Species-specific control of external superoxide levels by the coral holobiont during a natural bleaching event

Julia M. Diaz, Colleen M. Hansel (), Amy Apprill (), Caterina Brighi, Tong Zhang, Laura Weber, Sean McNally and Liping Xun
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Julia M. Diaz: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Colleen M. Hansel: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Amy Apprill: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Caterina Brighi: Imperial College London
Tong Zhang: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Laura Weber: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Sean McNally: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Liping Xun: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

Nature Communications, 2016, vol. 7, issue 1, 1-10

Abstract: Abstract The reactive oxygen species superoxide (O2·−) is both beneficial and detrimental to life. Within corals, superoxide may contribute to pathogen resistance but also bleaching, the loss of essential algal symbionts. Yet, the role of superoxide in coral health and physiology is not completely understood owing to a lack of direct in situ observations. By conducting field measurements of superoxide produced by corals during a bleaching event, we show substantial species-specific variation in external superoxide levels, which reflect the balance of production and degradation processes. Extracellular superoxide concentrations are independent of light, algal symbiont abundance and bleaching status, but depend on coral species and bacterial community composition. Furthermore, coral-derived superoxide concentrations ranged from levels below bulk seawater up to ∼120 nM, some of the highest superoxide concentrations observed in marine systems. Overall, these results unveil the ability of corals and/or their microbiomes to regulate superoxide in their immediate surroundings, which suggests species-specific roles of superoxide in coral health and physiology.

Date: 2016
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms13801

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