A Molecular Genetic Classification of Zooxanthellae and the Evolution of Animal-Algal Symbioses

Rowan, Rob; Powers, Dennis A.

doi:10.1126/science.251.4999.1348

Cited by 395 publications

(334 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…It is now recognized that different genotypes of zooxanthellae within corals show a distinct ecological zonation with depth (Rowan and Knowlton 1995). The zooxanthellae within the congenerics used in this study from both depths have all been identified as belonging to clade C (Rowan and Powers 1991;Rowan and Knowlton 1995) by restriction fragment length polymorphisms of 24s rDNA (Lesser unpubl. data).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 90%

Light absorption and utilization by colonies of the congeneric hermatypic corals Montastraea faveolata and Montastraea cavernosa

Lesser

Mazel

Phinney

et al. 2000

Limnology & Oceanography

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The congeneric species Montastraea faveolata and Montastraea cavernosa are important hermatypic corals on reefs throughout the Bahamas, Caribbean, and the Florida reef tract that have overlapping bathymetric distributions. However, these congeners differ in their respective abundance at similar depths. The underlying mechanism for these patterns may partly be because of their relative dependence on photoautotrophy versus heterotrophy. The dependence of these two corals on photoautotrophy was examined quantifying the optical properties and productivity of these two species of corals at two different depths in the Dry Tortugas. Maximum surface irradiances in the Dry Tortugas during this study varied from 1,900 to 2,100 mol quanta m Ϫ2 s Ϫ1. Spectral attenuation coefficients calculated from the 1995 and 1996 irradiance data differed by as little as 10% within the visible wavelengths (photosynthetically active radiation [PAR], 400-700 nm), suggesting year-to-year similarities in the optical properties of the overlying water column. Underwater irradiances of PAR were ϳ400 mol quanta m Ϫ2 s Ϫ1 and 25 mol quanta m Ϫ2 s Ϫ1 at 10 m and 18 m, respectively. Significantly lower rates of maximum photosynthesis were observed for samples of M. cavernosa compared with M. faveolata at 10 m and 18 m. For samples of M. faveolata from both depths, the mean chlorophyll-specific absorption (a*) across all PAR wavelengths was greater than that of M. cavernosa. When spectrally corrected for the underwater light field and used to calculate the minimum quantum requirements (1/ m ) of these corals at each depth, we observed that M. faveolata always had higher 1/ m than M. cavernosa (50 versus 18 quanta O 2 Ϫ1 and 39 versus 15 quanta O 2 Ϫ1 at 10 m and 18 m, respectively). M. cavernosa, with its greater pigment concentrations and lower a*, exhibits a significant package effect that results in a smaller functional optical cross section and lower maximum photosynthetic capacities, whereas M. faveolata at the same depths, despite the greater minimum quantum requirements, has a larger functional optical cross section and enhanced absorption of available visible radiation, resulting in a greater maximum photosynthetic capacity. Based on polyp size, corallite structure, and surface area considerations, M. faveolata appears to depend on photoautotrophy versus heterotrophy to a greater extent than its congener, M. cavernosa. Recent data suggest, however, that polyp size alone may not be a good indicator for differences in trophic strategies and that coordinated studies on feeding and productivity in corals are needed to better understand their ecological distributions.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 90%

Light absorption and utilization by colonies of the congeneric hermatypic corals Montastraea faveolata and Montastraea cavernosa

Lesser

Mazel

Phinney

et al. 2000

Limnology & Oceanography

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“…This perception began when Rowan et al (1997) found that 'Clade A' increased its proportional representation following a natural bleaching event, and Toller et al (2001) reported that 'Clade A' was common in Orbicella (formerly Montastraea) samples taken during bleaching experiments and from tissues with yellow-band disease (YBD, sometimes called yellowblotch disease). Although Toller et al (2001) recognized the potential for cryptic diversity within clades (both Rowan & Powers (1991) and Toller et al (2001) acknowledged that the small subunit rDNA did not resolve species), they presumed, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, that their 'Clade A' entity was the same as the species most often found on the tops of shallow Orbicella colonies, currently known as Symbiodinium A3 Kemp et al, 2008).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Symbiodinium necroappetenssp. nov. (Dinophyceae): an opportunist ‘zooxanthella’ found in bleached and diseased tissues of Caribbean reef corals

