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A nanoscale secondary ion mass spectrometry study of dinoflagellate functional diversity in reef-building corals.

Mathieu PerniceSimon R DunnLinda TonkSophie DoveIsabelle Domart-CoulonPeter HoppeArno SchintlmeisterMichael WagnerAnders Meibom
Published in: Environmental microbiology (2014)
Nutritional interactions between corals and symbiotic dinoflagellate algae lie at the heart of the structural foundation of coral reefs. Whilst the genetic diversity of Symbiodinium has attracted particular interest because of its contribution to the sensitivity of corals to environmental changes and bleaching (i.e. disruption of coral-dinoflagellate symbiosis), very little is known about the in hospite metabolic capabilities of different Symbiodinium types. Using a combination of stable isotopic labelling and nanoscale secondary ion mass spectrometry (NanoSIMS), we investigated the ability of the intact symbiosis between the reef-building coral Isopora palifera, and Symbiodinium C or D types, to assimilate dissolved inorganic carbon (via photosynthesis) and nitrogen (as ammonium). Our results indicate that Symbiodinium types from two clades naturally associated with I. palifera possess different metabolic capabilities. The Symbiodinium C type fixed and passed significantly more carbon and nitrogen to its coral host than the D type. This study provides further insights into the metabolic plasticity among different Symbiodinium types in hospite and strengthens the evidence that the more temperature-tolerant Symbiodinium D type may be less metabolically beneficial for its coral host under non-stressful conditions.
Keyphrases
  • mass spectrometry
  • genetic diversity
  • atomic force microscopy
  • high resolution
  • hydrogen peroxide
  • high performance liquid chromatography
  • capillary electrophoresis