Depth specialization in mesophotic corals (Leptoseris spp.) and associated algal symbionts in Hawai'i
Corals at the lower limits of mesophotic habitats are likely to have unique photosynthetic adaptations that allow them to persist and dominate in these extreme low light ecosystems. We examined the host–symbiont relationships from the dominant coral genus Leptoseris in mesophotic environments from H...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
The Royal Society
2015-01-01
|
| Series: | Royal Society Open Science |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/pdf/10.1098/rsos.140351 |
| _version_ | 1818400455042007040 |
|---|---|
| author | X. Pochon Z. H. Forsman H. L. Spalding J. L. Padilla-Gamiño C. M. Smith R. D. Gates |
| author_facet | X. Pochon Z. H. Forsman H. L. Spalding J. L. Padilla-Gamiño C. M. Smith R. D. Gates |
| author_sort | X. Pochon |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Corals at the lower limits of mesophotic habitats are likely to have unique photosynthetic adaptations that allow them to persist and dominate in these extreme low light ecosystems. We examined the host–symbiont relationships from the dominant coral genus Leptoseris in mesophotic environments from Hawai'i collected by submersibles across a depth gradient of 65–125 m. Coral and Symbiodinium genotypes were compared with three distinct molecular markers including coral (COX1–1-rRNA intron) and Symbiodinium (COI) mitochondrial markers and nuclear ITS2. The phylogenetic reconstruction clearly resolved five Leptoseris species, including one species (Leptoseris hawaiiensis) exclusively found in deeper habitats (115–125 m). The Symbiodinium mitochondrial marker resolved three unambiguous haplotypes in clade C, which were found at significantly different frequencies between host species and depths, with one haplotype exclusively found at the lower mesophotic extremes (95–125 m). These patterns of host–symbiont depth specialization indicate that there are limits to connectivity between upper and lower mesophotic zones, suggesting that niche specialization plays a critical role in host–symbiont evolution at mesophotic extremes. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T07:36:50Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2ecf43548b624dae809e797c712c09c8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2054-5703 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T07:36:50Z |
| publishDate | 2015-01-01 |
| publisher | The Royal Society |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Royal Society Open Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-2ecf43548b624dae809e797c712c09c82022-12-21T23:11:09ZengThe Royal SocietyRoyal Society Open Science2054-57032015-01-012210.1098/rsos.140351140351Depth specialization in mesophotic corals (Leptoseris spp.) and associated algal symbionts in Hawai'iX. PochonZ. H. ForsmanH. L. SpaldingJ. L. Padilla-GamiñoC. M. SmithR. D. GatesCorals at the lower limits of mesophotic habitats are likely to have unique photosynthetic adaptations that allow them to persist and dominate in these extreme low light ecosystems. We examined the host–symbiont relationships from the dominant coral genus Leptoseris in mesophotic environments from Hawai'i collected by submersibles across a depth gradient of 65–125 m. Coral and Symbiodinium genotypes were compared with three distinct molecular markers including coral (COX1–1-rRNA intron) and Symbiodinium (COI) mitochondrial markers and nuclear ITS2. The phylogenetic reconstruction clearly resolved five Leptoseris species, including one species (Leptoseris hawaiiensis) exclusively found in deeper habitats (115–125 m). The Symbiodinium mitochondrial marker resolved three unambiguous haplotypes in clade C, which were found at significantly different frequencies between host species and depths, with one haplotype exclusively found at the lower mesophotic extremes (95–125 m). These patterns of host–symbiont depth specialization indicate that there are limits to connectivity between upper and lower mesophotic zones, suggesting that niche specialization plays a critical role in host–symbiont evolution at mesophotic extremes.https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/pdf/10.1098/rsos.140351mesophotic coral ecosystemsleptoserissymbiodinium zooxanthellaemitochondrial phylogeneticsdepth specializationcoevolution |
| spellingShingle | X. Pochon Z. H. Forsman H. L. Spalding J. L. Padilla-Gamiño C. M. Smith R. D. Gates Depth specialization in mesophotic corals (Leptoseris spp.) and associated algal symbionts in Hawai'i Royal Society Open Science mesophotic coral ecosystems leptoseris symbiodinium zooxanthellae mitochondrial phylogenetics depth specialization coevolution |
| title | Depth specialization in mesophotic corals (Leptoseris spp.) and associated algal symbionts in Hawai'i |
| title_full | Depth specialization in mesophotic corals (Leptoseris spp.) and associated algal symbionts in Hawai'i |
| title_fullStr | Depth specialization in mesophotic corals (Leptoseris spp.) and associated algal symbionts in Hawai'i |
| title_full_unstemmed | Depth specialization in mesophotic corals (Leptoseris spp.) and associated algal symbionts in Hawai'i |
| title_short | Depth specialization in mesophotic corals (Leptoseris spp.) and associated algal symbionts in Hawai'i |
| title_sort | depth specialization in mesophotic corals leptoseris spp and associated algal symbionts in hawai i |
| topic | mesophotic coral ecosystems leptoseris symbiodinium zooxanthellae mitochondrial phylogenetics depth specialization coevolution |
| url | https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/pdf/10.1098/rsos.140351 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT xpochon depthspecializationinmesophoticcoralsleptoserissppandassociatedalgalsymbiontsinhawaii AT zhforsman depthspecializationinmesophoticcoralsleptoserissppandassociatedalgalsymbiontsinhawaii AT hlspalding depthspecializationinmesophoticcoralsleptoserissppandassociatedalgalsymbiontsinhawaii AT jlpadillagamino depthspecializationinmesophoticcoralsleptoserissppandassociatedalgalsymbiontsinhawaii AT cmsmith depthspecializationinmesophoticcoralsleptoserissppandassociatedalgalsymbiontsinhawaii AT rdgates depthspecializationinmesophoticcoralsleptoserissppandassociatedalgalsymbiontsinhawaii |