionts in the stolons of Sarcothelia sp. showed higher levels of reactive nitrogen species and lower levels of ROS than the surrounding host tissue. As measured by native fluorescence, levels of NAD(P)H in the stolons were unaffected by perturbation. Symbiont migration thus correlates with dramatic physiological changes and may serve as a marker for coral condition.

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“…Moreover, E. singularis is thermosensitive (Weinberg 1979a) and its planulae are phototropic (Weinberg 1979b). Differences in stress sensitivity have been found among populations from different depths either experimentally (Ferrier-Pages et al 2009) or in natural settings as seen, for example, in the summer of 2003, when surface populations were affected by a temperature rise that did not affect deeper colonies (Garrabou et al 2009). It is possible that the relatively stable, more productive deep populations may therefore act as sinks supplying propagules to the shorter-lived, temperature-challenged shallow populations.…”

Section: Symbiont Genetic Diversitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Symbiont diversity is not involved in depth acclimation in the Mediterranean sea whip Eunicella singularis

Forcioli¹,

Merle²,

Caligara³

et al. 2011

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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In symbiotic cnidarians, acclimation to depth and lower irradiance can involve physio logical changes in the photosynthetic dinoflagellate endosymbiont, such as increased chlorophyll content, or qualitative modifications in the symbiont population in favour of better adapted strains. It has been argued that a lack of capacity to acquire new symbionts could limit the bathymetric distribution of the host species, or compromise its long-term survival in a changing environment. But is that always true? To address this question, we investigated the symbiont genetic diversity in Eunicella singularis, a Mediterranean sea whip species with a wide bathymetric distribution (10 to 50 m depth), which has recently suffered from mass mortalities after periods of abnormally high sea temperatures. We measured symbiont population densities and chlorophyll content in natural populations, and followed the response of the holobionts after reciprocal transplantations to deep and shallow depths. A total of 161 colonies were sampled at 2 depths (10 and 30 m) at 5 sites in the northwestern Mediterranean. All colonies harboured a single ribosomal Symbiodinium clade (A'), but a relatively high within-clade genetic diversity was found among and within colonies. This diversity was not structured by depth, even though the deeper colonies contained significantly lower population densities of symbionts and less chlorophyll. We did, however, reveal host-symbiont specificity among E. singularis and other Mediterranean cnidarian species. Transplantation experiments revealed a limit of plasticity for symbiont population density and chlorophyll content, which in turn questions the importance of the trophic role of Symbiodinium in E. singularis.

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Physiological response of the symbiotic gorgonianEunicella singularisto a long-term temperature increase

Cited by 44 publications

References 39 publications

Symbiodinium Photosynthesis in Caribbean Octocorals

Symbiodinium Photosynthesis in Caribbean Octocorals

Physiological correlates of symbiont migration during bleaching of two octocoral species

Symbiont diversity is not involved in depth acclimation in the Mediterranean sea whip Eunicella singularis

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