Photoprotective Role of Endolithic Algae Colonized in Coral Skeleton for the Host Photosynthesis

Yamazaki, Seitaro S.; Nakamura, Takashi; Yamasaki, Hideo

doi:10.1007/978-1-4020-6709-9_300

Cited by 13 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…The photosynthetic activity of Symbiodinium plays an important role in maintaining pH homeostasis within corals (Gibbin, Putnam, Davy, & Gates, ), and it is possible that endolithic algae provide a similar service within the skeleton. The biomass of endolithic algae may exceed that of Symbiodinium by 16‐fold (Odum & Odum, ) and can contribute significantly to the buffering capacity of the holobiont (see Yamazaki et al., ; Reyes‐Nivia, Diaz‐Pulido, & Dove, ). It is noteworthy that several functionally important micro‐organisms (e.g., Endozoicomoniaceae and Bacteroidetes ) often found in coral tissues and mucus also occur in coral skeletons (Sweet, Croquer, & Bythell, ; Ainsworth et al., ; Marcelino & Verbruggen, ; Williams et al., ; this study).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Green algal biomass in live coral skeletons exceeds Symbiodinium biomass in coral tissues by about 16 times (Odum & Odum, ), making the limestone attractive to grazers and further increasing bioerosion (Chazottes, Campion‐Alsumard, & Peyrot‐Clausade, ; Clements, German, Piché, Tribollet, & Choat, ). However, endolithic algae also protect corals from high light stress (Yamazaki, Nakamura, & Yamasaki, ) and provide vital nutrients to corals, potentially extending the time they can survive without Symbiodinium during bleaching events (Schlichter, Zscharnack, & Krisch, ; Fine & Loya, ). Endolithic algae have exceptionally high levels of cryptic diversity (Marcelino & Verbruggen, ; Sauvage, Schmidt, Suda, & Fredericq, ; Del Campo, Pombert, Slapeta, Larkum, & Keeling, ), and although it is known that their biomass increases substantially upon acidification and warming (Tribollet et al., ; Reyes‐Nivia et al., ), it is not known which of the cryptic species increase in relative abundance.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Diversity and stability of coral endolithic microbial communities at a naturally high pCO₂ reef

et al. 2017

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The health and functioning of reef-building corals is dependent on a balanced association with prokaryotic and eukaryotic microbes. The coral skeleton harbours numerous endolithic microbes, but their diversity, ecological roles and responses to environmental stress, including ocean acidification (OA), are not well characterized. This study tests whether pH affects the diversity and structure of prokaryotic and eukaryotic algal communities associated with skeletons of Porites spp. using targeted amplicon (16S rRNA gene, UPA and tufA) sequencing. We found that the composition of endolithic communities in the massive coral Porites spp. inhabiting a naturally high pCO reef (avg. pCO 811 μatm) is not significantly different from corals inhabiting reference sites (avg. pCO 357 μatm), suggesting that these microbiomes are less disturbed by OA than previously thought. Possible explanations may be that the endolithic microhabitat is highly homeostatic or that the endolithic micro-organisms are well adapted to a wide pH range. Some of the microbial taxa identified include nitrogen-fixing bacteria (Rhizobiales and cyanobacteria), algicidal bacteria in the phylum Bacteroidetes, symbiotic bacteria in the family Endozoicomoniaceae, and endolithic green algae, considered the major microbial agent of reef bioerosion. Additionally, we test whether host species has an effect on the endolithic community structure. We show that the endolithic community of massive Porites spp. is substantially different and more diverse than that found in skeletons of the branching species Seriatopora hystrix and Pocillopora damicornis. This study reveals highly diverse and structured microbial communities in Porites spp. skeletons that are possibly resilient to OA.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Diversity and stability of coral endolithic microbial communities at a naturally high pCO₂ reef

et al. 2017

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“…During bleaching, the increased light scattering from the skeleton affects any remaining Symbiodiniaceae and can accelerate bleaching—a mechanism known as the optical feedback loop [103, 104]. By absorbing more light, blooming endolithic algae colonising the outer portions of the skeleton may reduce the light scattering from the skeleton, alleviating photic stress for the coral and the remaining Symbiodiniaceae [55, 105]. Furthermore, photosynthates excreted by Ostreobium may be transferred to the coral animal [8, 77].…”

