The stable microbiome of inter and sub-tidal anemone species under increasing pCO2

Abstract

Increasing levels of pCO2 within the oceans will select for resistant organisms such as anemones, which may thrive under ocean acidification conditions. However, increasing pCO2 may alter the bacterial community of marine organisms, significantly affecting the health status of the host. A pH gradient associated with a natural volcanic vent system within Levante Bay, Vulcano Island, Italy, was used to test the effects of ocean acidification on the bacterial community of two anemone species in situ, Anemonia viridis and Actinia equina using 16 S rDNA pyrosequencing. Results showed the bacterial community of the two anemone species differed significantly from each other primarily because of differences in the Gammaproteobacteria and Epsilonproteobacteria abundances. The bacterial communities did not differ within species among sites with decreasing pH except for A. viridis at the vent site (pH = 6.05). In addition to low pH, the vent site contains trace metals and sulfide that may have influenced the bacteria community of A. viridis. The stability of the bacterial community from pH 8.1 to pH 7.4, coupled with previous experiments showing the lack of, or beneficial changes within anemones living under low pH conditions indicates that A. viridis and A. equina will be winners under future ocean acidification scenarios.

Adaptation to reef habitats through selection on the coral animal and its associated microbiome

“…Experimental heat stress induced changes in the bacterial community composition of Acropora hyacinthus colonies acclimatized to a relatively cooler and stable environment, but not in those that were acclimatized to a warmer and more variable environment, suggesting coral‐associated bacteria may contribute to coral thermal tolerance in this species (Ziegler, Seneca, Yum, Palumbi, & Voolstra, ). Conversely, stable cnidarian‐associated prokaryote communities under simulated environmental change (Webster et al., ) or in different habitats (Muller, Fine, & Ritchie, ) have also been reported, and it is not yet clear to what extent the prokaryotic community contributes to the acclimatization/adaptation of corals to different reef environments.…”

Insights into the phylogenetic and molecular evolutionary histories of Fad and Elovl gene families in Actiniaria

“…Phylogenetic and selection analyses of these data have also been performed to elucidate the molecular evolution of the Fad and Elovl gene families in Cnidarians. The fatty acid profile of candidate cnidarian species, Actinia tenebrosa (Figure 1), which lacks a symbiotic relationship with Symbiodinium (Black & Johnson, 1979; Muller, Fine, & Ritchie, 2016; Ottaway, 1978), was investigated using fatty acid analysis to address our lack of understanding of the baseline levels of fatty acids in these organisms. Finally, we examined if the fatty acid composition data were concordant with the Fad and Elovl enzymes found in this species.…”

“…The fatty acid profile of candidate cnidarian species, Actinia tenebrosa (Figure 1), which lacks a symbiotic relationship with F I G U R E 1 Australian sea anemone, Actinia tenebrosa. Photograph credit: Jonathon Muller Symbiodinium (Black & Johnson, 1979;Muller, Fine, & Ritchie, 2016;Ottaway, 1978), was investigated using fatty acid analysis to address our lack of understanding of the baseline levels of fatty acids in these organisms. Finally, we examined if the fatty acid composition data were concordant with the Fad and Elovl enzymes found in this species.…”

Initial Virome Characterization of the Common Cnidarian Lab Model Nematostella vectensis

“…It seems plausible that such a major difference in the viral community composition between sea anemones might stem from the very distinct environmental conditions of these marine animals and therefore, a different ensemble of neighboring viral species. While Bolocera is an open-sea sea anemone [56], both Actinia and Exaiptasia occupy predominantly the intertidal zones which experience recurring but short-term fluctuations of water level and exposure to air [57]. In contrast, Nematostella inhabits mostly brackish lagoons of the east coast of North America, where it can be found burrowed into sand and mud [58].…”