Heat stress destabilizes symbiotic nutrient cycling in corals

Rädecker, N; Pogoreutz, C; Gegner, HM; Cárdenas, A; Roth, F; Bougoure, J; Guagliardo, P; Wild, C; Pernice, M; Raina, J-B; Meibom, A; Voolstra, CR

Heat stress destabilizes symbiotic nutrient cycling in corals

Rädecker, N Pogoreutz, C Gegner, HM Cárdenas, A Roth, F Bougoure, J Guagliardo, P Wild, C Pernice, M

Raina, J-B Meibom, A Voolstra, CR

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Publisher:: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2021, 118, (5), pp. e2022653118-e2022653118
Issue Date:: 2021-02-02

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Rädecker, N
dc.contributor.author	Pogoreutz, C
dc.contributor.author	Gegner, HM
dc.contributor.author	Cárdenas, A
dc.contributor.author	Roth, F
dc.contributor.author	Bougoure, J
dc.contributor.author	Guagliardo, P
dc.contributor.author	Wild, C
dc.contributor.author	Pernice, M https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3431-2104
dc.contributor.author	Raina, J-B
dc.contributor.author	Meibom, A
dc.contributor.author	Voolstra, CR
dc.date.accessioned	2021-01-27T00:28:10Z
dc.date.available	2021-08-12T19:00:55Z
dc.date.issued	2021-02-02
dc.identifier.citation	Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2021, 118, (5), pp. e2022653118-e2022653118
dc.identifier.issn	0027-8424
dc.identifier.issn	1091-6490
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/145582
dc.description.abstract	<jats:p>Recurrent mass bleaching events are pushing coral reefs worldwide to the brink of ecological collapse. While the symptoms and consequences of this breakdown of the coral–algal symbiosis have been extensively characterized, our understanding of the underlying causes remains incomplete. Here, we investigated the nutrient fluxes and the physiological as well as molecular responses of the widespread coral <jats:italic>Stylophora pistillata</jats:italic> to heat stress prior to the onset of bleaching to identify processes involved in the breakdown of the coral–algal symbiosis. We show that altered nutrient cycling during heat stress is a primary driver of the functional breakdown of the symbiosis. Heat stress increased the metabolic energy demand of the coral host, which was compensated by the catabolic degradation of amino acids. The resulting shift from net uptake to release of ammonium by the coral holobiont subsequently promoted the growth of algal symbionts and retention of photosynthates. Together, these processes form a feedback loop that will gradually lead to the decoupling of carbon translocation from the symbiont to the host. Energy limitation and altered symbiotic nutrient cycling are thus key factors in the early heat stress response, directly contributing to the breakdown of the coral–algal symbiosis. Interpreting the stability of the coral holobiont in light of its metabolic interactions provides a missing link in our understanding of the environmental drivers of bleaching and may ultimately help uncover fundamental processes underpinning the functioning of endosymbioses in general.</jats:p>
dc.language	en
dc.publisher	Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
dc.relation	King Abdullah University of Science and Technology
dc.relation.ispartof	Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1073/pnas.2022653118
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/embargoedAccess
dc.title	Heat stress destabilizes symbiotic nutrient cycling in corals
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	118
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Science
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - C3 - Climate Change Cluster
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*
dc.date.updated	2021-01-27T00:27:39Z
pubs.issue	5
pubs.publication-status	Published online
pubs.volume	118
utslib.citation.issue	5

Abstract:

Recurrent mass bleaching events are pushing coral reefs worldwide to the brink of ecological collapse. While the symptoms and consequences of this breakdown of the coral–algal symbiosis have been extensively characterized, our understanding of the underlying causes remains incomplete. Here, we investigated the nutrient fluxes and the physiological as well as molecular responses of the widespread coral Stylophora pistillata to heat stress prior to the onset of bleaching to identify processes involved in the breakdown of the coral–algal symbiosis. We show that altered nutrient cycling during heat stress is a primary driver of the functional breakdown of the symbiosis. Heat stress increased the metabolic energy demand of the coral host, which was compensated by the catabolic degradation of amino acids. The resulting shift from net uptake to release of ammonium by the coral holobiont subsequently promoted the growth of algal symbionts and retention of photosynthates. Together, these processes form a feedback loop that will gradually lead to the decoupling of carbon translocation from the symbiont to the host. Energy limitation and altered symbiotic nutrient cycling are thus key factors in the early heat stress response, directly contributing to the breakdown of the coral–algal symbiosis. Interpreting the stability of the coral holobiont in light of its metabolic interactions provides a missing link in our understanding of the environmental drivers of bleaching and may ultimately help uncover fundamental processes underpinning the functioning of endosymbioses in general.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/145582