29 - Exploring symbiont diversity: Pachyseris speciosa symbiont composition along a depth gradient in Okinawa, Japan

Description/Abstract/Artist Statement

Symbiodiniaceae are photosynthetic algae that reside within the endoderm of coral, providing their hosts with essential nutrients. Most symbiont community sequencing and thermal tolerance testing have focused on corals from shallow reef habitats (5-10m depth). As a result, the symbiont composition of mesophotic reef corals (depth >40m) remains poorly understood. To investigate this, we tested the thermal tolerance of Pachyseris speciosa from shallow and mesophotic reefs in Okinawa, Japan using the Coral Bleaching Automated Stress System (CBASS), a portable experimental aquaria system designed for controlled temperature manipulation. Measurements of photosynthetic efficiency (Fv/Fm) were used to evaluate the Effective Dose 50 (temperature at which Fv/Fm is reduced by 50%, ED50) for each depth group revealing that mesophotic colonies exhibited greater heat tolerance than shallow counterparts. To explore the potential influence of algal symbionts behind this resilience, we extracted DNA from Symbiodiniacae in P. speciosa from both depth groups and amplified the Internal Transcribed Spacer 2 (ITS2) region via Polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Gel electrophoresis confirmed successful amplification, and enzymes removed unincorporated primers and nucleotides (dNTPS). By analyzing ITS2 sequences, we aim to determine whether mesophotic corals host different, more heat-tolerant symbionts compared to shallow colonies, potentially revealing key adaptations for surviving warming oceans. Understanding these symbiont-coral dynamics may guide reef restoration, helping scientists prioritize resilient symbiont strains for conservation in a changing climate.

Presenting Author Name/s

Astanzi K. Struhs

Faculty Advisor/Mentor

Dr. Daniel J. Barshis

Faculty Advisor/Mentor Department

Biological Sciences

College Affiliation

College of Sciences

Presentation Type

Poster

Disciplines

Biodiversity | Marine Biology | Molecular Biology

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29 - Exploring symbiont diversity: Pachyseris speciosa symbiont composition along a depth gradient in Okinawa, Japan

Symbiodiniaceae are photosynthetic algae that reside within the endoderm of coral, providing their hosts with essential nutrients. Most symbiont community sequencing and thermal tolerance testing have focused on corals from shallow reef habitats (5-10m depth). As a result, the symbiont composition of mesophotic reef corals (depth >40m) remains poorly understood. To investigate this, we tested the thermal tolerance of Pachyseris speciosa from shallow and mesophotic reefs in Okinawa, Japan using the Coral Bleaching Automated Stress System (CBASS), a portable experimental aquaria system designed for controlled temperature manipulation. Measurements of photosynthetic efficiency (Fv/Fm) were used to evaluate the Effective Dose 50 (temperature at which Fv/Fm is reduced by 50%, ED50) for each depth group revealing that mesophotic colonies exhibited greater heat tolerance than shallow counterparts. To explore the potential influence of algal symbionts behind this resilience, we extracted DNA from Symbiodiniacae in P. speciosa from both depth groups and amplified the Internal Transcribed Spacer 2 (ITS2) region via Polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Gel electrophoresis confirmed successful amplification, and enzymes removed unincorporated primers and nucleotides (dNTPS). By analyzing ITS2 sequences, we aim to determine whether mesophotic corals host different, more heat-tolerant symbionts compared to shallow colonies, potentially revealing key adaptations for surviving warming oceans. Understanding these symbiont-coral dynamics may guide reef restoration, helping scientists prioritize resilient symbiont strains for conservation in a changing climate.