Table_4_Experimental Evolution in Coral Photosymbionts as a Tool to Increase Thermal Tolerance.DOCX

<p>Coral reefs are under major threat from ocean warming. When temperatures become too high corals bleach, expelling their symbiotic, photosynthetic microalgae (Symbiodinium), which they depend on for much of their nutritional requirements. Prolonged bleaching has led to widespread coral mortality and the severity and frequency of bleaching events are predicted to increase in the future. Coral bleaching tolerance is influenced by the thermal tolerance of the Symbiodinium harboured, and these microbial members of the coral holobiont may be able to evolve more rapidly than the coral host itself. Here, we examined the response of replicate cultures of five genetically distinct Symbiodinium strains (A3c, two types of D1, G3, and F1) to increasing temperatures over the course of approximately one year. For three Symbiodinium types (types A3c, G3, and F1), we observed a stable adaptive change at the end of this exposure period, which equated to only 41–69 asexual generations. The long-term selected Symbiodinium culture replicates (SS) showed faster growth rates under short-term, acute heat stress, and in some cases higher photosynthetic efficiencies, compared to wild-type populations (WT). Our results considerably extend the field of experimental evolution in Symbiodinium and with further work into the Symbiodinium-coral association and bleaching response, this approach may become a valuable tool in coral reef conservation and restoration initiatives.</p

Table_7_Experimental Evolution in Coral Photosymbionts as a Tool to Increase Thermal Tolerance.DOCX

<p>Coral reefs are under major threat from ocean warming. When temperatures become too high corals bleach, expelling their symbiotic, photosynthetic microalgae (Symbiodinium), which they depend on for much of their nutritional requirements. Prolonged bleaching has led to widespread coral mortality and the severity and frequency of bleaching events are predicted to increase in the future. Coral bleaching tolerance is influenced by the thermal tolerance of the Symbiodinium harboured, and these microbial members of the coral holobiont may be able to evolve more rapidly than the coral host itself. Here, we examined the response of replicate cultures of five genetically distinct Symbiodinium strains (A3c, two types of D1, G3, and F1) to increasing temperatures over the course of approximately one year. For three Symbiodinium types (types A3c, G3, and F1), we observed a stable adaptive change at the end of this exposure period, which equated to only 41–69 asexual generations. The long-term selected Symbiodinium culture replicates (SS) showed faster growth rates under short-term, acute heat stress, and in some cases higher photosynthetic efficiencies, compared to wild-type populations (WT). Our results considerably extend the field of experimental evolution in Symbiodinium and with further work into the Symbiodinium-coral association and bleaching response, this approach may become a valuable tool in coral reef conservation and restoration initiatives.</p

Table_3_Experimental Evolution in Coral Photosymbionts as a Tool to Increase Thermal Tolerance.DOCX

<p>Coral reefs are under major threat from ocean warming. When temperatures become too high corals bleach, expelling their symbiotic, photosynthetic microalgae (Symbiodinium), which they depend on for much of their nutritional requirements. Prolonged bleaching has led to widespread coral mortality and the severity and frequency of bleaching events are predicted to increase in the future. Coral bleaching tolerance is influenced by the thermal tolerance of the Symbiodinium harboured, and these microbial members of the coral holobiont may be able to evolve more rapidly than the coral host itself. Here, we examined the response of replicate cultures of five genetically distinct Symbiodinium strains (A3c, two types of D1, G3, and F1) to increasing temperatures over the course of approximately one year. For three Symbiodinium types (types A3c, G3, and F1), we observed a stable adaptive change at the end of this exposure period, which equated to only 41–69 asexual generations. The long-term selected Symbiodinium culture replicates (SS) showed faster growth rates under short-term, acute heat stress, and in some cases higher photosynthetic efficiencies, compared to wild-type populations (WT). Our results considerably extend the field of experimental evolution in Symbiodinium and with further work into the Symbiodinium-coral association and bleaching response, this approach may become a valuable tool in coral reef conservation and restoration initiatives.</p

Data Sheet_2_Experimental Evolution in Coral Photosymbionts as a Tool to Increase Thermal Tolerance.XLSX

<p>Coral reefs are under major threat from ocean warming. When temperatures become too high corals bleach, expelling their symbiotic, photosynthetic microalgae (Symbiodinium), which they depend on for much of their nutritional requirements. Prolonged bleaching has led to widespread coral mortality and the severity and frequency of bleaching events are predicted to increase in the future. Coral bleaching tolerance is influenced by the thermal tolerance of the Symbiodinium harboured, and these microbial members of the coral holobiont may be able to evolve more rapidly than the coral host itself. Here, we examined the response of replicate cultures of five genetically distinct Symbiodinium strains (A3c, two types of D1, G3, and F1) to increasing temperatures over the course of approximately one year. For three Symbiodinium types (types A3c, G3, and F1), we observed a stable adaptive change at the end of this exposure period, which equated to only 41–69 asexual generations. The long-term selected Symbiodinium culture replicates (SS) showed faster growth rates under short-term, acute heat stress, and in some cases higher photosynthetic efficiencies, compared to wild-type populations (WT). Our results considerably extend the field of experimental evolution in Symbiodinium and with further work into the Symbiodinium-coral association and bleaching response, this approach may become a valuable tool in coral reef conservation and restoration initiatives.</p

