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Interactions Between Corals and Their Symbiotic Algae

  • Chapter
Coral Reefs in the Anthropocene

Abstract

The mutualistic relationship between corals and their dinoflagellate endosymbionts is a key factor in the evolutionary success of hermatypic (reef building) corals. The endosymbiotic algae benefit corals in numerous ways that have contributed to the long term persistence of coral reefs over geologic time. In this chapter we review ecological and physiological aspects of the interactions between corals and their symbiotic algae in light of recent advances in our knowledge of the diversity of these symbionts. While the role of symbiont diversity in promoting coral survival during environmental bleaching events has been a major focus of recent research, its importance in other physiological and ecological contexts such as inorganic nutrient dynamics and photosynthetic carbon fluxes has received much less attention. We suggest that cost-benefit analysis is a useful approach to examine these symbioses in the context of environmental change and human impacts upon corals and coral reefs. Weighing the costs versus the benefits of the symbiotic association under specific environmental perturbations has potential for use as an indicator of the health of not only corals but indeed the whole coral reef ecosystem. Drastic changes in the stability of the symbiosis, evidenced by changes in the ratio of zooxanthellae to animal biomass in corals, may turn out to be a useful diagnostic indicator of stresses to coral reefs. By using new tools developed to assess the stability of the symbiosis, we may be better able to understand and predict the effects of future stressors and perturbations that threaten these beautiful reef ecosystems.

We dedicate this chapter to our late mentor and friend, Len Muscatine, who was a leading figure in research on algal-invertebrate symbiosis, and who played a major role in our professional development .

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Acknowledgements

We thank Katrina Helm for drafting Figs. 5.1, 5.2, and 5.3. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation. This is Contribution No. 1937 of the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Graduate Education, National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA, 22230, USA

    Gisèle Muller-Parker

  2. School of the Coast & Environment, 1002-P Energy, Coast & Environment Building, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, 70803, USA

    Christopher F. D’Elia

  3. Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute at Florida Atlantic University, 5600 US 1 North, Fort Pierce, FL, 34946, USA

    Clayton B. Cook

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  1. Gisèle Muller-Parker
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  2. Christopher F. D’Elia
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Correspondence to Clayton B. Cook .

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  1. Department of Biology, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA

    Charles Birkeland

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Muller-Parker, G., D’Elia, C.F., Cook, C.B. (2015). Interactions Between Corals and Their Symbiotic Algae. In: Birkeland, C. (eds) Coral Reefs in the Anthropocene. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-7249-5_5

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