A5042570764- Coral and Marine Ecosystems Studies
- Marine and coastal plant biology
- Ocean Acidification Effects and Responses
- Marine Biology and Ecology Research
- Marine Bivalve and Aquaculture Studies
- Marine and coastal ecosystems
- Microbial Community Ecology and Physiology
- Marine and fisheries research
- Coastal wetland ecosystem dynamics
- Cephalopods and Marine Biology
- Marine Sponges and Natural Products
- Aquaculture disease management and microbiota
- Identification and Quantification in Food
- Circadian rhythm and melatonin
- Nematode management and characterization studies
- Ichthyology and Marine Biology
- Light effects on plants
- Epigenetics and DNA Methylation
- Advanced Photocatalysis Techniques
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Marine Toxins and Detection Methods
- RNA modifications and cancer
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
- Mercury impact and mitigation studies
- Isotope Analysis in Ecology
Dauphin Island Sea Lab
2021-2024
University of Alabama
2021-2024
GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel
2019-2023
Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute
2021
University of Delaware
2013-2021
University of North Carolina Wilmington
2011
Within microeukaryotes, genetic variation and functional sometimes accumulate more quickly than morphological differences. To understand the evolutionary history ecology of such lineages, it is key to examine diversity at multiple levels organization. In dinoflagellate family Symbiodiniaceae, which can form endosymbioses with cnidarians ( e.g ., corals, octocorals, sea anemones, jellyfish), other marine invertebrates e.g. , sponges, molluscs, flatworms), protists foraminifera), molecular...
Rising atmospheric CO2 concentrations threaten coral reefs globally by causing ocean acidification (OA) and warming. Yet, the combined effects of elevated pCO2 temperature on physiology resilience remain poorly understood. While calcification energy reserves are important health indicators, no studies to date have measured reserve pools (i.e., lipid, protein, carbohydrate) together with under OA conditions different scenarios. Four species, Acropora millepora, Montipora monasteriata,...
Rising seawater temperature and ocean acidification threaten the survival of coral reefs. The relationship between physiology its microbiome may reveal why some corals are more resilient to these global change conditions. Here, we conducted first experiment simultaneously investigate changes in response dual stress elevated expected by end this century. Two species corals, Acropora millepora containing thermally sensitive endosymbiont C21a Turbinaria reniformis tolerant Symbiodinium trenchi,...
Abstract Reliably predicting how coral calcification may respond to ocean acidification and warming depends on our understanding of mechanisms. However, the concentration speciation dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) inside corals remain unclear, as only pH has been measured while a necessary second parameter constrain carbonate chemistry missing. Here we report first ion ([CO 3 2− ]) measurements together with during light period. We observe sharp increases in [CO ] from gastric cavity...
Abstract High sea surface temperatures often lead to coral bleaching wherein reef-building corals lose significant numbers of their endosymbiotic dinoflagellates (Symbiodiniaceae). These increasingly frequent events result in large scale mortality, thereby devasting reef systems throughout the world. The habitats surrounding Palau are ideal for investigating responses climate perturbation, where many inshore bays subject higher water temperature as compared with offshore barrier reefs. We...
ABSTRACT The association between cnidarians and photosynthetic dinoflagellates within the genus Symbiodinium is a prevalent relationship in tropical subtropical marine environments. Although diversity of provides possible axis for niche diversification, increased functional range resilience to physical stressors such as elevated temperature, how relates physiological balance autotrophy heterotrophy host animal remains unknown. Here, we experimentally show interspecific intraspecific...
The physiological response to individual and combined stressors of elevated temperature pCO2 were measured over a 24-day period in four Pacific corals their respective symbionts (Acropora millepora/Symbiodinium C21a, Pocillopora damicornis/Symbiodinium C1c-d-t, Montipora monasteriata/Symbiodinium C15, Turbinaria reniformis/Symbiodinium trenchii). Multivariate analyses indicated that played greater role altering response, with the greatest degree change occurring within M. monasteriata T....
Abstract Reef‐building corals in the genus Porites are one of most important constituents Indo‐Pacific reefs. Many species within this tolerate abnormally warm water and exhibit high specificity for particular kinds endosymbiotic dinoflagellates that cope with thermal stress better than those living other corals. Still, during extreme ocean heating, some differences their tolerance. While have different physiological qualities, it remains unknown whether stability performance these...
Natural light cycles synchronize behavioral and physiological over varying time periods in both plants animals. Many scleractinian corals exhibit diel of polyp expansion contraction entrained by sunlight patterns, monthly spawning or planulation that correspond to lunar moonlight cycles. The molecular mechanisms for regulating such are poorly understood. In this study, we identified four clock genes (cry1, cry2, cycle) the coral, Favia fragum, investigated patterns gene expression...
Symbiotic mutualisms are essential to ecosystems and numerous species across the tree of life. For reef-building corals, benefits their association with endosymbiotic dinoflagellates differ within taxa, nutrient exchange between these partners is influenced by environmental conditions. Furthermore, it widely assumed that corals associated symbionts in genus Durusdinium tolerate high thermal stress at expense lower support coral growth. We traced both inorganic carbon (H13CO3-) nitrate...
Cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbioses are ecologically important and the subject of much investigation. However, our understanding critical aspects symbiosis physiology, such as partitioning total respiration between host symbiont, remains incomplete. Specifically, we know little about how relationship symbiont varies different holobionts (host-symbiont combinations). We applied molecular biochemical techniques to investigate aerobic respiratory capacity in naturally symbiotic Exaiptasia...
MEPS Marine Ecology Progress Series Contact the journal Facebook Twitter RSS Mailing List Subscribe to our mailing list via Mailchimp HomeLatest VolumeAbout JournalEditorsTheme Sections 519:153-164 (2015) - DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/meps11072 Organic carbon fluxes mediated by corals at elevated pCO2 and temperature Stephen Levas1,6,*, Andréa G. Grottoli1, Mark E. Warner2, Wei-Jun Cai2,7, James Bauer3, Verena Schoepf1,8, Justin H. Baumann1, Yohei Matsui1, Colin Gearing1, Todd F. Melman4,...
Within microeukaryotes, genetic and functional variation sometimes accumulate more quickly than morphological differences. To understand the evolutionary history ecology of such lineages, it is key to examine diversity at multiple levels organization. In dinoflagellate family Symbiodiniaceae, which can form endosymbioses with cnidarians (e.g., corals, octocorals, sea anemones, jellies), other marine invertebrates sponges, molluscs, flatworms), protists foraminifera), molecular data have been...
We test a newly developed instrument prototype which utilizes time-resolved chlorophyll- fluorescence techniques and fluctuating light to characterize Symbiodiniaceae functional traits across seven different coral species under cultivation as part of ongoing restoration efforts in the Florida Keys. While traditional only provide handful algal biometrics, system protocol we have generates > 1000 dynamic measurements short (~11 min) time frame. Resulting ‘high-content’ biometric data...
The climate crisis demands urgent and effective conservation strategies to prevent further loss in biodiversity. Coral reefs, especially vulnerable rising sea surface temperatures, are experiencing more frequent severe mass bleaching events, with shorter recovery periods resulting widespread mortality that threaten marine Direct restoration practices increasingly used for coral conservation, restore ecosystem services enhance reef resiliency. These practices, however, require targeted...
Coral reefs are declining worldwide primarily because of bleaching and subsequent mortality resulting from thermal stress. Currently, extensive efforts to engage in more holistic research restoration endeavors have considerably expanded the techniques applied examine coral samples. Despite such advances, studies often conducted within a specific disciplinary focus, where specimens collected, preserved, archived ways that not always conducive further downstream analyses by specialists other...
Abstract Here we report the effects of elevated p CO 2 on model symbiotic anemone Exaiptasia pallida and how its association with three different strains endosymbiotic dinoflagellate Symbiodinium minutum (ITS2‐type B1) affects response. Exposure to (70.9 Pa) for 28 d led an increased effective quantum yield PSII in actinic light within two alga‐anemone combinations. Autotrophic carbon fixation, along rate translocated animal, were significantly high . Elevated exposure also coincided greater...
Spectral reflectance patterns of corals are driven largely by the pigments photosynthetic symbionts within host cnidarian. The warm inshore bays and cooler offshore reefs Palau share a variety coral species with differing endosymbiotic dinoflagellates (genus: Symbiodinium), thermally tolerant Symbiodinium trenchii (S. trenchii) (= type D1a or D1-4) predominating under elevated temperature regimes inshore, primarily Clade C types in offshore. two stony coral, Cyphastrea serailia (C. serailia)...