Spatial variability of and effect of light on the cœlenteron pH of a reef coral
Abstract Coral reefs, the largest bioconstruction on Earth, are formed by calcium carbonate skeletons of corals. Coral skeleton formation commonly referred to as calcification occurs in a specific compartment, the extracellular calcifying medium (ECM), located between the aboral ectoderm and the ske...
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Nature Portfolio
2024-02-01
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Series: | Communications Biology |
Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-024-05938-8 |
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author | Lucas Crovetto Alexander A. Venn Duygu Sevilgen Sylvie Tambutté Eric Tambutté |
author_facet | Lucas Crovetto Alexander A. Venn Duygu Sevilgen Sylvie Tambutté Eric Tambutté |
author_sort | Lucas Crovetto |
collection | DOAJ |
description | Abstract Coral reefs, the largest bioconstruction on Earth, are formed by calcium carbonate skeletons of corals. Coral skeleton formation commonly referred to as calcification occurs in a specific compartment, the extracellular calcifying medium (ECM), located between the aboral ectoderm and the skeleton. Calcification models often assume a direct link between the surrounding seawater and the ECM. However, the ECM is separated from the seawater by several tissue layers and the cœlenteron, which contains the cœlenteric fluid found in both polyps and cœnosarc (tissue connecting the polyps). Symbiotic dinoflagellate-containing cells line the cœlenteron and their photosynthetic activity contributes to changes in the chemistry of the cœlenteric fluid, particularly with respect to pH. The aim of our study is to compare cœlenteron pH between the cœnosarc and polyps and to compare areas of high or low dinoflagellate density based on tissue coloration. To achieve this, we use liquid ion exchange (LIX) pH microsensors to profile pH in the cœlenteron of polyps and the cœnosarc in different regions of the coral colony in light and darkness. We interpret our results in terms of what light and dark exposure means for proton gradients between the ECM and the coelenteron, and how this could affect calcification. |
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institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
issn | 2399-3642 |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-03-07T14:46:27Z |
publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
publisher | Nature Portfolio |
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series | Communications Biology |
spelling | doaj.art-3173745b259347e8bdbaa149c08523de2024-03-05T19:58:53ZengNature PortfolioCommunications Biology2399-36422024-02-017111010.1038/s42003-024-05938-8Spatial variability of and effect of light on the cœlenteron pH of a reef coralLucas Crovetto0Alexander A. Venn1Duygu Sevilgen2Sylvie Tambutté3Eric Tambutté4Marine Biology Department, Centre Scientifique de MonacoMarine Biology Department, Centre Scientifique de MonacoMarine Biology Department, Centre Scientifique de MonacoMarine Biology Department, Centre Scientifique de MonacoMarine Biology Department, Centre Scientifique de MonacoAbstract Coral reefs, the largest bioconstruction on Earth, are formed by calcium carbonate skeletons of corals. Coral skeleton formation commonly referred to as calcification occurs in a specific compartment, the extracellular calcifying medium (ECM), located between the aboral ectoderm and the skeleton. Calcification models often assume a direct link between the surrounding seawater and the ECM. However, the ECM is separated from the seawater by several tissue layers and the cœlenteron, which contains the cœlenteric fluid found in both polyps and cœnosarc (tissue connecting the polyps). Symbiotic dinoflagellate-containing cells line the cœlenteron and their photosynthetic activity contributes to changes in the chemistry of the cœlenteric fluid, particularly with respect to pH. The aim of our study is to compare cœlenteron pH between the cœnosarc and polyps and to compare areas of high or low dinoflagellate density based on tissue coloration. To achieve this, we use liquid ion exchange (LIX) pH microsensors to profile pH in the cœlenteron of polyps and the cœnosarc in different regions of the coral colony in light and darkness. We interpret our results in terms of what light and dark exposure means for proton gradients between the ECM and the coelenteron, and how this could affect calcification.https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-024-05938-8 |
spellingShingle | Lucas Crovetto Alexander A. Venn Duygu Sevilgen Sylvie Tambutté Eric Tambutté Spatial variability of and effect of light on the cœlenteron pH of a reef coral Communications Biology |
title | Spatial variability of and effect of light on the cœlenteron pH of a reef coral |
title_full | Spatial variability of and effect of light on the cœlenteron pH of a reef coral |
title_fullStr | Spatial variability of and effect of light on the cœlenteron pH of a reef coral |
title_full_unstemmed | Spatial variability of and effect of light on the cœlenteron pH of a reef coral |
title_short | Spatial variability of and effect of light on the cœlenteron pH of a reef coral |
title_sort | spatial variability of and effect of light on the coelenteron ph of a reef coral |
url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-024-05938-8 |
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