2017 Fiscal Year Annual Research Report
Role of symbiotic assemblages in coral host survival: translocation from mesophotic to shallow reef
| Project/Area Number |
16F16780
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| Research Institution | University of the Ryukyus |
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Principal Investigator |
波利井 佐紀 琉球大学, 熱帯生物圏研究センター, 准教授 (30334535)
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| Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) |
ROUZE HELOISE 琉球大学, 熱帯生物圏研究センター, 外国人特別研究員
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| Project Period (FY) |
2016-11-07 – 2019-03-31
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| Keywords | coral / endosymbionts / exosymbionts / diversity / mesophotic |
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| Outline of Annual Research Achievements |
This project is concerned about the functioning and role of some beneficial inter-connections between communities of the decapods involved in exo-symbiotic assemblages and symbiotic algae involved in endo-symbiotic assemblages for the coral-guild system. Are some particular symbiotic assemblages more beneficial for the coral-guild resistance with depth? This question is specifically studied in the context of the Mesophotic Coral Ecosystem, which might serve as refugia for the biodiversity.
We first assessed biodiversity of the obligate symbiotic functional group naturally associated to corals from mesophotic vs. shallow reefs in Okinawa (Part 1). Then, an in situ transplantation experiment was performed to assess the coral-guild adaptive abilities through the associated symbiotic communities (Part 2). The first combined results analyses based on biological, ecological and molecular approaches, reveal a potential overlapping of symbiotic communities between mesophotic and shallower reefs and specific symbiotic assemblages not depending on the depth gradient.
A first publication is in preparation based on the results of the part 1. For the part 2, the translocation experiment is in progress after a recent translocation of some mesophotic coral colonies to shallower corresponding to 1 year, while the rest of them have been maintained at deeper depths.
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| Current Status of Research Progress |
Current Status of Research Progress
2: Research has progressed on the whole more than it was originally planned.
Reason
The part 1, corresponding to a comparative study of exosymbiotic communities associated to mesophotic vs. shallow corals, has been completed for the fieldwork and has to be pursue for further analyses and in fine for the redaction of an scientific article.
Only the translocation experiment, corresponding to the Part 2 is still on progress. It includes the two additional sampling periods that will require fieldwork and laboratory work.
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| Strategy for Future Research Activity |
The next steps for this JSPS project will be to analyze the datas obtained for the natural biodiversity (part 1) and write the first publication of the JSPS-project.
Additionally, the experiment from the part 2 will continue until July 2018 including fieldwork and laboratory work, while the analyses of the previous obtained results will be pursued and/or started and prepared for publication in scientific journals.
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