Abstract:
The distribution of symbiotic scleractinian corals is driven, in part, by light availability, as host energy demands are partially met through translocation of photosynthate. Physiological plasticity in response to environmental conditions, such as light, enables the expansion of resilient phenotypes in the face of changing environmental conditions. Here we compared the physiology, morphology, and taxonomy of the host and endosymbionts of individual Madracis pharensis corals exposed to dramatically different light conditions based on colony orientation on the surface of a shipwreck at 30 m depth in the Bay of Haifa, Israel. We found significant differences in symbiont species consortia, photophysiology, and stable isotopes, suggesting that these corals can adjust multiple aspects of host and symbiont physiology in response to light availability. These results highlight the potential of corals to switch to a predominantly heterotrophic diet when light availability and/or symbiont densities are too low to sustain sufficient photosynthesis, which may provide resilience for corals in the face of climate change.
摘要:
共生巩膜珊瑚的分布是受驱动的,在某种程度上,光的可用性,因为宿主的能量需求通过光合产物的易位得到部分满足。响应环境条件的生理可塑性,如光,能够在不断变化的环境条件下扩展弹性表型。在这里我们比较了生理学,形态学,以及根据海法湾30m深的沉船表面上的殖民地方向,暴露于截然不同的光照条件下的单个Madracispharensis珊瑚的寄主和内共生体的分类学,以色列。我们发现共生体物种聚生体存在显著差异,光生理学,和稳定的同位素,这表明这些珊瑚可以调节寄主和共生体生理的多个方面,以响应光的可用性。这些结果突出表明,当光照和/或共生体密度太低而无法维持足够的光合作用时,珊瑚有可能转变为主要的异养饮食。这可能为珊瑚提供应对气候变化的弹性。