Patterns in Fluorescence over a Caribbean Reef Slope: the Coral Genus Madracis

Vermeij, Mark J. A.; Delvoye, Laurent; Nieuwland, G.; Bak, Rpm

doi:10.1023/a:1022635327172

Cited by 22 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…Confocal microscopy images of Montipora capitata fluorescence patterns were consistent for visually healthy coral across a range of depths, but systematically differed between healthy and diseased coral. Similar to other species 24 , 25 , our results suggest that healthy M. capitata has a unique composition of endogenous fluorescence (type and arrangement of fluorescent pigments), and that composition is maintained across shallow water habitats. Differences in the spatial distribution of fluorescent pigments between healthy and diseased coral indicated sub-lethal changes in coral tissue that cannot be seen in natural light conditions with the human eye.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 83%

Intra-colony disease progression induces fragmentation of coral fluorescent pigments

Caldwell

Ushijima

Couch

et al. 2017

Sci Rep

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As disease spreads through living coral, it can induce changes in the distribution of coral’s naturally fluorescent pigments, making fluorescence a potentially powerful non-invasive intrinsic marker of coral disease. Here, we show the usefulness of live-imaging laser scanning confocal microscopy to investigate coral health state. We demonstrate that the Hawaiian coral Montipora capitata consistently emits cyan and red fluorescence across a depth gradient in reef habitats, but the micro-scale spatial distribution of those pigments differ between healthy coral and coral affected by a tissue loss disease. Naturally diseased and laboratory infected coral systematically exhibited fragmented fluorescent pigments adjacent to the disease front as indicated by several measures of landscape structure (e.g., number of patches) relative to healthy coral. Histology results supported these findings. Pigment fragmentation indicates a disruption in coral tissue that likely impedes translocation of energy within a colony. The area of fragmented fluorescent pigments in diseased coral extended 3.03 mm ± 1.80 mm adjacent to the disease front, indicating pathogenesis was highly localized rather than systemic. Our study demonstrates that coral fluorescence can be used as a proxy for coral health state, and, such patterns may help refine hypotheses about modes of pathogenesis.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 83%

Intra-colony disease progression induces fragmentation of coral fluorescent pigments

Caldwell

Ushijima

Couch

et al. 2017

Sci Rep

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“…Some corals express multiple types of FPs and the emission spectra of some FPs overlap with the absorption spectra of other FPs providing the possibility for higher energy to be reduced to lower energy via fluorescence resonance energy transfer between FPs within corals ( Table 2 ; Salih et al, 2000 ). Despite the tight relationship between light and FPs ( Vermeij et al, 2002 ; D’Angelo et al, 2008 ; Roth et al, 2010 ), evidence against a photoprotective hypothesis includes a lack of correlation between depth and GFP as well as the negligible impact of GFP absorption, emission, and reflection on sunlight reaching Symbiodinium ( Mazel et al, 2003 ). However, recent evidence suggests that CPs can reduce chlorophyll excitation and thus may serve a direct photoprotective role ( Smith et al, 2013 ).…”

Section: Photobiology Of Coralsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The engine of the reef: photobiology of the coralâ€“algal symbiosis

Roth¹

2014

Front. Microbiol.

267

227

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Coral reef ecosystems thrive in tropical oligotrophic oceans because of the relationship between corals and endosymbiotic dinoflagellate algae called Symbiodinium. Symbiodinium convert sunlight and carbon dioxide into organic carbon and oxygen to fuel coral growth and calcification, creating habitat for these diverse and productive ecosystems. Light is thus a key regulating factor shaping the productivity, physiology, and ecology of the coral holobiont. Similar to all oxygenic photoautotrophs, Symbiodinium must safely harvest sunlight for photosynthesis and dissipate excess energy to prevent oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is caused by environmental stressors such as those associated with global climate change, and ultimately leads to breakdown of the coral–algal symbiosis known as coral bleaching. Recently, large-scale coral bleaching events have become pervasive and frequent threatening and endangering coral reefs. Because the coral–algal symbiosis is the biological engine producing the reef, the future of coral reef ecosystems depends on the ecophysiology of the symbiosis. This review examines the photobiology of the coral–algal symbiosis with particular focus on the photophysiological responses and timescales of corals and Symbiodinium. Additionally, this review summarizes the light environment and its dynamics, the vulnerability of the symbiosis to oxidative stress, the abiotic and biotic factors influencing photosynthesis, the diversity of the coral–algal symbiosis, and recent advances in the field. Studies integrating physiology with the developing “omics” fields will provide new insights into the coral–algal symbiosis. Greater physiological and ecological understanding of the coral–algal symbiosis is needed for protection and conservation of coral reefs.

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“…The fluorescence can be observed with the naked eye due to the mesophotic light environment, which naturally excites the fluorescent proteins (FPs). Corals can express one or multiple fluorescent and non-fluorescent chromoproteins 24–27 , and therefore alter their color morph during the course of different life stages 28 , under changing stressors or environmental conditions 29–31 , or along a depth gradient 32,33 . The plasticity of coral color phenotypes, which is partially a consequence of different types of FPs and the rapid regulation of the FPs 24 , may play a potential role in the biology of corals under changing environments.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Response of fluorescence morphs of the mesophotic coral Euphyllia paradivisa to ultra-violet radiation

Ben-Zvi

Eyal

Loya

2019

Sci Rep

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Euphyllia paradivisa is a strictly mesophotic coral in the reefs of Eilat that displays a striking color polymorphism, attributed to fluorescent proteins (FPs). FPs, which are used as visual markers in biomedical research, have been suggested to serve as photoprotectors or as facilitators of photosynthesis in corals due to their ability to transform light. Solar radiation that penetrates the sea includes, among others, both vital photosynthetic active radiation (PAR) and ultra-violet radiation (UVR). Both types, at high intensities, are known to have negative effects on corals, ranging from cellular damage to changes in community structure. In the present study, fluorescence morphs of E . paradivisa were used to investigate UVR response in a mesophotic organism and to examine the phenomenon of fluorescence polymorphism. E . paradivisa , although able to survive in high-light environments, displayed several physiological and behavioral responses that indicated severe light and UVR stress. We suggest that high PAR and UVR are potential drivers behind the absence of this coral from shallow reefs. Moreover, we found no significant differences between the different fluorescence morphs’ responses and no evidence of either photoprotection or photosynthesis enhancement. We therefore suggest that FPs in mesophotic corals might have a different biological role than that previously hypothesized for shallow corals.

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Patterns in Fluorescence over a Caribbean Reef Slope: the Coral Genus Madracis

Cited by 22 publications

References 25 publications

Intra-colony disease progression induces fragmentation of coral fluorescent pigments

Intra-colony disease progression induces fragmentation of coral fluorescent pigments

The engine of the reef: photobiology of the coralâ€“algal symbiosis

Response of fluorescence morphs of the mesophotic coral Euphyllia paradivisa to ultra-violet radiation

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