Journal article
Niche specialization of reef-building corals in the mesophotic zone: Metabolic trade-offs between divergent Symbiodinium types
TF Cooper, KE Ulstrup, SS Dandan, AJ Heyward, M Kühl, A Muirhead, RA O'Leary, BEF Ziersen, MJH van Oppen
Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences | Published : 2011
Abstract
The photobiology of two reef corals and the distribution of associated symbiont types were investigated over a depth gradient of 0-60 m at Scott Reef, Western Australia. Pachyseris speciosa hosted mainly the same Symbiodinium C type similar to C3 irrespective of sampling depth. By contrast, Seriatopora hystrix hosted predominantly Symbiodinium type D1a or D1a-like at shallow depths while those in deeper water were dominated by a Symbiodinium C type closely related to C1. The photosynthesis/respiration (P/R) ratio increased consistently with depth at the two sampling times (November 2008 and April 2009) for P. speciosa and in November 2008 only for S. hystrix, suggesting a reduction in metabo..
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Funding Acknowledgements
This study was supported by funding from the Danish Natural Science Research Council, Woodside Energy Ltd (as operator of the Browse LNG Development) and the Australian Institute of Marine Science. We thank the crew of the RV Solander, D. Whillas for technical assistance with the ROV and R. Brinkman for advice with the CTD. The manuscript was improved by constructive comments from J. Oliver and two anonymous referees.