NSF-BSF: Assessing the mechanisms of molecular and morphological adaptation by corals to extreme environments

NSF-BSF：评估珊瑚​​对极端环境的分子和形态适应机制

• 批准号: 1937770
• 负责人: Gretchen Goodbody-Gringley
• 金额: $ 58.65万
• 依托单位: Central Caribbean Marine Institute
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2020
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2020-07-15 至 2024-06-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1937770&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: NSF; BSF; Assessing; mechanisms; molecular

Coral reefs have global ecological, structural, social, and economic importance, are a fundamental component of marine ecosystems, and a major locus of global biodiversity. The recent devastating impacts of global warming and local stressors on shallow-water coral reef communities are expected to increase as oceans continue to warm, leading to more frequent and severe mortality events. In recent years, deeper reef systems have gained considerable interest as they appear to be buffered from impacts affecting shallow-water coral reefs and may, therefore, serve as important areas of refuge for coral survival. Survival under rapid environmental change relies, in part, on the ability of organisms to adapt to new conditions. Species that exist along broad depth gradients are exposed to a wide range of environmental conditions, requiring a high capacity for adaptation and/or trait-based selection in response to different conditions. In this study, we address two primary research questions: (1) how does coral morphology and physiology differ across depth and (2) are these differences due to plasticity or evolutionary adaptation? Using a multifaceted approach, including advanced molecular and imaging techniques, we will examine the mechanisms that enable corals to thrive across broad depth gradients. As a US-Israel binational project led by two female early career scientists, we will promote diversity and create new international collaborations through student participation, training workshops and exchange. Ultimately, this study will improve our understanding of coral reef resilience and indicate the potential for deep reefs to serve as refuges.Although corals often show macromorphological and physiological characteristics distinct for each species, it is also known that these features may vary along environmental gradients among individuals of the same species. Changes in such features often appear to match local conditions in a way that may be beneficial, however, whether these changes result from phenotypic plasticity or trait-based selection remains unclear. Here, we examine the relative influence of plasticity versus selective adaptation on changes to morphology, physiology and gene expression across a depth gradient to determine if these characteristics differ among geographic locations with different environmental conditions, if they are intrinsically or extrinsically controlled, and how they impact recruitment success. Variations in skeletal morphology, calcification, photosynthesis, respiration, symbiotic association, fluorescence, nutrient acquisition, and gene expression will be examined in adult corals from across a depth gradient in the Red Sea and Caribbean. Corals from shallow and mesophotic corals will then be reciprocally transplanted and reassessed for changes in the same key characteristics. Larvae will also be collected from shallow and mesophotic corals and reciprocally settled in situ, with differences in morphology, ecology, physiology, and gene expression examined across life stages. Finally, differential patterns of recruitment across depths, determined using fluorescent imaging, will determine long-term impacts of adaptation to population resilience. Together these integrated investigations will provide a comprehensive assessment of the role of light, temperature, and trophic status on the plasticity of corals, as well as the molecular and physiological mechanisms enabling adaptation to environmental conditions experienced in the mesophotic zone.This proposal was cofunded by the Integrative Ecological Physiology Program in the Division of Integrative Organismal Systems in the Directorate for Biological Science and The Biological Oceanography Program in the Division of Ocean Sciences in the Directorate for Geosciences.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

