@article {84047, title = {Evaluating the causal basis of ecological success within the scleractinia: an integral projection model approach}, journal = {Marine Biology}, volume = {161}, year = {2014}, pages = {2719-2734}, edition = {8 October 2014}, abstract = {Many tropical corals have declined in abundance in the last few decades, and evaluating the causal basis of these losses is critical to understanding how coral reefs will change in response to ongoing environmental challenges. Motivated by the likelihood that marine environments will become increasingly unfavorable for coral growth as they warm and become more acidic (i.e., ocean acidification), it is reasonable to evaluate whether specific phenotypic traits of the coral holobiont are associated with ecological success (or failure) under varying environmental conditions including those that are adverse to survival. Initially, we asked whether it was possible to identify corals that are resistant or sensitive to such conditions by compiling quantitative measures of their phenotypic traits determined through empirical studies, but we found only weak phenotypic discrimination between ecological winners and losers, or among taxa. To reconcile this outcome with ecological evidence demonstrating that coral taxa are functionally unequal, we looked beyond the notion that phenotypic homogeneity arose through limitations of empirical data. Instead, we examined the validity of contemporary means of categorizing corals based on ecological success. As an alternative means to distinguish among functional groups of corals, we present a demographic approach using integral projection models (IPMs) that link organismal performance to demographic outcomes, such as the rates of population growth and responses to environmental stress. We describe how IPMs can be applied to corals so that future research can evaluate within a quantitative framework the extent to which changes in physiological performance influence the demographic underpinnings of ecological performance.}, keywords = {disturbance, MCR, population}, doi = {10.1007/s00227-014-2547-y}, author = {Edmunds, P. J. and Wall, C. B. and Yost, D. M. and Gates, R. D. and Burgess, S. C. and Putnam, H. M. and Baskett, M. L. and Bramanti, L. and Fabina, N. S. and Han, X. and Lesser, M. P. and Madin, J. S.} } @article {83670, title = {The endosymbiotic dinoflagellates (Symbiodinium sp.) of corals are parasites and mutualists.}, journal = {Coral Reefs}, volume = {32}, year = {2013}, pages = {603-611}, edition = {15 June 2013}, abstract = {The evolutionary success and continued survival of reef-building corals under increasing environmental change will, in part, be determined by the composition of their endosymbiotic dinoflagellate communities (Symbiodinium sp.). Recent research suggests that differences in the phylotype composition of Symbiodinium in the same host can lead to different outcomes for the host when exposed to similar environmental conditions. One explanation for these observations is that symbioses between corals and Symbiodinium represent a continuum of interaction states that encompass mutualisms and parasitisms consistent with current evolutionary theory developed for other symbiotic systems. Here, we discuss the evidence supporting the existence of a parasitic to mutualistic continuum in Symbiodinium interactions and propose that a consideration of the evolutionary ecology of these associations will advance our understanding of how environmental change will influence the ecological outcomes in these important symbioses. We advocate that a robust taxonomic structure for Symbiodinium sp. and empirical studies on sexual reproduction in Symbiodinium, the stability of interaction states among Symbiodinium symbioses spatially and temporally and how interaction states change as the environment changes will generate data for models that accurately forecast how climate change will influence the persistence of corals and the reefs they structure.}, keywords = {corals, dinoflagellates, MCR, mutualistic, parasitic, populations, Symbiodinium sp}, doi = {10.1007/s00338-013-1051-z}, author = {Lesser, M. P. and Stat, M. and Gates, R. D.} } @inbook {80698, title = {Molecular delineation of species in the coral holobiont.}, volume = {63}, year = {2012}, pages = {1-65}, publisher = {Academic Press}, organization = {Academic Press}, address = {Amsterdam, Netherlands}, abstract = {The coral holobiont is a complex assemblage of organisms spanning a diverse taxonomic range including a cnidarian host, as well as various dinoflagellate, prokaryotic and acellular symbionts. With the accumulating information on the molecular diversity of these groups, binomial species classification and a reassessment of species boundaries for the partners in the coral holobiont is a logical extension of this work and will help enhance the capacity for comparative research among studies. To aid in this endeavour, we review the current literature on species diversity for the three best studied partners of the coral holobiont (coral, Symbiodinium, prokaryotes) and provide suggestions for future work on systematics within these taxa. We advocate for an integrative approach to the delineation of species using both molecular genetics in combination with phenetic characters.We also suggest that an a priori set of criteria be developed for each taxonomic group as no one species concept or accompanying set of guidelines is appropriate for delineating all members of the coral holobiont.