You are on page 1of 11

Iranian Journal of Fisheries Sciences 17(1) 151-161 2018

DOI: 10.22092/IJFS.2018.115591

Molecular diversity of Symbiodinium spp. within six coral


species in Larak Island, the Persian Gulf

Dehghani H.1; Ghavam Mostafavi P.1*; Fatemi S.M.R.1;


Fallah Mehrabadi J.2

Received: October 2015 Accepted: January 2016

Abstract
Reef-building coral harbor communities of photosynthetic taxa of the genus
Symbiodinium (zooxanthellae). The genus Symbiodinium is currently classified into
nine genetic clades (A–I). Various corals harbor different Symbiodinium clades; some
show specificity to a single strain. Coral and their zooxanthellae are sensitive to
environmental stresses. In the Persian Gulf, coral reefs are subject to harsh
environmental conditions including extreme temperatures and high salinity. This is the
first study to use clade specific primers to clarify the diversity of Symbiodinium in each
[ Downloaded from jifro.ir on 2023-11-30 ]

coral species of Larak Island. For this purpose six coral species were collected at two
different locations in Larak Island. After DNA extraction, PCR amplification was
performed using clade specific primers. The results showed that multiple Symbiodinium
clades are hosted by most coral species. In addition, among thirteen obtained
Symbiodinium sequences, the frequency of either tree clades, A, C and D was almost
the same. Corals species may contain different clades of Symbiodinium depending on
the region and on the tolerance characteristics of each clade. Thus, knowledge of
zooxanthellae diversity associated with scleractinian can contribute to a better
understanding of the sensitivity of corals to environmental conditions.

Keywords: Persian Gulf, Symbiodinium, Clade A, Clade C, Clade D.


[ DOR: 20.1001.1.15622916.2018.17.1.12.0 ]

1-Department of Marine Biology, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University,
Tehran, Iran
2-Department of Biology, School of Basic Science, University of Qom, Qom, Iran
∗Corresponding author's Email: gh.mostafavi@gmail.com
152 Dehghani et al., Molecular diversity of Symbiodinium spp. within six coral species in Larak …

Introduction the known clades, Symbiodinium clade


Reef corals are hosts to a group of D has a higher thermal tolerance than
exceptionally diverse dinoflagellate other clades, and clade D increases the
symbionts of the genus Symbiodinium resistance of corals that harbor them to
(commonly referred to as elevated sea surface temperatures
zooxanthellae) (Pochon and Gates, (Rowan, 2004; Berkelmans and van
2010). The high productivity and Oppen, 2006). The thermal and
diversity of coral reefs is largely due to physiological flexibility of
this mutualistic symbiosis (Silverstein Symbiodinium may provide
et al., 2012). The Symbiodinium mechanisms for scleractinian corals to
transports newly fixed organic carbon survive under unfavorable conditions
to the coral and, in return, receive (Berkelmans and van Oppen, 2006).
inorganic waste metabolites from host The previous studies have shown
respiration and an environment free that corals associate with different
from predators (Davy, 2012). Symbiodinium clades or types
Symbiodinium are morphologically depending on local environmental
cryptic and most species are conditions (Baker, 2003). The Persian
morphologically similar (Baker, 2003). Gulf, located in the northwest of the
Therefore, their identification must be Indian Ocean, is known as one of the
done on molecular methods. It has been most extreme environments for coral
[ Downloaded from jifro.ir on 2023-11-30 ]

established that there are at least nine reefs with high temperature
major clades of this dinoflagellate fluctuations, high salinity, high
genus (Pochon and Gates, 2010). turbidity and low depth (Sheppard et
Numerous sub-clades and types have al., 1992; Baker, 2004). Research
also been identified within each conducted on northern Persian Gulf
Symbiodinium clade, most commonly zooxanthellae since 2005 demonstrates
using the internal transcribed spacer-2 the occurrence of Symbiodinium clades
(ITS-2) marker (LaJeunesse, 2002). D, C and A in the shallow waters of the
Scleractinian coral and their world’s hottest sea (Mostafavi et al.,
endosymbiont are sensitive to 2005, 2014; Shahhosseiny et al., 2011).
environmental stresses that include The present study aims to investigate
salinity (Reimer, 1971), high the diversity of Symbiodinium in coral
temperatures (Hoegh-Guldberg and species of Larak Island, one of the
[ DOR: 20.1001.1.15622916.2018.17.1.12.0 ]