LaJeunesse

Lee

Gil-Agudelo

et al. 2015

European Journal of Phycology

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We describe Symbiodinium necroappetens sp. nov. found predominantly in diseased or thermally damaged tissues in some reef corals of the Greater Caribbean. Small, albeit fixed, differences in the ribosomal DNA (ITS2 and LSU) and cytochrome b (cob) indicate that S. necroappetens is evolutionarily separate, but closely related to S. microadriaticum (members of Clade A). However, haplotype sequences of the non-coding region of the psbA minicircle are highly divergent, signifying that the degree of genetic divergence between these sibling lineages is far greater than indicated by changes in rDNA. Small morphological differences also support the delineation of this species. The Kofoidian plate formula for S. necroappetens (x-plate, EAV, 4′, 5a, 8′′, 9-11s, 21c, 6′′′, 2′′′′, PE) is generally the same as described for S. microadriaticum, except for the number of cingulum plates (21 vs 22-24), but plate shapes and configurations differ. Nuclear and mitochondrial volumes calculated from ultrastructural serial sections (published previously) also distinguish it from S. microadriaticum and S. pilosum. There are significant physiological differences in the response of S. necroappetens to high pCO 2 and thermal stress when compared with S. microadriaticum, indicating that large functional differences exist even among closely related species. This species appears to be necrotrophic rather than mutualistic. Before it was recognized as a distinct entity, reports on its ecology contributed to the supposition that members of Clade A Symbiodinium were opportunistic. Available evidence indicates that S. necroappetens exists at low environmental background levels, but may 'proliferate' selectively in artificial growth media, or emerge opportunistically in bleached coral colonies during early recovery from severe stress, or in diseased necrotic tissues, especially in colonies of the Orbicella (formerly Monstastraea) annularis complex. However, S. necroappetens fails to persist at detectable levels as populations of the typical symbiont recover. The description of this species raises awareness of the broad functional and ecological diversity exhibited by members of this large dinoflagellate genus.

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“…Phylogenies such as those based on nuclear ribosomal deoxyribonucleic acid (rDNA) divide the genus into several large clades (Rowan and Powers 1991). The internal transcribed spacer regions 1 and 2 (ITS1 and ITS2) further characterize numerous subcladal genetically distinct types (Lajeunesse 2001;van Oppen et al 2001), which closely approximate physiologically and ecologically distinct populations (Lajeunesse 2002;Warner et al 2006;Frade et al 2008).…”

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confidence: 99%

In situ photobiology of corals over large depth ranges: A multivariate analysis on the roles of environment, host, and algal symbiont

Frade

Bongaerts

Winkelhagen

et al. 2008

Limnology & Oceanography

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We applied a multivariate analysis to investigate the roles of host and symbiont on the in situ physiological response of genus Madracis holobionts towards light. Across a large depth gradient (5-40 m) and for four Madracis species and three symbiont genotypes, we assessed several variables by measuring chlorophyll a fluorescence, photosynthetic pigment composition, or symbiont population descriptors. Most of the variation is explained by two major photobiological components: light-use efficiency and symbiont cell densities. Two other minor components emphasize photoprotective pathways and light-harvesting properties such as secondary pigments. Statistics highlight the role of irradiance on coral physiology and reveal mechanisms that are either genetically constrained, such as symbiont cell sizes, or environmentally dependent, such as photochemical efficiencies. Other parameters, such as cellular light-harvesting and photoprotective pigment concentrations, are regulated by host, symbiont, and environment. The interaction between host and environment stresses the role of host properties in adjusting the internal environment available for the endosymbionts. Different holobiont strategies, relating to symbiont cell density, vary in their physiological optimization of light-harvesting or photoprotective mechanisms and link to host-species distribution and dominance over the reef slope. Symbiont functional diversity appears to have a significant role but does not explain host vertical distribution patterns per se, highlighting the importance of species-specific morphological and physiological properties of the coral host.

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A Molecular Genetic Classification of Zooxanthellae and the Evolution of Animal-Algal Symbioses

Cited by 395 publications

References 22 publications

Light absorption and utilization by colonies of the congeneric hermatypic corals Montastraea faveolata and Montastraea cavernosa

Light absorption and utilization by colonies of the congeneric hermatypic corals Montastraea faveolata and Montastraea cavernosa

Symbiodinium necroappetenssp. nov. (Dinophyceae): an opportunist ‘zooxanthella’ found in bleached and diseased tissues of Caribbean reef corals

In situ photobiology of corals over large depth ranges: A multivariate analysis on the roles of environment, host, and algal symbiont

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