Publication Date:
2022-05-27
Description:
© The Author(s), 2021. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License. The definitive version was published in Haslun, J. A., Hauff-Salas, B., Strychar, K. B., Cervino, J. M., & Ostrom, N. E. Variation in immune-related gene expression provides evidence of local adaptation in Porites astreoides (Lamarck, 1816) between inshore and offshore meta-populations inhabiting the lower Florida Reef Tract, USA. Water, 13(15), (2021): 2107, https://doi.org/10.3390/w13152107.
Description:
Coral communities of the Florida Reef Tract (FRT) have changed dramatically over the past 30 years. Coral cover throughout the FRT is disproportionately distributed; 〉70% of total coral cover is found within the inshore patch reef zone (〈2 km from shore) compared to 30% found within the offshore bank reef zone (〉5 km from shore). Coral mortality from disease has been differentially observed between inshore and offshore reefs along the FRT. Therefore, differences between the response of inshore and offshore coral populations to bacterial challenge may contribute to differences in coral cover. We examined immune system activation in Porites astreoides (Lamarck, 1816), a species common in both inshore and offshore reef environments in the FRT. Colonies from a representative inshore and offshore site were reciprocally transplanted and the expression of three genes monitored biannually for two years (two summer and two winter periods). Variation in the expression of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 3, subunit H (eIF3H), an indicator of cellular stress in Porites astreoides, did not follow annual patterns of seawater temperatures (SWT) indicating the contribution of other stressors (e.g., irradiance). Greater expression of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor associated factor 3 (TRAF3), a signaling protein of the inflammatory response, was observed among corals transplanted to, or located within the offshore environment indicating that an increased immune response is associated with offshore coral more so than the inshore coral (p 〈 0.001). Corals collected from the offshore site also upregulated the expression of adenylyl cyclase associated protein 2 (ACAP2), increases which are associated with decreasing innate immune system inflammatory responses, indicating a counteractive response to increased stimulation of the innate immune system. Activation of the innate immune system is a metabolically costly survival strategy. Among the two reefs studied, the offshore population had a smaller mean colony size and decreased colony abundance compared to the inshore site. This correlation suggests that tradeoffs may exist between the activation of the innate immune system and survival and growth. Consequently, immune system activation may contribute to coral community dynamics and declines along the FRT.
Description:
We thank the Annis Water Resources Institute for both a graduate fellowship and research funding associated with this project, and Grand Valley State University for a Presidential Research Grant. We thank Michigan State University RTSF and the Integrative Biology Department at Michigan State University (Graduate Fellowship), and the Coastal Preservation Network (Award 250542). We also thank Erich Bartels and the Mote Marine Tropical Research Laboratory staff for their help with field and laboratory help and Jeff Landgraf for qRT-PCR help. This work could not have been completed without the help of the staff at Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS) for providing permit number FKNMS-2011-10 allowing this research to take place.
Keywords:
Porites astreoides
;
patch reefs
;
coral bleaching
;
immunity
;
eIF3H
;
TRAF3
;
ACAP3
Repository Name:
Woods Hole Open Access Server
Type:
Article
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