Spatial and Thermal Trends in Stony Coral Endosymbiont Identity Along the Southeast Florida Reef Tract
Location
HCAS Guy Harvey Oceanographic Center, Nova Southeastern University
Start
2-14-2025 3:30 PM
End
2-14-2025 3:45 PM
Type of Presentation
Oral Presentation
Abstract
Coral host various genera of endosymbiotic photosynthetic dinoflagellates of the family Symbiodiniaceae. Each genus evolved different advantages conferred to the coral in terms of thermal tolerance versus growth potential. In light of this, we investigate the zooxanthellae assemblage of the Southeast Florida Reef Tract across a latitudinal gradient from Miami-Dade to Palm Beach counties to determine if a) two massive coral species consistently host different zooxanthellae in the same location and b) if symbiotic associations are stable over seasonal thermal shifts. A microsampling technique was used to take a minimally invasive tissue sample of the host coral, and zooxanthellae-specific primers were used to sequence the DNA of the endosymbionts to determine identity. Currently, we characterize the Broward County community of zooxanthellae hosted by Montastraea cavernosa and Siderastrea siderea as belonging to Cladocopium and Durusdinium respectively, with little to no overlap. Temperature profiles at all three sites were significantly different from each other, and we hypothesize that zooxanthellae assemblages at different locations will differ as well. Data to reach further conclusions is currently being analyzed and will be presented during the symposium.
Spatial and Thermal Trends in Stony Coral Endosymbiont Identity Along the Southeast Florida Reef Tract
HCAS Guy Harvey Oceanographic Center, Nova Southeastern University
Coral host various genera of endosymbiotic photosynthetic dinoflagellates of the family Symbiodiniaceae. Each genus evolved different advantages conferred to the coral in terms of thermal tolerance versus growth potential. In light of this, we investigate the zooxanthellae assemblage of the Southeast Florida Reef Tract across a latitudinal gradient from Miami-Dade to Palm Beach counties to determine if a) two massive coral species consistently host different zooxanthellae in the same location and b) if symbiotic associations are stable over seasonal thermal shifts. A microsampling technique was used to take a minimally invasive tissue sample of the host coral, and zooxanthellae-specific primers were used to sequence the DNA of the endosymbionts to determine identity. Currently, we characterize the Broward County community of zooxanthellae hosted by Montastraea cavernosa and Siderastrea siderea as belonging to Cladocopium and Durusdinium respectively, with little to no overlap. Temperature profiles at all three sites were significantly different from each other, and we hypothesize that zooxanthellae assemblages at different locations will differ as well. Data to reach further conclusions is currently being analyzed and will be presented during the symposium.