Coral thermal tolerance shaped by local adaptation of photosymbionts

Howells, E. J., Beltran, V. H., Bay, L. K., Willis, B. L., Van Oppen, M. J. H., and Larsen, N. W. (2012) Coral thermal tolerance shaped by local adaptation of photosymbionts. Nature Climate Change, 2 (2). pp. 116-120.

[img] PDF (Published Version) - Published Version
Restricted to Repository staff only

View at Publisher Website: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/NCLIMATE1330
 
307
5


Abstract

Coral thermal tolerance is strongly influenced by the identity of obligate photosymbionts, which encompass numerous types belonging to the dinoflagellate genus. Symbiodinium(1). Physiological advantages achieved by partnering with functionally diverse symbionts(2-4) have been assumed to be available only to corals that can form associations with multiple Symbiodinium types. Functional variation among populations of the same type of Symbiodinium has been overlooked, despite local adaptation being feasible because of large population sizes(5,6), genetic isolation(7,8) and short asexual generation times(9). Here we demonstrate divergent thermal tolerance in a generalist Symbiodinium type from two different thermal environments. Symbiodinium from the warmer reef maintained greater photochemical performance and survivorship when exposed to an elevated temperature of 32 °C, both in symbiosis and in culture. Juvenile corals associated with Symbiodinium from the warmer reef grew rapidly when exposed to 32 °C, yet underwent bleaching and tissue death when associated with Symbiodinium from the cooler reef. These results demonstrate that Symbiodinium types can adapt to local differences in thermal climate and that this adaptation shapes the fitness of coral hosts. If Symbiodinium populations are able to further adapt to increases in temperature at the pace at which ocean climates warm, they may assist corals to increase their thermal tolerance and persist into the future.

Item ID: 22183
Item Type: Article (Research - C1)
ISSN: 1758-6798
Date Deposited: 28 Jun 2012 15:49
FoR Codes: 06 BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES > 0603 Evolutionary Biology > 060308 Life Histories @ 50%
06 BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES > 0608 Zoology > 060808 Invertebrate Biology @ 50%
SEO Codes: 96 ENVIRONMENT > 9608 Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity > 960808 Marine Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity @ 100%
Downloads: Total: 5
More Statistics

Actions (Repository Staff Only)

Item Control Page Item Control Page