High potential for formation and persistence of chimeras following aggregated larval settlement in the broadcast spawning coral,
            <i>Acropora millepora</i>

Puill-Stephan, Eneour; Oppen, Madeleine J. H. van; Pichavant-Rafini, Karine; Willis, Bette L.

doi:10.1098/rspb.2011.1035

Cited by 57 publications

(74 citation statements)

References 51 publications

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“…They are modular and have a low level of morphological differentiation; features that are described to suit the occurrence of intra‐colonial genetic variability (Orive ; Puill‐Stephan et al . ). The main focus of our study was to detect intra‐colonial genetic variability.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

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Inter‐ and intra‐colonial genotypic diversity in hermatypic hydrozoans of the family Milleporidae

Schweinsberg¹,

Tollrian²,

Lampert³

2016

Marine Ecology

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Genetic diversity is the basis for adaptation and therefore of primary scientific interest, especially in species that are threatened by anthropogenic challenges, e.g. climate change and/or pollution. Coral reefs are among the most threatened but also the most diverse ecosystems and have therefore been studied quite extensively. So far, most investigations have focused on scleractinian corals while the equally important reef builders, the hydrozoans, have been less considered. Here we provide the first study of genotypic variability as well as intra‐colonial genetic variability, the co‐occurrence of more than one genotype within a single colony, in Milleporidae based on microsatellites. We analysed two geographically distinct populations from the Millepora dichotoma complex, one from the Red Sea and one from the Great Barrier Reef. Additionally, a population of Millepora platyphylla was analysed from French Polynesia. We compared microsatellite multilocus genotypes and cytochrome c oxidase subunit I haplotypes for each of the three field sites to detect levels of genotypic diversity at the intra‐ and inter‐specific levels. Furthermore, we examined all species for the occurrence of intra‐colonial genetic variability, a recently described mechanism in scleractinian corals that might enhance the adaptive potential of sessile organisms. We found both species and all field sites to be genotypically variable. Twelve mitochondrial haplotypes and 27 multilocus microsatellite genotypes were identified. In addition, intra‐colonial genetic variability was detected in the M. dichotoma complex from the Great Barrier Reef as well as in M. platyphylla from French Polynesia. All of the intra‐colonial genetically variable colonies consisted of one main genotype and a second divergent genotype caused by somatic mutations (mosaicism). Our study proves that Milleporidae are genetically variable and that the phenomenon of intra‐colonial genetic variability also occurs in this important reef‐building family.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…; Puill‐Stephan et al . ; Schweinsberg et al . ), we assumed that mosaic genotypes that are based upon somatic mutations should only diverge from the main genotype in one or two loci or alleles.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Inter‐ and intra‐colonial genotypic diversity in hermatypic hydrozoans of the family Milleporidae

Schweinsberg¹,

Tollrian²,

Lampert³

2016

Marine Ecology

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“…Rearing and settling of coral larvae followed methods described in Puill-Stephan et al [34]. Symbiodinium ITS1 types C1 and D, freshly isolated from adult colonies of A. tenuis and A. millepora from Magnetic Island, respectively, were used to inoculate juveniles of each species that had been raised in 0.5 µm filtered seawater and thus were Symbiodinium- free until provided with inoculants.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of Light and Temperature on the Uptake of Algal Symbionts by Coral Juveniles

2012

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The effects of temperature and light on the breakdown of the coral-Symbiodinium symbiosis are well documented but current understanding of their roles during initial uptake and establishment of symbiosis is limited. In this study, we investigate how temperature and light affect the uptake of the algal symbionts, ITS1 types C1 and D, by juveniles of the broadcast-spawning corals Acropora tenuis and A. millepora. Elevated temperatures had a strong negative effect on Symbiodinium uptake in both coral species, with corals at 31°C showing as little as 8% uptake compared to 87% at 28°C. Juveniles in high light treatments (390 µmol photons m−2 s−1) had lower cell counts across all temperatures, emphasizing the importance of the light environment during the initial uptake phase. The proportions of the two Symbiodinium types taken up, as quantified by a real time PCR assay using clade C- and D-specific primers, were also influenced by temperature, although variation in uptake dynamics between the two coral species indicates a host effect. At 28°C, A. tenuis juveniles were dominated by C1 Symbiodinium, and while the number of D Symbiodinium cells increased at 31°C, they never exceeded the number of C1 cells. In contrast, juveniles of A. millepora had approximately equal numbers of C1 and D cells at 28°C, but were dominated by D at 30°C and 31°C. This study highlights the significant role that environmental factors play in the establishment of coral-Symbiodinium symbiosis and provides insights into how potentially competing Symbiodinium types take up residence in coral juveniles.

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“…The lack of an efficient allorecognition response is likely to be universal among juveniles of both scleractinians (hard corals) and alcyonaceans (soft corals) [4], [5]. In support of this hypothesis, recent observations of fusion among juveniles of the coral Acropora millepora following aggregated larval settlement, as well as after contact through growth for up to 11 months post-settlement for full siblings, imply that this broadcast spawning coral species lacks a mature allorecognition system in its early life [6]. Moreover, some juveniles derived from fused aggregations of full siblings remained alive for almost two years, with no obvious signs of rejection among interacting genotypes.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 91%

Expression of Putative Immune Response Genes during Early Ontogeny in the Coral Acropora millepora

et al. 2012

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BackgroundCorals, like many other marine invertebrates, lack a mature allorecognition system in early life history stages. Indeed, in early ontogeny, when corals acquire and establish associations with various surface microbiota and dinoflagellate endosymbionts, they do not efficiently distinguish between closely and distantly related individuals from the same population. However, very little is known about the molecular components that underpin allorecognition and immunity responses or how they change through early ontogeny in corals.Methodology/Principal FindingsPatterns in the expression of four putative immune response genes (apextrin, complement C3, and two CELIII type lectin genes) were examined in juvenile colonies of Acropora millepora throughout a six-month post-settlement period using quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR). Expression of a CELIII type lectin gene peaked in the fourth month for most of the coral juveniles sampled and was significantly higher at this time than at any other sampling time during the six months following settlement. The timing of this increase in expression levels of putative immune response genes may be linked to allorecognition maturation which occurs around this time in A.millepora. Alternatively, the increase may represent a response to immune challenges, such as would be involved in the recognition of symbionts (such as Symbiodinium spp. or bacteria) during winnowing processes as symbioses are fine-tuned.Conclusions/SignificanceOur data, although preliminary, are consistent with the hypothesis that lectins may play an important role in the maturation of allorecognition responses in corals. The co-expression of lectins with apextrin during development of coral juveniles also raises the possibility that these proteins, which are components of innate immunity in other invertebrates, may influence the innate immune systems of corals through a common pathway or system. However, further studies investigating the expression of these genes in alloimmune-challenged corals are needed to further clarify emerging evidence of a complex innate immunity system in corals.

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High potential for formation and persistence of chimeras following aggregated larval settlement in the broadcast spawning coral, Acropora millepora

Cited by 57 publications

References 51 publications

Inter‐ and intra‐colonial genotypic diversity in hermatypic hydrozoans of the family Milleporidae

Inter‐ and intra‐colonial genotypic diversity in hermatypic hydrozoans of the family Milleporidae

Impact of Light and Temperature on the Uptake of Algal Symbionts by Coral Juveniles

Expression of Putative Immune Response Genes during Early Ontogeny in the Coral Acropora millepora

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