Environmental, ecological, and genetic observations of coral reef Symbiodiniaceae-host holobiont symbioses

• Project Area: Creation of holobiont molecular sciences by integrating biosphere and molecular informatics
• Project/Area Number: 23H03821
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Transformative Research Areas (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Review Section: Transformative Research Areas, Section (II)
• Research Institution: University of the Ryukyus
• Principal Investigator: Reimer J・D 琉球大学, 理学部, 教授 (20452956)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 成瀬 貫 琉球大学, 熱帯生物圏研究センター, 准教授 (30398309)
• Project Period (FY): 2023-04-01 – 2026-03-31
• Project Status: Granted (Fiscal Year 2024)
• Budget Amount: ¥45,110,000 (Direct Cost: ¥34,700,000、Indirect Cost: ¥10,410,000); Fiscal Year 2025: ¥16,120,000 (Direct Cost: ¥12,400,000、Indirect Cost: ¥3,720,000); Fiscal Year 2024: ¥16,120,000 (Direct Cost: ¥12,400,000、Indirect Cost: ¥3,720,000); Fiscal Year 2023: ¥12,870,000 (Direct Cost: ¥9,900,000、Indirect Cost: ¥2,970,000)
• Keywords: symbioses / evolution / coral reef / Symbiodiniaceae / Cnidaria

Outline of Research at the Start

We will examine zooxanthellate species living in well-lit areas and azooxanthellate sibling species in caves and cracks of coral species in genus Palythoa. We will collect environmental data from the microenvironment and genetically examine collected specimens. We will conduct in situ reciprocal light/dark transplant experiments of all species to examine changes in zooxanthellae types/ratios and gene expression. We will collate this multi-variable environmental, ecological and genetic dataset, to inform downstream aquaria experiments and network analyses.