Smith, 1989), low temperatures (Steen seventeen islands in the northern


and Muscatine, 1987), ultraviolet Persian Gulf. Individual colonies can
radiation (Gleason and Wellington, associate with several genetically
1993) and turbidity (Trench, 1986). The distinct symbionts simultaneously.
physiological responses of Corals of the same species may vary in
Symbiodinium vary greatly among their symbionts depending on
phylogenetic types; for example, among environmental characteristics (van
Iranian Journal of Fisheries Sciences 17(1) 2018 153

Oppen et al., 2001). Therefore, the downingi (Wallace, 1999) were


results of this survey will provide a collected from two sites, S1 (latitude
valuable insight to the survival of 26° 53' 22.39" N, longitude 56° 21'
Iranian coral reefs in the unfavorable 10.44" E) and S2 (latitude 26° 52'
environment of the Persian Gulf. 33.61"N, longitude 56° 20' 9.84" E), at
depths 3 m (S1) and 6 m (S2) off Larak
Material and methods Island (Fig. 1) during March 2013.
Sampling After collection, samples were
Colonies of six species of scleractinian preserved in DMSO buffer (20%
corals, Favia pallida (DANA, 1846); DMSO, 0.25M EDTA, saturated with
Leptastrea transversa (Klunzinger, NaCl, pH=8) and transferred to the
1879); Psammocora contigua (Esper, marine biology laboratory in the
1794); Stylophora pistillata (Esper, Islamic Azad University, Science and
1797); Pocillopora damicornis Research Branch.
(Linnaeus, 1758) and Acropora
[ Downloaded from jifro.ir on 2023-11-30 ]

Figure 1: Map of the Larak Island showing the position of the sampling locations.
[ DOR: 20.1001.1.15622916.2018.17.1.12.0 ]

DNA extraction PCR amplification and targeting the ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 (for clade
sequencing A) (Correa et al., 2009), domain 2 of
DNA was extracted using cetyl the LSU (for clade D) (Correa et al.,
trimethylammonium bromide 2009) and partial ITS 1 (for clade C)
(CTAB)/Chloroform method (Baker, (Ulstrup and van Oppen, 2003) of the
1999). Polymerase Chain Reactions nuclear rDNA of Symbiodinium. Each
(PCR) assays were performed using PCR reaction comprised, 1.5 mM
three clade-specific primer sets MgCl2, 0.2 mM dNTPs Mix, 10 pmol
154 Dehghani et al., Molecular diversity of Symbiodinium spp. within six coral species in Larak …

of each primer, 0.3 U Taq DNA Phylogenetic analyses


polymerase and 1 ng DNA Template Sequences obtained from this study
for a total volume of 25 µL. were deposited in a GenBank and their
Amplification was performed using a accession numbers are shown in Table
Bio-Rad PCR Thermal Cycler with the 1. The new nucleotide sequences
following thermal profile: 30 cycles of obtained during the present study were
30s at 94°C, 30 s at 58˚C, 56˚C and aligned with sequences available from
60˚C (for clade A, C and D, the Genbank using the software
respectively), 30s at 72°C and a final CLUSTALW (Thompson et al., 1994).
extension for 5 min at 72°C. The PCR Three alignment datasets were
products were analyzed by generated (for clade A, C and D). The
electrophoresis in 1.5% agarose gels. alignment datasets were analyzed using
Thirteen PCR products obtained from maximum likelihood (ML), maximum
this study were directly sequenced to parsimony (MP) and Bayesian methods.
confirm that the specific primers only
recognize the target of interest. Finally,
this was approved by constructing a
phylogenetic tree based on sequences of
each molecular marker.
[ Downloaded from jifro.ir on 2023-11-30 ]

Table1: Host species, Symbiodinium clade and GenBank accession numbers.


