Nutrient Availability and Metabolism Affect the Stability of Coral-Symbiodiniaceae Symbioses

Luke A Morris; Christian R Voolstra; Kate M Quigley; David G Bourne; Line K Bay

doi:10.1016/j.tim.2019.03.004

Nutrient Availability and Metabolism Affect the Stability of Coral-Symbiodiniaceae Symbioses

Trends Microbiol. 2019 Aug;27(8):678-689. doi: 10.1016/j.tim.2019.03.004. Epub 2019 Apr 12.

Authors

Luke A Morris¹, Christian R Voolstra², Kate M Quigley³, David G Bourne⁴, Line K Bay⁵

Affiliations

¹ AIMS@JCU, Australian Institute of Marine Science, College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia; Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Australia; College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia. Electronic address: https://twitter.com/ReefLuke.
² Red Sea Research Center, Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia. Electronic address: https://twitter.com/reefgenomics.
³ AIMS@JCU, Australian Institute of Marine Science, College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia; Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Australia. Electronic address: https://twitter.com/la__cientifica.
⁴ AIMS@JCU, Australian Institute of Marine Science, College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia; Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Australia; College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia.
⁵ AIMS@JCU, Australian Institute of Marine Science, College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia; Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Australia. Electronic address: L.Bay@aims.gov.au.

PMID: 30987816
DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2019.03.004

Abstract

Coral reefs rely upon the highly optimized coral-Symbiodiniaceae symbiosis, making them sensitive to environmental change and susceptible to anthropogenic stress. Coral bleaching is predominantly attributed to photo-oxidative stress, yet nutrient availability and metabolism underpin the stability of symbioses. Recent studies link symbiont proliferation under nutrient enrichment to bleaching; however, the interactions between nutrients and symbiotic stability are nuanced. Here, we demonstrate how bleaching is regulated by the forms and ratios of available nutrients and their impacts on autotrophic carbon metabolism, rather than algal symbiont growth. By extension, historical nutrient conditions mediate host-symbiont compatibility and bleaching tolerance over proximate and evolutionary timescales. Renewed investigations into the coral nutrient metabolism will be required to truly elucidate the cellular mechanisms leading to coral bleaching.

Keywords: Symbiodiniaceae; coral bleaching; nutrient availability; nutrient metabolism; ocean warming; symbiosis.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Animals
Anthozoa / metabolism*
Anthozoa / microbiology
Anthozoa / physiology
Carbon / metabolism
Dinoflagellida* / growth & development
Dinoflagellida* / physiology
Microbiota
Nutrients / metabolism
Phosphorus / metabolism
Symbiosis*
Thermotolerance

Substances

Phosphorus
Carbon