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Onset of symbiosis in planula larvae of scleractinian corals

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Abstract

The flexibility of symbiosis establishment between the corals Platygyra acuta and Acropora valida with the dinoflagellate Symbiodinium was examined. Planula larvae of these species were provided with homologous and heterologous sources of Symbiodinium C1 and Symbiodinium D8-12. These larvae were able to acquire symbionts prior to settlement and form symbiosis with both symbiont types from all sources, revealing flexibility of symbiosis establishment at this early stage of development. No significant difference in infection percentages was found among different sources of Symbiodinium C1, suggesting that host source of the symbiont types was unimportant. Symbiodinium D8-12 resulted in significantly higher infection rates in both species. While the advantage of hosting this heterologous symbiont type in coral larvae is unclear, this may simply be a result of the infectious nature of the clade D symbiont, rather than a selection choice of the host larvae. Settlement behavior of planula larvae of P. acuta did not depend upon their status of being symbiotic or aposymbiotic. Longer term post-settlement monitoring of the growth and survival of coral larvae may provide more insight on the benefits provided by earlier uptake of symbionts and also the hosting of clade D symbiont during pre-settlement stage of the larvae.

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Acknowledgements

This study was partly supported by Hong Kong Research Grant Council General Research Fund No. 14122215. Field assistance from Chan Ka Hei, Kwok Chun Kit, Lam Ka Yiu, Leung Yu Hin, Wong Kwan Ting, and Yeung Hon Bun is gratefully acknowledged. Coral egg bundles were collected and experiment carried out partly in Tung Ping Chau Marine Park with permission from the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department of the Hong Kong SAR Government.

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  1. Marine Science Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China

    Tsz Yan Ng, Apple Pui Yi Chui & Put Ang

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  1. Tsz Yan Ng
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Ng, T.Y., Chui, A.P.Y. & Ang, P. Onset of symbiosis in planula larvae of scleractinian corals. Hydrobiologia 842, 113–126 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-019-04030-1

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