Corals from the Persian/Arabian Gulf as models for thermotolerant reef-builders: Prevalence of clade C3 Symbiodinium, host fluorescence and ex situ temperature tolerance

B. Hume, C. D'Angelo, J. Burt, A. C. Baker, B. Riegl, J. Wiedenmann

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Corals in the Arabian/Persian Gulf endure summer temperatures of up to 36 °C, making them ideal subjects to study the mechanisms underlying thermal tolerance. Unexpectedly, we found the "generalist" Symbiodinium clade C3 to be the prevalent symbiont among seven coral species from Abu Dhabi (UAE) waters. Moreover, C3 represented the only dominant symbiont type in Porites spp. from this region. The "thermotolerant" symbionts D1a and C15 were not encountered, indicating that the association with these symbionts cannot be the sole reason for the heat tolerance of Gulf corals. The association of Porites lobata with specific symbiont types (C3 vs. C15) in samples from habitats with very different temperature regimes (Abu Dhabi vs. Fiji) remained unaffected by laboratory culture. During temperature stress experiments specimens from both locations strongly downregulated green fluorescent protein (GFP)-like pigments. However, the Abu Dhabi samples were less prone to bleaching and showed lower mortality.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)313-322
Number of pages10
JournalMarine Pollution Bulletin
Volume72
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 30 2013

Keywords

  • Bleaching
  • Coral reefs
  • Global warming
  • Green fluorescent protein
  • Heat stress
  • Zooxanthellae

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Oceanography
  • Aquatic Science
  • Pollution

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