CAREER: Octocoral-Algal Symbioses -- the Future of Caribbean Coral Reefs?

在共生中，至少有两个生物体共存，连接在一个实体中。共生生物在很大程度上影响着地球上碳、氮、磷的循环，影响着生态系统竞争和演替的结果。在珊瑚礁中，硬珊瑚、软珊瑚(章珊瑚)、海葵和虫黄藻(藻类)之间的共生创造了一个生态系统，支持着巨大的多样性。珊瑚研究主要集中在硬珊瑚上，而对章鱼的研究相对滞后。随着气候变化和硬珊瑚的减少，八角珊瑚可能在维持珊瑚礁生物多样性方面发挥关键作用。本研究将重点研究加勒比海八珊瑚与虫黄藻(Symbioddium sp.)并将确定不断变化的环境参数可能如何影响八珊瑚-虫黄杆菌共生。将确定虫黄藻的遗传同一性以及八珊瑚物种及其虫黄藻的生理学。此外，还将确定不断变化的环境参数，如海水温度、紫外线照射和海洋酸化加剧对八珊瑚-虫黄杆菌共生体生理的影响。这些数据对于理解和预测八珊瑚和加勒比珊瑚礁的生存至关重要。课堂上的共生将通过学生创建的对社区中的人的采访来教授，并将使用个人回应系统(“点击器”)收集回应。这种方法被称为“你和共生”，将在本科生阶段教授，然后在K-12阶段进行修改。主题的例子包括：豆类葛根；人类及其肠道菌群；以及西尼罗河病毒。一门实验室课程将为学生提供应用于共生研究的分子和生理技术的经验。通过融合研究和创新的教学技术，向学生和公众展示共生环境对他们生活的适用性，个人可能会对珊瑚礁生态系统产生更大的个人兴趣。

In symbiosis a minimum of two organisms co-exist, linked in one entity. Symbioses greatly influence carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus cycling on earth and affect the outcome of competition and succession in ecosystems. In a coral reef, the symbioses between hard corals, soft corals (octocorals), sea anemones and zooxanthellae (algae) create an ecosystem, supporting tremendous diversity. Coral research predominantly focuses on hard corals, while research on octocorals lags behind. With climate change and the decline in hard corals, octocorals may provide a critical role in maintaining diversity of organisms on coral reefs. This research will focus on the symbiosis between Caribbean octocorals and zooxanthellae (Symbiodinium sp.) and will determine how changing environmental parameters may affect octocoral-zooxanthella symbioses. The genetic identity of the zooxanthellae and the physiology of octocoral species and their zooxanthellae will be determined. In addition, the effects of changing environmental parameters such as seawater temperatures, exposure to ultraviolet radiation, and increased ocean acidification on the physiology of octocoral-zooxanthella symbioses will be determined. These data are crucial to understanding and predicting the survival of octocorals and of Caribbean coral reefs. Symbiosis in the classroom will be taught using student created interviews of people in their community and responses will be gathered using personal response systems ("clickers"). This approach, termed 'you and symbiosis,' will be taught at the undergraduate level then modified for K-12. Examples of topics include: the legume Kudzu; humans and their gut flora; and West Nile virus. A laboratory course will provide students experience with molecular and physiological techniques applied to research of symbioses. By merging research and innovative teaching techniques to show students and the public the applicability of symbioses to their lives, individuals may develop greater personal interest in coral reef ecosystems.