Symbiodinium GenBank
Coral species
clade accession numbers
Favia pallida Clade A KT069226
Leptastrea transversa Clade A KT069227
Stylophora pistillata Clade A KT069228
Pocillopora damicornis Clade A KT069229
Favia pallida Clade C KT069230
Leptastrea transversa Clade C KT069231
Psammocora contigua Clade C KT069232
Stylophora pistillata Clade C KT069233
Pocillopora damicornis Clade C KT069234
Favia pallida Clade D KT069235
Leptastrea transversa Clade D KT069236
Psammocora contigua Clade D KT069237
Acropora downingi Clade D KT069238
[ DOR: 20.1001.1.15622916.2018.17.1.12.0 ]

The most appropriate model selection gave the best fit to the data (clade A, C
for ML and Bayesian analyses was and D). ML and MP analyses were
performed using Akaike Information conducted using the MEGA6 (Tamura
Criterion (AIC) in MODELTEST 2.3 et al., 2013) and PAUP beta version
(Nylander, 2004). The general time- 4.0b10 (Swofford, 2002) respectively.
reversible model (Rodriguez et al., ML and MP clades were assessed with
1990) with gamma parameter (GTR+G) 1,000 bootstrap replicates. The
Iranian Journal of Fisheries Sciences 17(1) 2018 155

Bayesian analysis was implemented in Symbiodinium from four coral species


MrBayes 2.3 (Ronquist and strongly clustered (ML= 91%,
Huelsenbeck, 2003) and was based on MP=90%, PP=0.9) with subclade A1
the model selected by MODELTEST Symbiodinium that is hosted by
above. Starting from random trees, four Cassiopea xamachana in Jamaica
Markov chains (with one cold and three (AF427466), Acropora sp. in Japan
heated chains) were run simultaneously (AB849873-AB849875) and Zoanthus
to sample trees using the Markov Chain sansibaricus in South Africa
Monte Carlo (MCMC) principle which (KM032592).
approximates the posterior probability The phylogenetic tree of
(PP) of trees. After the burn-in phase Symbiodinium clade C ITS -1 sequence
(the first 5 million generations was is shown in Fig. 3. The clade C
discarded), every 100th tree out of 206 Symbiodinium sequences from five
was considered. The phylogenetic trees coral species together with previously
generated in all analyses were reported sequences, including some
visualized using TREEVIEW (Page, sequences from zoantharians in
1996). Madagascar (KM032585), Singapore
(EU333738) and South Africa
Results (KM032562) formed a highly supported
The results showed that there are three monophyly (ML= 99%, MP=100%,
[ Downloaded from jifro.ir on 2023-11-30 ]

clades of Symbiodinium from Larak PP=1.0) within the Symbiodinium clade


Island; clade A, C and D. Symbiodinium C radiation.
sequences belonging to clade A were Phylogenetic results of large subunit
identified from F. pallida, L. ribosomal (LSU) RNA gene analyses
transversa, S. pistillata and P. are shown in Fig. 4. In the tree of clade
damicornis, clade C from F. pallida, L. D, all D-matching sequences from four
transversa, S. pistillata, P. damicornis, coral species grouped with five
P. contigua and clade D from F. previously reported sequences that
pallida, L. transversa, P. contigua and belonged to clade D AB778761,
A. downingi. AB778758, AB778750 from
Figs. 2, 3 and 4 show the ML nudibranch and KF672733, KF030947
phylogenetic tree for the aligned from stony corals in a well- supported
sequences. As the tree topologies were monophyly (ML= 100%, MP=100%,
[ DOR: 20.1001.1.15622916.2018.17.1.12.0 ]

similar in all analyses, the bootstrap PP=1.0).


values for MP and Bayesian posterior
probabilities are shown on the ML tree
(Figs. 2, 3 and 4).
The phylogenetic tree of
Symbiodinium clade A sequences is
shown in Fig. 2. The clade A
156 Dehghani et al., Molecular diversity of Symbiodinium spp. within six coral species in Larak …

Figure 2: Maximum likelihood tree of ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 sequences for clade A. Values at branches
represent maximum likelihood bootstrap percentages from 1000 trees/ maximum
parsimony bootstrap percentages from 1000 trees /Bayesian posterior probabilities.
[ Downloaded from jifro.ir on 2023-11-30 ]
[ DOR: 20.1001.1.15622916.2018.17.1.12.0 ]

