Symbiosis process between Acropora larvae and Symbiodinium differs even among closely related Symbiodinium types

Abstract

MEPS Marine Ecology Progress Series Contact the journal Facebook Twitter RSS Mailing List Subscribe to our mailing list via Mailchimp HomeLatest VolumeAbout the JournalEditorsTheme Sections MEPS 592:119-128 (2018) - DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/meps12474 Symbiosis process between Acropora larvae and Symbiodinium differs even among closely related Symbiodinium types Hiroshi Yamashita1,*, Go Suzuki1, Chuya Shinzato2,3, Mitsuru Jimbo4, Kazuhiko Koike5 1Research Center for Subtropical Fisheries, Seikai National Fisheries Research Institute, Japan Fisheries Research and Education Agency, Ishigaki, Okinawa 907-0451, Japan 2Marine Genomics Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Onna, Okinawa 904-0495, Japan 3Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-8564, Japan 4School of Marine Biosciences, Kitasato University, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 252-0373, Japan 5Graduate School of Biosphere Science, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima, Hiroshima 739-8528, Japan *Corresponding author: hyamashita@fra.affrc.go.jp ABSTRACT: The symbiosis between corals and the dinoflagellate genus Symbiodinium is a fundamental pillar of coral reef ecosystems. Many of the coral species, including Acropora, acquire Symbiodinium from the environment during early ontogeny for symbiosis. Genetically diverse members of Symbiodinium have been identified from the environment, but naturally settled Acropora recruits (i.e. settlers or spats) usually harbor specific members of Symbiodinium. Thus, symbiosis between Acropora and Symbiodinium is not established haphazardly in the wild. Conversely, under laboratory conditions, Acropora larvae can acquire other Symbiodinium varieties. However, it remains unclear whether a stable symbiosis between these Symbiodinium that are never detected in natural Acropora recruits and corals is successfully established. Here, we artificially supplied A. tenuis larvae with 3 closely related Symbiodinium culture strains, namely, type A1 (common within natural Acropora recruits), type A2-relative (never detected within corals), and type A3 (often found within natural Acropora recruits). We then determined the percentage of Symbiodinium-infected larvae and the density of Symbiodinium cells infecting the larvae. For types A1 and A3, the percentage of Symbiodinium-infected larvae and the density of Symbiodinium cells did not decrease even after stopping the Symbiodinium supply. This result indicated that stable symbiosis was successfully established, even in the laboratory. However, the percentage of Symbiodinium-infected larvae and Symbiodinium cell density of type A2-relative declined after stopping the Symbiodinium supply. Thus, under laboratory conditions, A. tenuis larvae can acquire Symbiodinium that is never detected within natural corals; however, stable symbiosis between these Symbiodinium and corals was not successfully established. KEY WORDS: Early symbiosis · Symbiodinium · Zooxanthellae · Acropora · Coral larvae Full text in pdf format PreviousNextCite this article as: Yamashita H, Suzuki G, Shinzato C, Jimbo M, Koike K (2018) Symbiosis process between Acropora larvae and Symbiodinium differs even among closely related Symbiodinium types. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 592:119-128. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps12474 Export citation RSS - Facebook - Tweet - linkedIn Cited by Published in MEPS Vol. 592. Online publication date: March 29, 2018 Print ISSN: 0171-8630; Online ISSN: 1616-1599 Copyright © 2018 Inter-Research.