Symbiodiniaceae algal symbionts of Pocillopora damicornis larvae provide more carbon to their coral host under elevated levels of acidification and temperature

Abstract Climate change destabilizes the symbiosis between corals and Symbiodiniaceae. The effects of ocean acidification and warming on critical aspects of coral survical such as symbiotic interactions (i.e., carbon and nitrogen assimilation and exchange) during the planula larval stage remain unde...

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Main Authors: Youfang Sun, Huaxia Sheng, Nils Rädecker, Yi Lan, Haoya Tong, Lintao Huang, Lei Jiang, Guillermo Diaz-Pulido, Bobo Zou, Yuyang Zhang, Shuh-Ji Kao, Pei-Yuan Qian, Hui Huang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2024-11-01
Series:Communications Biology
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-024-07203-4
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author Youfang Sun
Huaxia Sheng
Nils Rädecker
Yi Lan
Haoya Tong
Lintao Huang
Lei Jiang
Guillermo Diaz-Pulido
Bobo Zou
Yuyang Zhang
Shuh-Ji Kao
Pei-Yuan Qian
Hui Huang
author_facet Youfang Sun
Huaxia Sheng
Nils Rädecker
Yi Lan
Haoya Tong
Lintao Huang
Lei Jiang
Guillermo Diaz-Pulido
Bobo Zou
Yuyang Zhang
Shuh-Ji Kao
Pei-Yuan Qian
Hui Huang
author_sort Youfang Sun
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Climate change destabilizes the symbiosis between corals and Symbiodiniaceae. The effects of ocean acidification and warming on critical aspects of coral survical such as symbiotic interactions (i.e., carbon and nitrogen assimilation and exchange) during the planula larval stage remain understudied. By combining physiological and stable isotope techniques, here we show that photosynthesis and carbon and nitrogen assimilation (H13CO3 − and 15NH4 +) in Pocillopora damicornis coral larvae is enhanced under acidification (1000 µatm) and elevated temperature (32 °C). Larvae maintain high survival and settlement rates under these treatment conditions with no observed decline in symbiont densities or signs of bleaching. Acidification and elevated temperature both enhance the net and gross photosynthesis of Symbiodiniaceae. This enhances light respiration and elevates C:N ratios within the holobiont. The increased carbon availability is primarily reflected in the 13C enrichment of the host, indicating a greater contribution of the algal symbionts to the host metabolism. We propose that this enhanced mutualistic symbiotic nutrient cycling may bolster coral larvae’s resistance to future ocean conditions. This research broadens our understanding of the early life stages of corals by emphasizing the significance of symbiotic interactions beyond those of adult corals.
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spelling doaj-art-bd91668f3be64f39af6e2a783d869b532025-08-20T02:22:21ZengNature PortfolioCommunications Biology2399-36422024-11-01711910.1038/s42003-024-07203-4Symbiodiniaceae algal symbionts of Pocillopora damicornis larvae provide more carbon to their coral host under elevated levels of acidification and temperatureYoufang Sun0Huaxia Sheng1Nils Rädecker2Yi Lan3Haoya Tong4Lintao Huang5Lei Jiang6Guillermo Diaz-Pulido7Bobo Zou8Yuyang Zhang9Shuh-Ji Kao10Pei-Yuan Qian11Hui Huang12Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of SciencesState Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Sciences, Xiamen UniversityLaboratory for Biological Geochemistry, School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL)Department of Ocean Science, The Hong Kong University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Ocean Science, The Hong Kong University of Science and TechnologyKey Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of SciencesKey Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of SciencesSchool of Environment and Science, Coastal and Marine Research Centre, Nathan Campus, Griffith UniversityKey Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of SciencesKey Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of SciencesState Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Sciences, Xiamen UniversityDepartment of Ocean Science, The Hong Kong University of Science and TechnologyKey Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of SciencesAbstract Climate change destabilizes the symbiosis between corals and Symbiodiniaceae. The effects of ocean acidification and warming on critical aspects of coral survical such as symbiotic interactions (i.e., carbon and nitrogen assimilation and exchange) during the planula larval stage remain understudied. By combining physiological and stable isotope techniques, here we show that photosynthesis and carbon and nitrogen assimilation (H13CO3 − and 15NH4 +) in Pocillopora damicornis coral larvae is enhanced under acidification (1000 µatm) and elevated temperature (32 °C). Larvae maintain high survival and settlement rates under these treatment conditions with no observed decline in symbiont densities or signs of bleaching. Acidification and elevated temperature both enhance the net and gross photosynthesis of Symbiodiniaceae. This enhances light respiration and elevates C:N ratios within the holobiont. The increased carbon availability is primarily reflected in the 13C enrichment of the host, indicating a greater contribution of the algal symbionts to the host metabolism. We propose that this enhanced mutualistic symbiotic nutrient cycling may bolster coral larvae’s resistance to future ocean conditions. This research broadens our understanding of the early life stages of corals by emphasizing the significance of symbiotic interactions beyond those of adult corals.https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-024-07203-4
spellingShingle Youfang Sun
Huaxia Sheng
Nils Rädecker
Yi Lan
Haoya Tong
Lintao Huang
Lei Jiang
Guillermo Diaz-Pulido
Bobo Zou
Yuyang Zhang
Shuh-Ji Kao
Pei-Yuan Qian
Hui Huang
Symbiodiniaceae algal symbionts of Pocillopora damicornis larvae provide more carbon to their coral host under elevated levels of acidification and temperature
Communications Biology
title Symbiodiniaceae algal symbionts of Pocillopora damicornis larvae provide more carbon to their coral host under elevated levels of acidification and temperature
title_full Symbiodiniaceae algal symbionts of Pocillopora damicornis larvae provide more carbon to their coral host under elevated levels of acidification and temperature
title_fullStr Symbiodiniaceae algal symbionts of Pocillopora damicornis larvae provide more carbon to their coral host under elevated levels of acidification and temperature
title_full_unstemmed Symbiodiniaceae algal symbionts of Pocillopora damicornis larvae provide more carbon to their coral host under elevated levels of acidification and temperature
title_short Symbiodiniaceae algal symbionts of Pocillopora damicornis larvae provide more carbon to their coral host under elevated levels of acidification and temperature
title_sort symbiodiniaceae algal symbionts of pocillopora damicornis larvae provide more carbon to their coral host under elevated levels of acidification and temperature
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-024-07203-4
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