Figure 3: Maximum likelihood tree of partial ITS 1 for clade C. Values at branches represent
maximum likelihood bootstrap percentages from 1000 trees/ maximum parsimony
bootstrap percentages from 1000 trees /Bayesian posterior probabilities.
Iranian Journal of Fisheries Scieces 17 (1) 2018 157

Figure 4: Maximum likelihood tree of LSU for clade D. Values at branches represent maximum
likelihood bootstrap percentages from 1000 trees/ maximum parsimony bootstrap
percentages from 1000 trees /Bayesian posterior probabilities
[ Downloaded from jifro.ir on 2023-11-30 ]

Discussion of Symbiodinium clade in coral species


In coral reefs off Larak Island, colonies is depends on a combination of factors
of F. pallida and L. transversa, hosted such as symbiont availability (van
Symbiodinium clades A, C and D Oppen et al., 2001). Previous research
simultaneously, S. pistillata and P. conducted on the zooxanthellae of the
damicornis were associated with both Persian Gulf have demonstrated the
Symbiodinium clades A and C, P. occurrence of Symbiodinium clades D,
contigua harbored clade D and also C and A in this region (Baker et
clade C. Although the majority of coral al.,2004; Mostafavi et al., 2007, 2013;
species contained different Shahhosseiny et al., 2011; Hume et al.,
Symbiodinium clades; A. downingi 2015). Consequently, three pairs of
show specificity to single primers belonging to clade A, C and D
Symbiodinium strain, clade D. were used to amplify the selected
[ DOR: 20.1001.1.15622916.2018.17.1.12.0 ]

Several studies have shown that marker in these clades.


most coral colonies harbor multiple Most previous studies on the
clade of Symbiodinium (Berkelmans zooxanthellae of the Persian Gulf have
and van Oppen , 2006; Mieog et al., shown that clade D of Symbiodinium, is
2007). Therefore, in the present study the most abundant of all coral
PCR was performed with clade-specific symbionts (Baker et al., 2004;
primers. It appears that the occurrence
158 Dehghani et al., Molecular diversity of Symbiodinium spp. within six coral species in Larak …

Mostafavi et al., 2005, 2014; thermally tolerant and increases the


Shahhosseiny et al., 2011). resistance of corals that harbor them to
Globally, clade D is common to elevated sea surface temperature.
corals from environments with high Furthermore, the thermally resistance of
temperature and salinity (Fabricius et clade C has been reported previously
al., 2004), warm temperature and low (Mostafavi et al., 2013). It can therefore
light (Ulstrup and van Oppen, 2003) be concluded that the simultaneous
and high turbidity (van Oppen et al., presence of these clades in common
2001; Chen et al., 2003). Therefore, it coral species of the Persian Gulf may
has been concluded that the impart some protection from future
predominance of clade D in the Persian stresses that lead to coral bleaching.
Gulf is due to the unfavorable condition
of this region (Mostafavi et al., 2007). Acknowledgements
However, among the coral species The authors would like to thank Dr.
collected in this study, clade D was not Atoosa Noori Koupaei for laboratory
the most abundant symbiont. The assistance during this research.
results of the present study have shown
that four colonies of the six species References
harbored clade A and/or D, while five Baker, A.C., 1999. The symbiosis
colonies of six specimens were ecology of reef-building corals. PhD
[ Downloaded from jifro.ir on 2023-11-30 ]

associated with clade C. The clade C thesis, University of Miami.


dominance reported here agrees with Baker, A.C., 2003. Flexibility and
another study of Symbiodinium from specifcity in coral–algal symbiosis:
the southern Persian Gulf (Hume et al., diversity, ecology and biogeography
2015). of Symbiodinium. Annual Review of
Although Clade C was more Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics,
dominant Symbiodinium, other clades 34, 661-689.
including A and D were commonly Baker, A.C., Starger, C.J.,
detected in corals off Larak Island. McClanahan, T.R. and Glynn,
Clade A of Symbiodinium have been P.W., 2004. Corals’ adaptive
found in corals inhabiting very shallow response to climate change. Nature,
high-irradiance waters (Rowan et al., 430, 741-742.
1997). It is known that only clade A of Banaszak, A.T., Lajeunesse, T.C. and
[ DOR: 20.1001.1.15622916.2018.17.1.12.0 ]

