Zooxanthellae Harvested by Ciliates Associated with Brown Band Syndrome of Corals Remain Photosynthetically Competent

Ulstrup, K; Kuhl, M; Bourne, DG

Zooxanthellae Harvested by Ciliates Associated with Brown Band Syndrome of Corals Remain Photosynthetically Competent

Ulstrup, K Kuhl, M Bourne, DG

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Publisher:: Amer Soc Microbiology
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 2007, 73 (11), pp. 1968 - 1975
Issue Date:: 2007-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Ulstrup, K
dc.contributor.author	Kuhl, M
dc.contributor.author	Bourne, DG
dc.date.accessioned	2010-05-28T09:44:20Z
dc.date.issued	2007-01
dc.identifier.citation	Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 2007, 73 (11), pp. 1968 - 1975
dc.identifier.issn	0099-2240
dc.identifier.other	C3	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/8599
dc.description.abstract	Brown band syndrome is a new coral affliction characterized by a local accumulation of yet-unidentified ciliates migrating as a band along the branches of coral colonies. In the current study, morphologically intact zooxanthellae (= Symbiodinium) were observed in great numbers inside the ciliates (>50 dinoflagellates per ciliate). Microscale oxygen measurements and variable chlorophyll a fluorescence analysis along with microscopic observations demonstrated that zooxanthellae within the ciliates are photosynthetically competent and do not become compromised during the progression of the brown band zone. Zooxanthellae showed similar trends in light acclimation in a comparison of rapid light curve and steady-state light curve measures of variable chlorophyll a fluorescence. Extended light exposure of steady-state light curves resulted in higher quantum yields of photosystem II. The brown band tissue exhibited higher photosynthetically active radiation absorptivity, indicating more efficient light absorption due to a higher density of zooxanthellae in the ciliate-dominated zone. This caused relatively higher gross photosynthesis rates in the zone with zooxanthella-containing ciliates compared to healthy coral tissue. The observation of photosynthetically active intracellular zooxanthellae in the ciliates suggests that the latter can benefit from photosynthates produced by ingested zooxanthellae and from photosynthetic oxygen production that alleviates diffusion limitation of oxic respiration in the densely populated brown band tissue.
dc.publisher	Amer Soc Microbiology
dc.relation.ispartof	Verified OK	en_US
dc.relation.ispartof	Applied and Environmental Microbiology
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1128/AEM.02292-06
dc.relation.isreplacedby	10453/3860
dc.relation.isreplacedby	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/3860
dc.subject.classification	Microbiology	en_US
dc.title	Zooxanthellae Harvested by Ciliates Associated with Brown Band Syndrome of Corals Remain Photosynthetically Competent
dc.type	Journal article
utslib.citation.volume	11
utslib.citation.volume	73
utslib.citation.number	11	en_US
utslib.location	Washington DC, USA	en_US
utslib.citation.startpage	1968	en_US
utslib.citation.endpage	1975	en_US
utslib.identifier.org	SCI.Environmental Sciences	en_US
utslib.for	0605 Microbiology
utslib.percentage	100	en_US
pubs.embargo.period	Not known
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Science
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - C3
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access
pubs.declined	1970-01-01T00:00:00.0+1000
pubs.merge-to	10453/3860
pubs.merge-to	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/3860
pubs.deleted	1970-01-01T00:00:00.0+1000

Abstract:

Brown band syndrome is a new coral affliction characterized by a local accumulation of yet-unidentified ciliates migrating as a band along the branches of coral colonies. In the current study, morphologically intact zooxanthellae (= Symbiodinium) were observed in great numbers inside the ciliates (>50 dinoflagellates per ciliate). Microscale oxygen measurements and variable chlorophyll a fluorescence analysis along with microscopic observations demonstrated that zooxanthellae within the ciliates are photosynthetically competent and do not become compromised during the progression of the brown band zone. Zooxanthellae showed similar trends in light acclimation in a comparison of rapid light curve and steady-state light curve measures of variable chlorophyll a fluorescence. Extended light exposure of steady-state light curves resulted in higher quantum yields of photosystem II. The brown band tissue exhibited higher photosynthetically active radiation absorptivity, indicating more efficient light absorption due to a higher density of zooxanthellae in the ciliate-dominated zone. This caused relatively higher gross photosynthesis rates in the zone with zooxanthella-containing ciliates compared to healthy coral tissue. The observation of photosynthetically active intracellular zooxanthellae in the ciliates suggests that the latter can benefit from photosynthates produced by ingested zooxanthellae and from photosynthetic oxygen production that alleviates diffusion limitation of oxic respiration in the densely populated brown band tissue.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/8599