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Animal–Symbiodinium Symbioses: Foundations of Coral Reef Ecosystems

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The Mechanistic Benefits of Microbial Symbionts

Part of the book series: Advances in Environmental Microbiology ((AEM,volume 2))

Abstract

A variety of animal taxa have benefited from symbioses with photoautotrophic symbionts that provide fixed carbon in exchange for nutrients and high-light habitats. Corals are one such animal lineage, harboring dinoflagellates in the genus Symbiodinium. This genus has remarkably high genetic diversity that translates into morphological, cellular, physiological, and even host infectivity differences. Many corals acquire their symbionts as larvae or recruits upon settlement on the reef, likely from local populations of Symbiodinium present in the sediment. Onset of symbiosis is initiated by host–symbiont recognition and proceeds through a winnowing process where only suitable, healthy Symbiodinium are retained within a host-derived symbiosome membrane. High stress, as is predicted by future climate models, can lead to symbiosis dysfunction and loss of the symbiont from host tissues with negative consequences to the host. Some corals have the ability to exchange their symbiotic partners for those that may be more thermotolerant, but the extent to which coral–dinoflagellate symbioses can acclimatize and adapt to rapid climate change remains to be determined.

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  1. Department of Integrative Biology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USA

    Nathan L. Kirk & Virginia M. Weis

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    Christon J. Hurst

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Kirk, N.L., Weis, V.M. (2016). Animal–Symbiodinium Symbioses: Foundations of Coral Reef Ecosystems. In: Hurst, C. (eds) The Mechanistic Benefits of Microbial Symbionts. Advances in Environmental Microbiology, vol 2. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-28068-4_10

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