Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Benjamin M. M. Mason, Mitsumasa Koyanagi, Tomohiro Sugihara, Makoto Iwasaki, Vladlen Slepak, David J. J. Miller, Yusuke Sakai, Akihisa Terakita
Summary: We identified six opsins from a coral species, including three novel opsins. We characterized the properties of four of these opsins and found that opsins 1 and 6 can activate Gs-type G protein in a light-dependent manner, with maximum sensitivities at 472 nm and 476 nm, respectively. Opsin 4 can induce intracellular Ca2+ increases through light-dependency. Our findings reveal that corals possess multiple opsins that regulate light-dependent signaling through different cascades.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Diane L. Brinkman, Florita Flores, Heidi M. Luter, F. Mikaela Nordborg, Maxime Brooks, Thomas F. Parkerton, Andrew P. Negri
Summary: The risks posed by petroleum spills to coral reefs are not well understood. This study aims to quantify the toxicity thresholds of aromatic hydrocarbons to reef-building corals. The results show that Acropora millepora is more sensitive to aromatic hydrocarbons compared to other corals and aquatic taxa.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Jane Xu, Oliver Mead, Aurelie Moya, Cuneyt Caglar, David J. J. Miller, Marcin Adamski, Maja Adamska
Summary: Branching scleractinian corals are niche-constructing organisms with the ability to regenerate quickly. This study identified genes involved in the regeneration process and found similarity to genes involved in wound healing and regeneration in other species. Comparing results from different experimental conditions demonstrated the feasibility of using corals as experimental models in fundamental biology research.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Florita Flores, Joseane A. Marques, Sven Uthicke, Rebecca Fisher, Frances Patel, Sarit Kaserzon, Andrew P. Negri
Summary: This study found that the Great Barrier Reef is negatively impacted by the combined effects of the contaminant diuron and climate change, particularly affecting the physiological responses of corals, with photosynthesis being significantly affected. It suggests that water quality guideline values may need to be adjusted as climate conditions change.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Erika C. Johnston, Ross Cunning, Scott C. Burgess
Summary: The study reveals the cophylogeny between corals and their algal symbionts, supporting the presence of five coral species hosting different types of algae in the Mo'orea reef. The phylogenies of the host corals and algae are closely linked, suggesting that symbiont speciation is influenced by niche diversification in the host.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
K. Petrou, B. L. Nunn, M. P. Padula, D. J. Miller, D. A. Nielsen
Summary: Coral reefs are threatened by warming oceans, with severe coral bleaching events recorded. Research on the proteome of coral host and symbiont under elevated temperature revealed significant changes in proteins related to oxidative stress, photosynthesis, and nutrient exchange, highlighting key differences between the two entities.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Astrid M. Perez, Jacob A. Wolfe, Janse T. Schermerhorn, Yiwen Qian, Bekim A. Cela, Cody R. Kalinowski, Garrett E. Largoza, Peter A. Fields, Gabriel S. Brandt
Summary: This study found that the thermal stability of a critical metabolic enzyme in the stony coral Acropora millepora significantly increases in the presence of its cofactor NAD(+). The determination of the complex structure revealed variable NAD(+) occupancy across the tetrameric enzyme, with regions of difference identified that may account for the increased thermal stability.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Brett M. Lewis, David S. Suggett, Peter J. Prentis, Luke D. Nothdurft
Summary: This study establishes an attachment model for Acropora millepora coral and provides insights into the key steps of asexual propagation. The model allows for evaluating attachment effectiveness, optimizing species-substrate compatibility, and achieving successful coral outplanting.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Michael Sweet, Mark Bulling, Dorsa Varshavi, Gavin R. Lloyd, Andris Jankevics, Lukas Najdekr, Ralf J. M. Weber, Mark R. Viant, Jamie Craggs
Summary: Coral reefs are facing unprecedented declines in health globally, prompting suggestions for human-assisted evolution or gene flow to restore reefs effectively. Research on coral metabolomes, especially on Scleractinian corals, is limited, highlighting the need for further exploration of metabolic responses to climate change.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Review
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Anthony M. M. Bonacolta, Bradley A. A. Weiler, Teresa Porta-Fito, Michael Sweet, Patrick Keeling, Javier del Campo
Summary: Many corals have a symbiotic relationship with photosynthetic dinoflagellates, but the role of microeukaryotes like protists and fungi in the coral holobiont and reef ecosystems is not well understood. Recent advances in metabarcoding have highlighted the importance of microeukaryotes in corals, and it is necessary to present the current knowledge before further studies are conducted.
Article
Microbiology
Ruiqi Ge, Jiayuan Liang, Kefu Yu, Biao Chen, Xiaopeng Yu, Chuanqi Deng, Jinni Chen, Yongqian Xu, Liangyun Qin
Summary: This study found that the stable symbiosis between coral host and key symbiotic microbes helps the whole coral host resist the threats of ocean acidification. A. valida shows strong tolerance to acidification, and the Symbiodiniaceae community composition is hardly affected, with the C1 subclade dominating. The stable symbiosis between the C1 subclade and coral host contributes to the stability of the real-time photosynthetic efficiency.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Xiaopeng Yu, Kefu Yu, Zhiheng Liao, Biao Chen, Chuanqi Deng, Jiaoyang Yu, Qiucui Yao, Zhenjun Qin, Jiayuan Liang
Summary: The symbiotic bacterial communities in high-latitude corals exhibit significant seasonal variations, with rapid restructuring of community structures. Sea surface temperature is identified as the major contributor to microbial community structure variation. The high diversity and abundance of symbiotic bacteria under high temperatures help corals maintain physiological functions.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Gerard Ricardo, Hugo Kiff, Florita Flores
Summary: High post-settlement mortality is a major limiting factor for coral reef population recovery, but newly settled corals have been observed to exhibit robust regeneration following physical damage. Despite potential damage from physical interactions during recruitment, coral recruits show resilience to damage and can survive in dynamic habitats.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL MARINE BIOLOGY AND ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Fisheries
B. Mason, I Cooke, A. Moya, R. Augustin, M-F Lin, N. Satoh, T. C. G. Bosch, D. G. Bourne, D. C. Hayward, N. Andrade, S. Foret, H. Ying, E. E. Ball, D. J. Miller
Summary: A candidate antimicrobial peptide, AmAMP1, was identified in coral Acropora millepora, showing activity against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. This peptide belongs to a family of AMPs found in corals and their close relatives, with a conserved arrangement of six cysteine residues in the C-terminal mature peptide. AmAMP1 is expressed in ectodermal cells during late stages of coral development, sharing a Cys motif with sea anemone Shk neuropeptides.
DEVELOPMENTAL AND COMPARATIVE IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Lisa A. Golding, Monique T. Binet, Merrin S. Adams, Justin Hochen, Craig A. Humphrey, Gwilym A. V. Price, Amanda J. Reichelt-Brushett, Matthew Salmon, Jenny L. Stauber
Summary: Adult corals are highly sensitive to dissolved manganese, experiencing tissue sloughing without bleaching. However, there is a lack of chronic toxicity data for this endpoint. Through acute and chronic experiments, it was found that adult Acropora millepora had an EC50 of 2560 μg Mn/L for tissue sloughing, but no chronic toxicity was observed at concentrations up to 1090 μg Mn/L (NOEC). The coral-specific acute-to-chronic ratio was derived and combined with data for other marine organisms to establish manganese guidelines for long-term protection of marine species.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2023)