2013 Fiscal Year Final Research Report
Discharge pattern of symbiotic zooxanthellae from corals
| Project/Area Number |
23770032
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| Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
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| Allocation Type | Multi-year Fund |
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| Research Field |
Ecology/Environment
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| Research Institution | Fisheries Research Agency |
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Principal Investigator |
YAMASHITA Hiroshi 独立行政法人水産総合研究センター, 西海区水産研究所, 研究員 (00583147)
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| Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha) |
SUZUKI Go 独立行政法人水産総合研究センター, 西海区水産研究所, 研究員 (30533319)
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| Project Period (FY) |
2011 – 2013
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| Keywords | サンゴ礁生態系 / 白化現象 / 褐虫藻放出現象 / 生物圏現象 / 海洋生態 / 共生 |
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| Research Abstract |
Corals harbor zooxanthellae (dinoflagellate genus Symbiodinium) as symbionts. Discharge of zooxanthellae from corals is closely linked to coral bleaching. Although discharge can take place under non-stress conditions, little is known about the timing of discharge or the quantity of cells discharged. We performed field and laboratory experiments to clarify the pattern of zooxanthellae discharge from corals. The results revealed that (1) the number of cells discharged varied among coral colonies; (2) the corals tended to release more zooxanthellae during the daytime than during the night; (3) more cells were discharged when the water temperature was high; and (4) high water temperatures also inhibited cell division of zooxanthellae within coral tissues. Thus, it is plausible that an increased number of cells discharged from corals and fewer cell divisions within corals are involved in coral bleaching under high water temperature conditions.
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