珊瑚礁具有全球生态、结构、社会和经济重要性，是海洋生态系统的基本组成部分，也是全球生物多样性的主要所在地。随着海洋继续变暖，最近全球变暖和地方压力因素对浅水珊瑚礁群落的破坏性影响预计将增加，导致更频繁和严重的死亡事件。近年来，较深的珊瑚礁系统获得了相当大的兴趣，因为它们似乎可以缓冲影响浅水珊瑚礁的影响，因此可以作为珊瑚生存的重要避难所。在快速变化的环境下生存，部分依赖于有机体适应新环境的能力。沿着宽深度梯度生存的物种暴露于广泛的环境条件下，需要高度的适应能力和/或基于性状的选择能力来响应不同的条件。在这项研究中，我们解决了两个主要的研究问题：(1)珊瑚的形态和生理在不同的深度是如何不同的；(2)这些差异是由于可塑性还是进化适应？采用多方面的方法，包括先进的分子和成像技术，我们将研究使珊瑚能够在广泛的深度梯度中茁壮成长的机制。作为一个由两位女性早期职业科学家领导的美以两国项目，我们将通过学生参与、培训研讨会和交流来促进多样性并创造新的国际合作。最终，这项研究将提高我们对珊瑚礁恢复力的理解，并指出深礁作为避难所的潜力。虽然珊瑚通常表现出不同物种的宏观形态和生理特征，但我们也知道，这些特征在同一物种的个体之间可能会随着环境梯度而变化。这些特征的变化往往以一种可能有益的方式与当地条件相匹配，然而，这些变化是由表型可塑性还是基于性状的选择引起的尚不清楚。在这里，我们研究了可塑性与选择性适应在深度梯度上对形态、生理和基因表达变化的相对影响，以确定这些特征在不同环境条件下的地理位置是否不同，它们是内在的还是外在的控制，以及它们如何影响招募成功。骨骼形态、钙化、光合作用、呼吸作用、共生关联、荧光、营养获取和基因表达的变化将在红海和加勒比海的不同深度梯度的成年珊瑚中进行研究。然后将浅层和中厚层珊瑚相互移植，并重新评估相同关键特征的变化。幼虫也将从浅层和中孔珊瑚中收集，并相互安置在原地，在不同的生命阶段检查形态，生态，生理和基因表达的差异。最后，利用荧光成像确定的不同深度的招募模式将决定适应种群弹性的长期影响。这些综合调查将全面评估光、温度和营养状况对珊瑚可塑性的作用，以及使其适应中孔带环境条件的分子和生理机制。该提案由生物科学理事会综合有机体系统部的综合生态生理学项目和地球科学理事会海洋科学部的生物海洋学项目共同资助。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

项目成果

Light and photoacclimatization drive distinct differences between shallow and mesophotic coral communities

光和光适应导致浅层和中光珊瑚群落之间的明显差异

• DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.4200
• 发表时间: 2022
• 期刊: Ecosphere
• 影响因子: 2.7
• 作者: Carpenter, Gaby E.;Chequer, Alex D.;Weber, Sabrina;Mass, Tali;Goodbody‐Gringley, Gretchen
• 通讯作者: Goodbody‐Gringley, Gretchen

In situ Estimation of Coral Recruitment Patterns From Shallow to Mesophotic Reefs Using an Optimized Fluorescence Imaging System

使用优化的荧光成像系统原位估计从浅层到中光珊瑚礁的珊瑚补充模式

• DOI: 10.3389/fmars.2021.709175
• 发表时间: 2021
• 期刊: Frontiers in Marine Science
• 影响因子: 3.7
• 作者: Nativ, Hagai;Scucchia, Federica;Martinez, Stephane;Einbinder, Shai;Chequer, Alex;Goodbody-Gringley, Gretchen;Mass, Tali
• 通讯作者: Mass, Tali

Upper-mesophotic and shallow reef corals exhibit similar thermal tolerance, sensitivity and optima

• DOI: 10.1007/s00338-021-02095-w
• 发表时间: 2021-04-19
• 期刊: CORAL REEFS
• 影响因子: 3.5
• 作者: Gould, Katelyn;Bruno, John F.;Goodbody-Gringley, Gretchen
• 通讯作者: Goodbody-Gringley, Gretchen

Plasticity of Porites astreoides Early Life History Stages Suggests Mesophotic Coral Ecosystems Act as Refugia in Bermuda

滨珊瑚早期生命史阶段的可塑性表明中光珊瑚生态系统是百慕大的避难所

• DOI: 10.3389/fmars.2021.702672
• 发表时间: 2021
• 期刊: Frontiers in Marine Science
• 影响因子: 3.7
• 作者: Goodbody-Gringley, Gretchen;Scucchia, Federica;Ju, Rebecca;Chequer, Alex;Einbinder, Shai;Martinez, Stephane;Nativ, Hagai;Mass, Tali
• 通讯作者: Mass, Tali

Energy Sources of the Depth-Generalist Mixotrophic Coral Stylophora pistillata

深度通才混合营养珊瑚 Stylophora pistillata 的能源

• DOI: 10.3389/fmars.2020.566663
• 发表时间: 2020
• 期刊: Frontiers in Marine Science
• 影响因子: 3.7
• 作者: Martinez, Stephane;Kolodny, Yuval;Shemesh, Eli;Scucchia, Federica;Nevo, Reinat;Levin-Zaidman, Smadar;Paltiel, Yossi;Keren, Nir;Tchernov, Dan;Mass, Tali
• 通讯作者: Mass, Tali