Broadcast Spawning Coral Mussismilia hispida Can Vertically Transfer its Associated Bacterial Core.

ABSTRACT: The hologenome theory of evolution (HTE), which is under fierce debate, presupposes that parts of the microbiome are transmitted from one generation to the next [vertical transmission (VT)], which may also influence the evolution of the holobiont. Even though bacteria have previously been described in early life stages of corals, these early life stages (larvae) could have been inoculated in the water and not inside the parental colony (through gametes) carrying the parental microbiome. How Symbiodinium is transmitted to offspring is also not clear, as only one study has described this mechanism in spawners. All other studies refer to incubators. To explore the VT hypothesis and the key components being transferred, colonies of the broadcast spawner species Mussismilia hispida

SUBMITTER: Leite DC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5293827 | biostudies-literature | 2017

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature