Woodley, C. M., Downs, C. A., Fauth, J. E., Mueller, E., Halas, J. C., Bemiss, J. A., Ben-Haim, Y., Rosenberg, E.

A novel molecular biomarker system to assess the physiological status of corals

2000

Ministry of the Environment, the Indonesian Institute of Sciences and the International Society for Reef Studies

Proceedings of the 9th International Coral Reef Symposium

1267-1272

We developed a novel molecular diagnostic system to assess the physiological status of corals by assaying specific parameters of cellular physiology. This system is particularly relevant because multiple environmental stressors may contribute to bleaching, one mechanism for coral mortality worldwide. In laboratory studies, diagnostic parameters distinguished the separate and combined effects of heat and light on a star coral (Montastraea faveolata) and its symbiont (zooxanthellae), and provided evidence that oxidative stress plays a central role in bleaching. We also used this new biotechnology to characterize bacteria-induced bleaching in the ivory tree coral (Oculina varicosa). Our data suggest that bacteria-induced coral bleaching may involve non-oxidative stress mechanisms. Thus, the molecular diagnostic system enabled us to (1) diagnose whether corals were physiologically stressed, (2) potentially discriminate between mechanisms involved in coral bleaching, and (3) provide evidence that chloroplast small heat-shock proteins protect against coral bleaching.

Analytical techniques/Coral/Bleaching/Coral reefs/Biological stress/Physiology/Temperature effects/Molecular biology/Light effects/Oxidation/Mortality causes/Abiotic factors/ Chloroplasts/Bacteria/Zooxanthellae/Symbionts/Symbiodinium/Oculina varicosa/Montastraea faveolata

FY2003 CRCP Project ID 1166; Project Title: Coral Disease and Health Consortium; Principal Investigator: Cheryl Woodley