Work

Nutrient Availability and Metabolism Affect the Stability of Coral–Symbiodiniaceae Symbioses

Year: 2019

Type: review

Abstract: Coral reefs rely upon the highly optimized coral-Symbiodiniaceae symbiosis, making them sensitive to environmental change and susceptible to anthropogenic stress. Coral bleaching is predominantly attributed to photo-oxidative stress, yet nutrient availability and metabolism underpin the stability of symbioses. Recent studies link symbiont proliferation under nutrient enrichment to bleaching; however, the interactions between nutrients and symbiotic stability are nuanced. Here, we demonstrate how bleaching is regulated by the forms and ratios of available nutrients and their impacts on autotrophic carbon metabolism, rather than algal symbiont growth. By extension, historical nutrient conditions mediate host-symbiont compatibility and bleaching tolerance over proximate and evolutionary timescales. Renewed investigations into the coral nutrient metabolism will be required to truly elucidate the cellular mechanisms leading to coral bleaching.

Source: Trends in Microbiology

DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2019.03.004

Authors: Luke A. Morris, Christian R. Voolstra, Kate M. Quigley, David G. Bourne, Line K. Bay

Institutions: Australian Institute of Marine Science, AIMS@JCU, James Cook University, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology

Language: English

Topic: Coral and Marine Ecosystems Studies

Subfield: Ecology

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Life below water

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $4,000