Holobiont responses of mesophotic precious red coral Corallium rubrum to thermal anomalies

Environmental Microbiome

Research

Denis Allemand¹  Christine Ferrier-Pagès²  Romie Tignat-Perrier³  Jeroen A. J. M. van de Water⁴ 

[1] Centre Scientifique de Monaco, 8 Quai Antoine 1er, 98000, Monaco, Principality of Monaco;Coral Ecophysiology Laboratory, Centre Scientifique de Monaco, 8 Quai Antoine 1er, 98000, Monaco, Principality of Monaco;Unité de Recherche sur la Biologie des Coraux Précieux CSM-CHANEL, Centre Scientifique de Monaco, 8 Quai Antoine 1er, 98000, Monaco, Principality of Monaco;Coral Ecophysiology Laboratory, Centre Scientifique de Monaco, 8 Quai Antoine 1er, 98000, Monaco, Principality of Monaco;Unité de Recherche sur la Biologie des Coraux Précieux CSM-CHANEL, Centre Scientifique de Monaco, 8 Quai Antoine 1er, 98000, Monaco, Principality of Monaco;Coral Ecophysiology Laboratory, Centre Scientifique de Monaco, 8 Quai Antoine 1er, 98000, Monaco, Principality of Monaco;Department of Estuarine and Delta Systems, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, Korringaweg 7, 4401 NT, Yerseke, The Netherlands;

关键词: Red coral;    Corallium rubrum;    Octocoral;    Gorgonian;    Thermal stress;    Bacterial communities;    Physiology;    Holobiont;    Gene expression;    16S rRNA;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s40793-023-00525-6

 received in 2023-05-05, accepted in 2023-07-31,  发布年份 2023

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

Marine heat waves (MHWs) have increased in frequency and intensity worldwide, causing mass mortality of benthic organisms and loss of biodiversity in shallow waters. The Mediterranean Sea is no exception, with shallow populations of habitat-forming octocorals facing the threat of local extinction. The mesophotic zone, which is less affected by MHWs, may be of ecological importance in conservation strategies for these species. However, our understanding of the response of mesophotic octocoral holobionts to changes in seawater temperature remains limited. To address this knowledge gap, we conducted a study on an iconic Mediterranean octocoral, the red coral Corallium rubrum sampled at 60 m depth and 15 °C. We exposed the colonies to temperatures they occasionally experience (18 °C) and temperatures that could occur at the end of the century if global warming continues (21 °C). We also tested their response to extremely cold and warm temperatures (12 °C and 24 °C). Our results show a high tolerance of C. rubrum to a two-month long exposure to temperatures ranging from 12 to 21 °C as no colony showed signs of tissue loss, reduced feeding ability, stress-induced gene expression, or disruption of host-bacterial symbioses. At 24 °C, however, we measured a sharp decrease in the relative abundance of Spirochaetaceae, which are the predominant bacterial symbionts under healthy conditions, along with a relative increase in Vibrionaceae. Tissue loss and overexpression of the tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 gene were also observed after two weeks of exposure. In light of ongoing global warming, our study helps predict the consequences of MHWs on mesophotic coralligenous reefs and the biodiversity that depends on them.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© BioMed Central Ltd., part of Springer Nature 2023

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