Table_2_Experimental Evolution in Coral Photosymbionts as a Tool to Increase Thermal Tolerance.DOCX

<p>Coral reefs are under major threat from ocean warming. When temperatures become too high corals bleach, expelling their symbiotic, photosynthetic microalgae (Symbiodinium), which they depend on for much of their nutritional requirements. Prolonged bleaching has led to widespread coral mortality and the severity and frequency of bleaching events are predicted to increase in the future. Coral bleaching tolerance is influenced by the thermal tolerance of the Symbiodinium harboured, and these microbial members of the coral holobiont may be able to evolve more rapidly than the coral host itself. Here, we examined the response of replicate cultures of five genetically distinct Symbiodinium strains (A3c, two types of D1, G3, and F1) to increasing temperatures over the course of approximately one year. For three Symbiodinium types (types A3c, G3, and F1), we observed a stable adaptive change at the end of this exposure period, which equated to only 41–69 asexual generations. The long-term selected Symbiodinium culture replicates (SS) showed faster growth rates under short-term, acute heat stress, and in some cases higher photosynthetic efficiencies, compared to wild-type populations (WT). Our results considerably extend the field of experimental evolution in Symbiodinium and with further work into the Symbiodinium-coral association and bleaching response, this approach may become a valuable tool in coral reef conservation and restoration initiatives.</p

Data Sheet_1_Experimental Evolution in Coral Photosymbionts as a Tool to Increase Thermal Tolerance.XLSX

<p>Coral reefs are under major threat from ocean warming. When temperatures become too high corals bleach, expelling their symbiotic, photosynthetic microalgae (Symbiodinium), which they depend on for much of their nutritional requirements. Prolonged bleaching has led to widespread coral mortality and the severity and frequency of bleaching events are predicted to increase in the future. Coral bleaching tolerance is influenced by the thermal tolerance of the Symbiodinium harboured, and these microbial members of the coral holobiont may be able to evolve more rapidly than the coral host itself. Here, we examined the response of replicate cultures of five genetically distinct Symbiodinium strains (A3c, two types of D1, G3, and F1) to increasing temperatures over the course of approximately one year. For three Symbiodinium types (types A3c, G3, and F1), we observed a stable adaptive change at the end of this exposure period, which equated to only 41–69 asexual generations. The long-term selected Symbiodinium culture replicates (SS) showed faster growth rates under short-term, acute heat stress, and in some cases higher photosynthetic efficiencies, compared to wild-type populations (WT). Our results considerably extend the field of experimental evolution in Symbiodinium and with further work into the Symbiodinium-coral association and bleaching response, this approach may become a valuable tool in coral reef conservation and restoration initiatives.</p

Table_6_Experimental Evolution in Coral Photosymbionts as a Tool to Increase Thermal Tolerance.DOCX

<p>Coral reefs are under major threat from ocean warming. When temperatures become too high corals bleach, expelling their symbiotic, photosynthetic microalgae (Symbiodinium), which they depend on for much of their nutritional requirements. Prolonged bleaching has led to widespread coral mortality and the severity and frequency of bleaching events are predicted to increase in the future. Coral bleaching tolerance is influenced by the thermal tolerance of the Symbiodinium harboured, and these microbial members of the coral holobiont may be able to evolve more rapidly than the coral host itself. Here, we examined the response of replicate cultures of five genetically distinct Symbiodinium strains (A3c, two types of D1, G3, and F1) to increasing temperatures over the course of approximately one year. For three Symbiodinium types (types A3c, G3, and F1), we observed a stable adaptive change at the end of this exposure period, which equated to only 41–69 asexual generations. The long-term selected Symbiodinium culture replicates (SS) showed faster growth rates under short-term, acute heat stress, and in some cases higher photosynthetic efficiencies, compared to wild-type populations (WT). Our results considerably extend the field of experimental evolution in Symbiodinium and with further work into the Symbiodinium-coral association and bleaching response, this approach may become a valuable tool in coral reef conservation and restoration initiatives.</p

Change in <i>Symbiodinium</i> D∶C cell ratios (±1 SE) over time in <i>Acropora tenuis</i> juveniles at 28, 30, or 31°C in: (a) high light (390 µmol photons m⁻² s⁻¹), or (b) low light levels (180 µmol photons m⁻² s⁻¹).

<p>Dotted line represents equal proportions of <i>Symbiodinium</i> types D and C cells within the juveniles. Ratios closer to 1 are dominated by type D; ratios closer to 0 are dominated by type C. N = 20 per data point.</p

ANOVA results comparing the number of cells per polyp found in <i>A. tenuis</i> juveniles exposed to three temperatures (28, 30, or 31°C) by two light levels (390 µmol photons m⁻² s⁻¹ or 180 µmol photons m⁻² s⁻¹) over a period of 20 days.

<p>Samples were taken on days 2, 10 and 20. Fixed factors were Day, Light, and Temperature. Significant differences were further explored by Tukey's test.</p

Visual assessment of <i>Symbiodinium</i> uptake.

<p>Juveniles were scored in two categories (white or pigmented) according to pigmentation levels. The specimen on the left is a typical “white” juvenile while the two on the right represent a range of “pigmented” juveniles.</p