Species-specific interactions between algal endosymbionts and coral hosts define their bleaching response to heat and light stress.

ABSTRACT: The impacts of warming seas on the frequency and severity of bleaching events are well documented, but the potential for different Symbiodinium types to enhance the physiological tolerance of reef corals is not well understood. Here we compare the functionality and physiological properties of juvenile corals when experimentally infected with one of two homologous Symbiodinium types and exposed to combined heat and light stress. A suite of physiological indicators including chlorophyll a fluorescence, oxygen production and respiration, as well as pigment concentration consistently demonstrated lower metabolic costs and enhanced physiological tolerance of Acropora tenuis juveniles when hosting Symbiodinium type C1 compared with type D. In other studies, the same D-type has been shown to conf

SUBMITTER: Abrego D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2603234 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature