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Photobiology of Symbiodinium revisited: bio-physical and bio-optical signatures

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Abstract

Light is often the most abundant resource within the nutrient-poor waters surrounding coral reefs. Consequently, zooxanthellae (Symbiodinium spp.) must continually photoacclimate to optimise productivity and ensure coral success. In situ coral photobiology is becoming dominated by routine assessments using state-of-the-art non-invasive bio-optical or chlorophyll a fluorescence (bio-physical) techniques. Multiple genetic types of Symbiodinium are now known to exist; however, little focus has been given as to how these types differ in terms of characteristics that are observable using these techniques. Therefore, this investigation aimed to revisit and expand upon a pivotal study by Iglesias-Prieto and Trench (1994) by comparing the photoacclimation characteristics of different Symbiodinium types based on their bio-physical (chlorophyll a fluorescence, reaction centre counts) and bio-optical (optical absorption, pigment concentrations) ‘signatures’. Signatures described here are unique to Symbiodinium type and describe phenotypic responses to set conditions, and hence are not suitable to describe taxonomic structure of in hospite Symbiodinium communities. In this study, eight Symbiodinium types from clades and sub-clades (A–B, F) were grown under two PFDs (Photon Flux Density) and examined. The photoacclimation response by Symbiodinium was highly variable between algal types for all bio-physical and for many bio-optical measurements; however, a general preference to modifying reaction centre content over effective antennae-absorption was observed. Certain bio-optically derived patterns, such as light absorption, were independent of algal type and, when considered per photosystem, were matched by reaction centre stoichiometry. Only by better understanding genotypic and phenotypic variability between Symbiodinium types can future studies account for the relative taxonomic and physiological contribution by Symbiodinium to coral acclimation.

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank Phil Davey and Maxim Gorbunov for technical support of the growth facilities and FIRe, respectively. This manuscript was greatly improved by comments from two anonymous reviewers and Robert van Woesik. This work was funded through a National Environmental Research Council postdoctoral fellowship to DJS, a NERC studentship to SJH, Highlands and Islands Enterprise (The Scottish Funding Council) and European Regional Development Funding to KEM, and a National Science Foundation grant (IOB 544765) to MEW.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Coral Reef Research Unit, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Essex, Colchester, Essex, CO4 3SQ, UK

    S. J. Hennige, D. J. Suggett & D. J. Smith

  2. College of Marine Studies, University of Delaware, 700 Pilottown Rd. Lewes, Delaware, 19958, USA

    M. E. Warner

  3. Environmental Research Institute, North Highland College, UHI Millennium Institute, Castle Street, Thurso, Caithness, KW14 7JD, UK

    K. E. McDougall

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  1. S. J. Hennige
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  2. D. J. Suggett
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  3. M. E. Warner
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  4. K. E. McDougall
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  5. D. J. Smith
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Correspondence to D. J. Suggett.

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Communicated by Environment Editor Prof. Rob van Woesik

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Hennige, S.J., Suggett, D.J., Warner, M.E. et al. Photobiology of Symbiodinium revisited: bio-physical and bio-optical signatures. Coral Reefs 28, 179–195 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-008-0444-x

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