Symbiodinium are capable of producing Trench, R.K., 2000. The synthesis


considerable amounts of mycosporine- of mycosporine-like amino acids
like amino acids (MAAs) (Banaszak et (MAAs) by cultured symbiotic
al., 2000), compounds that help to dinoflagellates. Journal of
protect against damage from UV Experimental Marine Biology and
radiation (Neale et al., 1998). On the Ecology, 249, 219-233.
other hand, clade D of Symbiodinium is
Iranian Journal of Fisheries Sciences 17(1) 2018 159

Berkelmans, R.W. and Oppen, Gleason, D.F. and Wellington, G.M.,


M.J.H., 2006. The role of 1993. Ultraviolet radiation and coral
zooxanthellae in the thermal bleaching. Nature, 365, 836-838.
tolerance of corals: a ‘nugget of Hoegh-Guldberg, O. and Smith, J.,
hope’for coral reefs in an era of 1989. The effect of sudden changes
climate change. Proceedings of the in temperature, light and salinity on
Royal Society B: Biological the population density and export of
Sciences, 273, 2305-2312. zooxanthellae from the reef corals
Chen, C.A., Lam, K.K., Nakano, Y. Stylophora pistillata Esper and
and Tsai, W.S., 2003. Stable Seriatopora hystrix Dana. Journal of
association of a stress-tolerant Experimental Marine Biology and
zooxanthellae, Symbiodinium clade Ecology, 129, 279-303.
D, with the low-temperate tolerant Hume, B.C.C., D'Angelo, C., Smith,
coral Oulastrea crispata, E.G., Stevens, J.R., Burt, J. and
(Scleractinia; Faviidae) in Wiedenmann, J., 2015.
subtropical nonreefal coral Symbiodinium thermophilum sp.
communities. Zoological Studies, 42, nov., a thermotolerant symbiotic alga
540-550. prevalent in corals of the world’s
Correa, A.M.S., McDonald, M.D. and hottest sea, the Persian/Arabian Gulf.
Baker, A.C., 2009. Development of Scientific Report, 5(8562), 1-8.
[ Downloaded from jifro.ir on 2023-11-30 ]

clade-specific Symbiodinium LaJeunesse, T.C., 2002. Diversity and


primers for quantitative PCR (qPCR) community structure of symbiotic
and their application to detecting dinoflagellates from Caribbean coral
heat tolerant symbionts in Caribbean reefs. Marine Biology, 141, 387-400.
corals. Marine Biology, 156, 2403- Mieog, J.C., van Oppen, N.E.,
2411. Cantin, W.T. and Stam, J.L.,
Davy, S.K., Allemand, D. and Weis, Olsen, 2007. Real-time PCR reveals
V.M., 2012. Cell biology of a high incidence of Symbiodinium
cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbiosis. clade D at low levels in four
Microbiology and Molecular scleractinian corals across the Great
Biology Reviews, 76(2), 229-261. Barrier Reef: implications for
Fabricius, K.E, Mieog, J.C., Colin, symbiont shuffling. Coral Reefs, 26,
P,L., Idip, D. and van Oppen, J.H., 449-457.
[ DOR: 20.1001.1.15622916.2018.17.1.12.0 ]

2004. Identity and diversity of coral Mostafavi, P.G., Fatemi, M.R.,


endosymbionts (zooxanthellae) from Shahhosseiny, M.H., Hoegh-
three Palaun reefs with contrasting Guldberg, O. and Loh, W.K.W.,
bleaching temperature and shading 2005. Predominance of clade D
histories. Molecular Ecology, 13, Symbiodinium in shallow water reef-
2445-2458 building corals off Kish and Larak
160 Dehghani et al., Molecular diversity of Symbiodinium spp. within six coral species in Larak …

