Rodriguez-Lanetty, M., Loh, W., Carter, D., and Hoegh-Guldberg, O. (2001) Latitudinal variability in symbiont specificity within the widespread scleractinian coral Plesiastrea versipora. Marine Biology, 138 (6). pp. 1175-1181.

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Abstract

We examined the genetic diversity of symbiotic dinoflagellates (Symbiodinium sp.) in the widespread hermatypic coral Plesiastrea versipora from tropical/subtropical (north-eastern Australia) and temperate waters (south-eastern Australia) using restriction fragment length polymorphisms of partial 18S ribosomal DNA (rDNA), together with sequence analysis of partial 28S rDNA. This study revealed that P. versipora associates with at least two distinct genotypes of symbiotic dinoflagellates and that the presence of these genotypes varies with latitude. P. versipora colonies from subtropical and tropical waters contained symbionts belonging to Symbiodinium clade C, while P. versipora colonies at high-latitude sites contained clade B. Variability within the two groups of symbionts (clades B and C) was minimal, suggesting possible host fidelity. The geographically distinct varieties of symbionts within the tissue of this hermatypic coral are likely to be associated with algal physiological differences, which in turn may relate to changing selective pressures as a function of latitude along the eastern Australian seaboard.

Item ID:	1502
Item Type:	Article (Research - C1)
ISSN:	1432-1793
Keywords:	symbiotic dinoflagellates, Symbiodinium, scleractinian coral, Plesiastrea versipora, restriction fragment length polymorphism, 18S ribosomal DNA, latitude, symbiont specificity, clade C, clade B
Date Deposited:	01 Jun 2007
FoR Codes:	06 BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES > 0603 Evolutionary Biology > 060302 Biogeography and Phylogeography @ 0%
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