Ontogenetic Change in the Lipid and Fatty Acid Composition of Scleractinian Coral Larvae

Authors

Joana Figueiredo, James Cook University - Townsville, AustraliaFollow
Andrew H. Baird, James Cook University - Townsville, Australia; University of the Ryukyus - Japan
M. F. Cohen, University of the Ryukyus - Japan; Sonoma State University
F. F. Flot, University of Namur - Belgium
T. Kamiki, University of the Ryukyus - Japan
T. Meziane, University of the Ryukyus - Japan
M. Tsuchiya, University of the Ryukyus - Japan
H. Yamasaki, University of the Ryukyus - Japan

ORCID

0000-0001-6597-0268

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Coral Reefs

ISSN

0722-4028

Publication Date

6-1-2012

Keywords

Coral reefs, Development, Dispersal, Fertilization, Goniastrea, Metabolism

Abstract

Some scleractinian coral larvae have an extraordinary capacity to delay metamorphosis, and this is reflected in the large geographic range of many species. Coral eggs typically contain a high proportion of wax esters, which have been hypothesized to provide a source of energy for long-distance dispersal. To better understand the role of lipids in the dispersal of broadcast spawning coral larvae, ontogenetic changes in the lipid and fatty acid composition of Goniastrea retiformiswere measured from the eggs until larvae were 30 days old. Egg biomass was 78.8 ± 0.5% lipids, 86.3 ± 0.2% of which were wax esters, 9.3 ± 0.0% polar lipids, 4.1 ± 0.2% sterols, and 0.3 ± 0.1% triacylglycerols. The biomass of wax esters declined significantly through time, while polar lipids, sterols and triacylglycerols remained relatively constant, suggesting that wax esters are the prime source of energy for development. The most prevalent fatty acid in the eggs was palmitic acid, a marker of the dinoflagellate Symbiodinium, highlighting the importance of symbiosis in coral reproductive ecology. The proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acids declined through time, suggesting that they are essential for larval development. Interestingly, triacylglycerols are only abundant in the propagules that contain Symbiodinium, suggesting important differences in the energetic of dispersal among species with vertical and horizontal transmission of symbionts.

DOI

10.1007/s00338-012-0874-3

Volume

31

Issue

2

First Page

613

Last Page

619

Comments

©Springer-Verlag 2012

Additional Comments

Australian Research Council award #: DP110101168; Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia award #: SFRH/BPD/62936/2009

NSUWorks Citation

Joana Figueiredo, Andrew H. Baird, M. F. Cohen, F. F. Flot, T. Kamiki, T. Meziane, M. Tsuchiya, and H. Yamasaki. 2012. Ontogenetic Change in the Lipid and Fatty Acid Composition of Scleractinian Coral Larvae .Coral Reefs , (2) : 613 -619. https://nsuworks.nova.edu/occ_facarticles/414.