Downs, C. A., Mueller, E., Philips, S., Fauth, J. E., Woodley, C. M.

A Molecular Biomarker System for Assessing the Health of Coral (Montastrea faveolata) During Heat Stress

2000

Marine Biotechnology

2

6

533-544

Using a novel molecular biomarker system (MBS), we assessed the physiological status of coral (Montastraea faveolata) challenged by heat stress by assaying specific cellular and molecular parameters. This technology is particularly relevant for corals because heat stress is thought to be an essential component of coral bleaching. This phenomenon is widely believed to be responsible for coral mortality worldwide, particularly during 1997-1998. Specific parameters of coral cellular physiology were assayed using the MBS that are indicative of a nonstressed or stressed condition. The MBS distinguished the separate and combined effects of heat and light on the 2 coral symbionts, a scleractinian coral and a dinoflagellate algae (zooxanthellae). This technology aids in the accurate diagnosis of coral condition because each parameter is physiologically well understood. Finally, the MBS technology is relatively inexpensive, easy to implement, and precise, and it can be quickly adapted to a high-throughout robotic system for mass sample analysis. The authors developed a Molecular Biomarker System (MBS) to assess the physiological status of coral to heat stress. This article was funded in part by NOAA's National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, Center for Coastal Environmental Health and Biomolecular Research.

Corals/Heat shock/Temperature effects/Bleaching/biomarkers/Symbionts/Biological stress/Zooxanthellae/Biotechnology/Coral/Montastraea faveolata/Dinophyta/Scleractinia

10.1007/s101260000038

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