Department of Marine Biology, Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences University of Haifa, Israel; The Interuniversity Institute of Marine Sciences, Eilat, Israel.
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, United States.
J Struct Biol. 2023 Dec;215(4):108036. doi: 10.1016/j.jsb.2023.108036. Epub 2023 Oct 11.
The widespread decline of shallow-water coral reefs has fueled interest in assessing whether mesophotic reefs can act as refugia replenishing deteriorated shallower reefs through larval exchange. Here we explore the morphological and molecular basis facilitating survival of planulae and adults of the coral Porites astreoides (Lamarck, 1816; Hexacorallia: Poritidae) along the vertical depth gradient in Bermuda. We found differences in micro-skeletal features such as bigger calyxes and coarser surface of the skeletal spines in shallow corals. Yet, tomographic reconstructions reveal an analogous mineral distribution between shallow and mesophotic adults, pointing to similar skeleton growth dynamics. Our study reveals patterns of host genetic connectivity and minimal symbiont depth-zonation across a broader depth range than previously known for this species in Bermuda. Transcriptional variations across life stages showed different regulation of metabolism and stress response functions, unraveling molecular responses to environmental conditions at different depths. Overall, these findings increase our understanding of coral acclimatory capability across broad vertical gradients, ultimately allowing better evaluation of the refugia potential of mesophotic reefs.
浅水珊瑚礁的广泛衰退激发了人们的兴趣,即评估中光带礁是否可以通过幼虫交换为恶化的浅礁提供补充。在这里,我们探索了在百慕大垂直深度梯度上生存的珊瑚 Porites astreoides(拉马克,1816 年;六珊瑚:Poritidae)的形态和分子基础。我们发现浅珊瑚的微小骨骼特征存在差异,例如更大的花萼和更粗糙的骨骼刺表面。然而,断层重建显示出浅珊瑚和中光带珊瑚之间类似的矿物质分布,表明相似的骨骼生长动态。我们的研究揭示了宿主遗传连通性和共生体最小深度分区的模式,其范围比以前在百慕大已知的该物种更广。整个生命阶段的转录变化显示出不同的新陈代谢和应激反应功能的调节,揭示了对不同深度环境条件的分子反应。总的来说,这些发现增加了我们对广泛垂直梯度上珊瑚适应能力的理解,最终可以更好地评估中光带礁的避难所潜力。