Islands (Persian Gulf, Iran). Marine general stochastic model of


Biology, 153, 25-34. nucleotide substitution. Journal of
Mostafavi, P.G., Ashrafi, M.G. and Theoretical Biology, 142, 485-501.
Dehghani, H., 2013. Are symbiotic Ronquist, F. and Huelsenbeck, J.P.,
algae in corals in northern parts of 2003. MrBayes 3: Bayesian
the Persian Gulf resistant to thermal phylogenetic inference under mixed
stress? Aquatic Ecosystem Health models. Bioinformatics, 19, 1572-
and Management, 16, 177-182. 1574.
Neale, P.J., Banaszak, A.T. and Rowan, R., Knowlton, N., Baker, A.
Jarriel, C.R., 1998. Ultraviolet and Jara, J., 1997. Landscape
sunscreens in Gymnodinium ecology of algal symbionts creates
sanguineum (Dinophyceae): variation in episodes of coral
mycosporine-like amino acids bleaching. Nature, 388, 265-269.
protect against inhibition of Rowan, R., 2004. Thermal adaptation
photosynthesis. Journal of in reef coral symbionts. Nature, 430,
Phycology, 34, 928-938. 742.
Nylander, J., 2004. MrModeltest v2. Shahhosseiny, M.H., Mostafavi, P.G.,
Program distributed by the author. Fatemi, S.M.R. and Karimi, E.,
Evolutionary Biology Centre. 2011. Clade identification of
Uppsala University. symbiotic zooxanthellae of dominant
[ Downloaded from jifro.ir on 2023-11-30 ]

Page, R.D.M., 1996. TREEVIEW: an sclerectinian coral species of


application to display phylogenetic intertidal pools in Hengam Island.
trees on personal computers. African Journal of Biotechnology,
Computer Applications in the 10(9), 1502-1506.
Biosciences, 12, 357-358. Sheppard, C.R.C., Price, A.R.G. and
Pochon, X. and Gates, R.D., 2010. A Roberts, C.J., 1992. Marine ecology
new Symbiodinium clade of the Arabian area. Patterns and
(Dinophyceae) from soritid processes in extreme tropical
foraminifera in Hawai’i. Molecular environments. Academic Press,
Phylogenetics and Evolution, 56, London.
492-497. Silverstein, R.N., Correa, A.M.S. and
Reimer, A.A., 1971. Observations on Baker, A.C., 2012. Specificity is
the relationship between several rarely absolute in coral-algal
[ DOR: 20.1001.1.15622916.2018.17.1.12.0 ]

species of tropical zoanthids symbiosis: implications for coral


(Zoanthidae, Coelenterata) and their response to climate change.
zooxanthellae. Journal of Proceedings of the Royal Society B:
Experimental Marine Biology and Biological Sciences, 279, 2609-2618.
Ecology, 7, 207-217. Steen, R.G. and Muscatine, L., 1987.
Rodriguez, F., Oliver, J., Marin, A. Low temperature evoke rapid
and Medina, J.R., 1990. The exocytosis symbiotic algae by a sea
Iranian Journal of Fisheries Sciences 17(1) 2018 161

anemone. The Biological Bulletin, Trench, R.K., 1986. Dinoflagellates in


172, 246-263. non-parasitic symbioses. In: Biology
Swofford, D., 2002. Phylogenetic of dinoflagellates (ed. Taylor FJR).
analysis using parsimony (PAUP), Blackwell, Oxford, pp. 530–570.
version 4.0 b10. Sinauer Associates, Ulstrup, K.E. and van Oppen,
Sunderland. M.J.H., 2003. Geographic and
Tamura, K., Stecher, G., Peterson, habitat partitioning of genetically
D., Filipski, A. and Kumar, S., distinct zooxanthellae
2013. MEGA6: molecular (Symbiodinium) in Acropora corals
evolutionary genetics analysis. on the Great Barrier Reef. Molecular
version 6.0. Molecular Biology and Ecology, 12, 3477-3484.
Evolution, 30, 2725-2729. Van Oppen, M.J.H., Palastra, F.P.,
Thompson, J.D., Higgins, D.G. and Piquet, A.M.T. and Miller D.J.,
Gibson, T.J., 1994. CLUSTAL W: 2001. Patterns of coral-dinoflagellate
improving the sensitivity of associations in Acropora:
progressive multiple sequence significance of local availability and
alignment through sequence physiology of Symbiodinium strains
weighting, position-specific gap and host-symbiont selectivity.
penalties and weight matrix choice. Proceedings of the Royal Society B:
Nucleic Acids Research, 22, 4673- Biological Sciences, 268, 1759-1767.
[ Downloaded from jifro.ir on 2023-11-30 ]

4680.
[ DOR: 20.1001.1.15622916.2018.17.1.12.0 ]

Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)

You might also like