Molecular phylogeny, evolutionary rates, and divergence timing of the symbiotic dinoflagellate genus Symbiodinium

Pochon, Xavier; Montoya‐Burgos, Juan I.; Stadelmann, Benoît; Pawlowski, Jan

doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2005.04.028

Cited by 266 publications

(257 citation statements)

References 63 publications

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“…in culture commonly form calcifying bacterial-algal biofilms with naturally associated bacteria. The wide range of phylogenetic diversity as well as geographic and host origins of calcifying strains (22,23) imply a broad potential for establishing calcifying microbial-algal communities within the genus Symbiodinium. Moreover, noncalcifying cultures were not specific to any single clade, internal transcribed spacer (ITS) type, or culture origin, and thus calcification potential is more likely to be related to differences among bacterial communities than to Symbiodinium phylotype.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…structures of unknown nature within our culture collection of Symbiodinium spp. that encompassed a large extent of known genetic diversity (Table S1) (22,23). The discovered structures were up to 150-200 μm in diameter, firmly attached to the culture vessels, virtually transparent, and contained numerous Symbiodinium cells in their coccoid stage, many of which appeared to be connected to the structures' surface through ducts (Fig.…”

Section: Significancementioning

confidence: 99%

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Coral symbiotic algae calcify ex hospite in partnership with bacteria

Frommlet¹,

Sousa²,

Alves³

et al. 2015

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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Dinoflagellates of the genus Symbiodinium are commonly recognized as invertebrate endosymbionts that are of central importance for the functioning of coral reef ecosystems. However, the endosymbiotic phase within Symbiodinium life history is inherently tied to a more cryptic free-living (ex hospite) phase that remains largely unexplored. Here we show that free-living Symbiodinium spp. in culture commonly form calcifying bacterial-algal communities that produce aragonitic spherulites and encase the dinoflagellates as endolithic cells. This process is driven by Symbiodinium photosynthesis but occurs only in partnership with bacteria. Our findings not only place dinoflagellates on the map of microbial-algal organomineralization processes but also point toward an endolithic phase in the Symbiodinium life history, a phenomenon that may provide new perspectives on the biology and ecology of Symbiodinium spp. and the evolutionary history of the coraldinoflagellate symbiosis.Symbiodinium | coral symbiont | microbial-algal calcification | endolithic algae | life history

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Significancementioning

confidence: 99%

Coral symbiotic algae calcify ex hospite in partnership with bacteria

Frommlet¹,

Sousa²,

Alves³

et al. 2015

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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“…However, this recognition of the host's role is a comparatively recent development as the coral bleaching field has been dominated by studies examining the role of the dinoflagellate symbiont (Jones et al 1998;Warner et al 1999;Baker 2001;Berkelmans and van Oppen 2006;Fisher et al 2012). This is partly the result of a hypothesis that bleaching is ''adaptive'' for reef corals (Buddemeier and Fautin 1993;Baker 2001) and partly a consequence of our rapidly improving knowledge of symbiont phylogenetics (nine Symbiodinium ''clades'' and numerous ''subclades'' are now recognised; LaJeunesse 2002; Pochon et al 2006). Examination of Symbiodinium photophysiology (Jones et al 1998;Warner et al 1999) contributed to the development of a model of coral bleaching as a consequence of symbiont photosynthetic dysfunction.…”

Section: Communicated By Biology Editor Dr Anastazia Banaszakmentioning

confidence: 99%

Differential nitric oxide synthesis and host apoptotic events correlate with bleaching susceptibility in reef corals

et al. 2014

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Coral bleaching poses a threat to coral reefs worldwide. As a consequence of the temperature-induced breakdown in coral-dinoflagellate symbiosis, bleaching can have extensive effects on reef communities. However, our understanding of bleaching at a cellular level is limited, and this is particularly true regarding differential susceptibility among coral species. Recent work suggests that bleaching may represent a host innate immune-like response to symbiont dysfunction that involves synthesis of the signalling compound nitric oxide (NO) and the induction of host apoptotic-like cell death. In this study, we examined the activity of apoptosis-regulating enzymes alongside oxidised NO accumulation (a proxy for NO synthesis) in the reef corals Acropora millepora, Montipora digitata, and Pocillopora damicornis during experimental thermal stress. P. damicornis was the most sensitive species, suffering mortality (tissue sloughing) after 5 days at 33°C but non-lethal bleaching after 9 days at 31.5°C. A. millepora bleached at 33°C but remained structurally intact, while M. digitata showed little evidence of bleaching. P. damicornis and A. millepora both exhibited evidence of temperature-induced NO synthesis and, after 5 days of heating, levels of oxidised NO in both species were fivefold higher than in controls maintained at 28.5°C. These responses preceded bleaching by a number of days and may have occurred before symbiont dysfunction (measured as chlorophyll a degradation and oxidised NO accumulation). In A. millepora, apparent NO synthesis correlated with the induction of host apoptotic-like pathways, while in P. damicornis, the upregulation of apoptotic pathways occurred later. No evidence of elevated NO production or apoptosis was observed in M. digitata at 33°C and baseline activity of apoptosis-regulating enzymes was negligible in this species. These findings provide important physiological data in the context of the responses of corals to global change and suggest that early events in the host may be important in the collapse of the coral-dinoflagellate symbiosis.

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“…Eight clades have been identified, six of which form relationships with corals (Baker 2003). The clades are classified A-H by analysis of nuclear ribosomal and chloroplast DNA (Baker 2003;Pochon et al 2006). Symbiodinium can differ in traits such as the photosynthetic response to light and thermal tolerance (Robinson & Warner 2006).…”

Section: Coral and Symbiodinium Symbiosis: Marine Thermotolerancementioning

confidence: 99%

Symbiosis as a source of selectable epigenetic variation: taking the heat for the big guy

Gilbert

McDonald

Boyle

et al. 2010

Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B

129

110

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Evolutionary developmental biology is based on the principle that evolution arises from hereditable changes in development. Most of this new work has centred on changes in the regulatory components of the genome. However, recent studies (many of them documented in this volume) have shown that development also includes interactions between the organism and its environment. One area of interest concerns the importance of symbionts for the production of the normal range of phenotypes. Many, if not most, organisms have 'outsourced' some of their developmental signals to a set of symbionts that are expected to be acquired during development. Such intimate interactions between species are referred to as codevelopment, the production of a new individual through the coordinated interactions of several genotypically different species. Within the past 2 years, several research programmes have demonstrated that such codevelopmental schemes can be selected. We will focus on symbioses in coral reef cnidarians symbiosis, pea aphids and cactuses, wherein the symbiotic system provides thermotolerance for the composite organism.

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Molecular phylogeny, evolutionary rates, and divergence timing of the symbiotic dinoflagellate genus Symbiodinium

Cited by 266 publications

References 63 publications

Coral symbiotic algae calcify ex hospite in partnership with bacteria

Coral symbiotic algae calcify ex hospite in partnership with bacteria

Differential nitric oxide synthesis and host apoptotic events correlate with bleaching susceptibility in reef corals

Symbiosis as a source of selectable epigenetic variation: taking the heat for the big guy

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