}, keywords = {coral; bacteria; Symbiodinium; dinoflagellate; species; symbiosis, MCR, population}, doi = {10.1016/B978-0-12-394282-1.00001-6}, author = {Stat, M. and Van Oppen, M. J. H. and Gates, R. D. and Baker, A. C. and Bourne, D. G. and Correa, A. M. S. and Forsman, Z. and Huggett, M. J. and Pochon, X. and Skillings, D. and Toonen, R. J.}, editor = {Lesser, M. P.} } @article {66465, title = {Response of two species of Indo-Pacific corals, Porites cylindrica and Stylophora pistillata, to short-term thermal stress: The host does matter in determining the tolerance of corals to bleaching}, journal = {Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology}, volume = {373}, year = {2009}, pages = {102-110}, abstract = {The role of both host and dinoflagellate symbionts was investigated in the response of reef-building corals to thermal stress in the light. Replicate coral nubbins of Stylophora pistillata and Porites cylindrica from the GBR were exposed to either 28 degrees C (control) or 32 degrees C for 5 days before being returned to an ambient reef temperature (28 degrees C). S. pistillata was found to contain either Symbiodinium genotype C1 or C8a, while P cylindrica had type C15 based on ITS genotyping. Analysis of the quantum yield of photosystem (PS) II fluorescence of the symbionts in P. cylindrica showed that light-induced excitation pressure on the C15 Symbiodinium was significantly less, and the steady state quantum yield of PSII fluorescence at noon (Delta F/Fm{\textquoteright}) greater, than that measured in C1/C8a Symbiodinium sp. from S. pistillata. Immunoblots of the PS II D1 protein were significantly lower in Symbiodinium from S. pistillata compared to those in P. cylindrica after exposure to thermal stress. The biochemical markers, heat-stress protein (HSP) 70 and superoxide dismutase (SOD), were significantly greater in P. cylindrica before the experiments and both species of coral increased their biosynthesis of HSP 70 and SOD when exposed to thermal stress. Concentrations of MAAs, glycerol, and lipids were not significantly affected by thermal stress in these experiments, but DNA damage was greater in heat-stressed S. pistillata compared to R cylindrica. There was minimal coral mucus, which accounts for up to half of the total energy budget of a coral and provides the first layer of defense for invading microbes, produced by S. pistillata after heat stress compared to P. cylindrica. It is concluded that P. cylindrica contains a heat resistant C15 Symbiodinium and critical host proteins are present at higher concentrations than observed for S. pistillata, the combination of which provides greater protection from bleaching conditions of high temperature in the light. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.}, keywords = {disturbance, MCR, populations}, doi = {10.1016/j.jembe.2009.03.011}, url = {://000266897400004}, author = {Fitt, W. K. and Pantos, O. and Iglesias-Prieto, R. and Franklin, D. J. and Rodrigues, L. J. and Torregiani, J. M. and van Woesik, R. and Lesser, M. P. and Gates, R. D. and Hoegh-Guldberg, O. and Bythell, J. C. and Jatkar, A. and Grottoli, A. G. and Gomez, M. and Fisher, P. and Lajuenesse, T. C.} } @article {67420, title = {Are infectious diseases really killing corals? Alternative interpretations of the experimental and ecological data}, journal = {Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology}, volume = {346}, year = {2007}, pages = {36-44}, abstract = {Emerging infectious diseases are a worldwide problem and are believed to play a major role in coral reef degradation. The study of coral diseases is difficult but the use of culture-independent molecular techniques has been, and will continue to be, useful in a system where a limited number of visible signs are commonly used to define a "coral disease". We propose that coral "diseases", with rare exception, are opportunistic infections secondary to exposure to physiological stress (e.g. elevated temperature) that result in reduced host resistance and unchecked growth of bacteria normally benign and non-pathogenic. These bacteria are from the environment, the host, or the coral mucus layer and become opportunistic pathogens. While difficult and time consuming, we do not advocate abandoning the study of disease-causing pathogens in corals. However, these studies should include comprehensive efforts to better understand the relationship between coral diseases and environmental changes, largely anthropogenic in nature, occurring on coral reefs around the world. These environmental insults are the cause of the physiological stress that subsequently leads to coral mortality and morbidity by many mechanisms including overwhelming infections by opportunistic pathogens. (c) 2007 Published by Elsevier B.V.}, keywords = {disturbance, MCR, populations}, doi = {10.1016/j.jembe.2007.02.015}, url = {://000247155600005}, author = {Lesser, M. P. and Bythell, J. C. and Gates, R. D. and Johnstone, R. W. and Hoegh-Guldberg, O.} }