Trophic dynamics of scleractinian corals: A stable isotope evidence

Author:

Tremblay Pascale12,Maguer Jean François3,Grover Renaud1,Ferrier-Pagès Christine1

Affiliation:

1. Centre Scientifique de Monaco, 8 quai Antoine 1, MC-98000 Monaco

2. Present address: Département de biologie, chimie et géographie, Université du Québec à Rimouski, 300 allée des Ursulines, Rimouski QC, G5L 3A1 Canada

3. LEMAR - UMR 6539 UBO/CNRS/IRD, Institut Universitaire Européen de la Mer, Place Nicolas Copernic, 29280 Plouzané, France

Abstract

Reef-building corals form symbioses with dinoflagellates from the diverse genus Symbiodinium. This symbiotic association has developed adaptations to acquire and share nutrients, which are essential for its survival and growth in nutrient-poor tropical waters. The host is thus able to prey on a wide range of organic food sources (heterotrophic nutrition) while the symbionts acquire most of the inorganic nutrients (autotrophic nutrition). Nutrient fluxes between the two partners remain however unclear, especially concerning heterotrophically-acquired carbon (C) and nitrogen (N). We combined physiological measurements and pulse-chase isotopic labeling of heterotrophic C and N as well as autotrophic C to track nutrient fluxes in two coral species, Stylophora pistillata and Turbinaria reniformis, in symbiosis with Symbiodinium clades A, and C-D respectively. We showed a rapid acquisition, exchange and a long-term retention of heterotrophic nutrients within the symbiosis, whereas autotrophic nutrients were rapidly used to meet immediate metabolic needs. In addition, there was a higher retention of heterotrophic nitrogen compared to carbon, in agreement with the idea that tropical corals are nitrogen-limited. Finally, a coupling between auto- and heterotrophy was observed in the species S. pistillata, with a higher acquisition and retention of heterotrophic nutrient under low irradiance to compensate for a 50% reduction in autotrophic nutrient acquisition and translocation. Conversely, T. reniformis conserved an equivalent heterotrophic nutrient acquisition at both light levels, because this coral species did not significantly reduced its rates of gross photosynthesis and autotrophic carbon acquisition between the two irradiances. These experiments advance the current understanding of the nutrient exchanges between the two partners of a symbiotic association, providing evidence of the complexity of the host-symbiont relationship.

Publisher

The Company of Biologists

Subject

Insect Science,Molecular Biology,Animal Science and Zoology,Aquatic Science,Physiology,Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics

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