Section: Implications For the Coralmentioning

confidence: 99%

Beneath the surface: community assembly and functions of the coral skeleton microbiome

et al. 2019

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Coral microbial ecology is a burgeoning field, driven by the urgency of understanding coral health and slowing reef loss due to climate change. Coral resilience depends on its microbiota, and both the tissue and the underlying skeleton are home to a rich biodiversity of eukaryotic, bacterial and archaeal species that form an integral part of the coral holobiont. New techniques now enable detailed studies of the endolithic habitat, and our knowledge of the skeletal microbial community and its eco-physiology is increasing rapidly, with multiple lines of evidence for the importance of the skeletal microbiota in coral health and functioning. Here, we review the roles these organisms play in the holobiont, including nutritional exchanges with the coral host and decalcification of the host skeleton. Microbial metabolism causes steep physico-chemical gradients in the skeleton, creating micro-niches that, along with dispersal limitation and priority effects, define the fine-scale microbial community assembly. Coral bleaching causes drastic changes in the skeletal microbiome, which can mitigate bleaching effects and promote coral survival during stress periods, but may also have detrimental effects. Finally, we discuss the idea that the skeleton may function as a microbial reservoir that can promote recolonization of the tissue microbiome following dysbiosis and help the coral holobiont return to homeostasis.

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“…They are the principal microbial agent of reef erosion 6 7 and increase coral decalcification under elevated acidity and temperature 8 . These algae also protect corals from high-light stress 9 and provide them with an alternative source of energy during bleaching events 10 . The balance of benefits and drawbacks that these algae convey to corals is unclear and likely depends on the interplay between different algal lineages and other microorganisms in the coral holobiont.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Multi-marker metabarcoding of coral skeletons reveals a rich microbiome and diverse evolutionary origins of endolithic algae

Marcelino

Verbruggen

2016

Sci Rep

111

141

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Bacteria, fungi and green algae are common inhabitants of coral skeletons. Their diversity is poorly characterized because they are difficult to identify with microscopy or environmental sequencing, as common metabarcoding markers have low phylogenetic resolution and miss a large portion of the biodiversity. We used a cost-effective protocol and a combination of markers (tufA, 16S rDNA, 18S rDNA and 23S rDNA) to characterize the microbiome of 132 coral skeleton samples. We identified a wide range of prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms, many never reported in corals before. We additionally investigated the phylogenetic diversity of the green algae—the most abundant eukaryotic member of this community, for which previous literature recognizes only a handful of endolithic species. We found more than 120 taxonomic units (near species level), including six family-level lineages mostly new to science. The results suggest that the existence of lineages with an endolithic lifestyle predates the existence of modern scleractinian corals by ca. 250my, and that this particular niche was independently invaded by over 20 lineages in green algae evolution. These results highlight the potential of the multi-marker approach to assist in species discovery and, when combined with a phylogenetic framework, clarify the evolutionary origins of host-microbiota associations.

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Photoprotective Role of Endolithic Algae Colonized in Coral Skeleton for the Host Photosynthesis

Cited by 13 publications

References 10 publications

Diversity and stability of coral endolithic microbial communities at a naturally high pCO₂ reef

Diversity and stability of coral endolithic microbial communities at a naturally high pCO₂ reef

Beneath the surface: community assembly and functions of the coral skeleton microbiome

Multi-marker metabarcoding of coral skeletons reveals a rich microbiome and diverse evolutionary origins of endolithic algae

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Photoprotective Role of Endolithic Algae Colonized in Coral Skeleton for the Host Photosynthesis

Cited by 13 publications

References 10 publications

Diversity and stability of coral endolithic microbial communities at a naturally high pCO2 reef

Diversity and stability of coral endolithic microbial communities at a naturally high pCO2 reef

Beneath the surface: community assembly and functions of the coral skeleton microbiome

Multi-marker metabarcoding of coral skeletons reveals a rich microbiome and diverse evolutionary origins of endolithic algae

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Diversity and stability of coral endolithic microbial communities at a naturally high pCO₂ reef

Diversity and stability of coral endolithic microbial communities at a naturally high pCO₂ reef