High-resolution spatial and genomic characterization of coral-associated microbial aggregates in the coral Stylophora pistillata

Bacteria commonly form aggregates in a range of coral species [termed coral-associated microbial aggregates (CAMAs)], although these structures remain poorly characterized despite extensive efforts studying the coral microbiome. Here, we comprehensively characterize CAMAs associated with Stylophora pistillata and quantify their cell abundance. Our analysis reveals that multiple Endozoicomonas phylotypes coexist inside a single CAMA. Nanoscale secondary ion mass spectrometry imaging revealed that the Endozoicomonas cells were enriched with phosphorus, with the elemental compositions of CAMAs different from coral tissues and endosymbiotic Symbiodiniaceae, highlighting a role in sequestering and cycling phosphate between coral holobiont partners. Consensus metagenome--assembled genomes of the two dominant Endozoicomonas phylotypes confirmed their metabolic potential for polyphosphate accumulation along with genomic signatures including type VI secretion systems allowing host association. Our findings provide unprecedented insights into Endozoicomonas-dominated CAMAs and the first direct physiological and genomic linked evidence of their biological role in the coral holobiont

New record of Sanderia malayensis from the Ryukyu Archipelago, southern Japan.

琉球列島から鉢虫綱の1種アマクサクラゲ Sanderia malayensisのメデューサとエフィラが採集された. 本種はインド太平洋の亜熱帯域や熱帯域に広く分布し, 日本では日本海や瀬戸内海, 本州太平洋岸, 四国および九州沿岸から報告があるが琉球列島からの記録はなかった. 本報告はアマクサクラゲの琉球列島からの初記録となる. 本研究では形態学的手法と分子生物学的手法を用いて琉球列島産標本と他海域産のアマクサクラゲ標本を比較してみたところ, 非常によく一致したため同種であると断定した.A scyphozoan jellyfish, Sanderia malayensis was collected from the Ryukyu Archipelago, Okinawa Prefecture, southern Japan. Sanderia malayensis is widely distributed through tropical and subtropical waters in the Indo-Pacific. This species has been reported from the Sea of Japan, Seto Inland Sea, Pacific coast of Honshu, and the coasts of Shikoku and Kyushu in Japan. This study represents the first record of this species from the Ryukyu Archipelago, Okinawa, southern Japan. Morphological and molecular phylogenetic analyses provided evidence that S. malayensis from the Ryukyu Archipelago and Imari Bay, Saga Prefecture, eastern Japan are conspecific

Underwater Image Gathering by Utilizing Stationary and Movable Sensor Nodes: Towards Observation of Symbiosis System in the Coral Reef of Okinawa

This paper describes the underwater data collection utilizing stationary sensor node and movable sensor node. We consider applying the system to investigate the conditions of marine ecosystem around the coral reef at Okinawa, Japan. The framework and fundamental design of our proposed underwater information gathering system under development are introduced. It is also reported the development of the prototypes of the sensory node and movable sensor node. Basic examinations utilizing such prototype at underwater environment are also described. This paper also describes experimental results of image gathering from via wireless local area network communication. Our future trials based on the current developmental situation are also discussed

Development of Underwater Monitoring Wireless Sensor Network to Support Coral Reef Observation

We have been developing a wireless sensor network system to support coral ecological system survey activities. This paper studies the required functions of a wireless sensor node for gathering information on underwater environmental conditions. For this purpose, a prototype sensor node is developed to clarify necessary functions through a practical experiment. In this paper, the hardware configuration of a latest prototype of wireless sensor node is described. The design of this prototype was based on our previous experiments and the comments of coral reef researchers. We conducted practical field experiments to observe the coral reefs along the Okinawa coast in Japan by using the prototype. Moreover, a browsing system of gathered information by the sensor network is described. Finally, we discuss the experimental results and the required functions of the sensor node for the future research

Four-Year Field Survey of Black Band Disease and Skeletal Growth Anomalies in Encrusting Montipora spp. Corals around Sesoko Island, Okinawa

The Indo-Pacific zooxanthellate scleractinian coral genus Montipora is the host of many coral diseases. Among these are cyanobacterial Black Band Disease (BBD) and Skeletal Growth Anomalies (GAs), but in general data on both diseases are lacking from many regions of the Indo-Pacific, including from Okinawa, southern Japan. In this study, we collected annual prevalence data of Black Band Disease (BBD) and Skeletal Growth Anomalies (GAs) affecting the encrusting form of genus Montipora within the shallow reefs of the subtropical Sesoko Island (off the central west coast of Okinawajima Island) from summer to autumn for four years (2017 to 2020). In 2020 Montipora percent coverage and colony count were also assessed. Generalized Linear Models (GLM) were used to understand the spatial and temporal variation of both BBD and GAs in the nearshore (NE) and reef edge (RE) sites, which revealed higher probability of BBD occurrence in RE sites. BBD prevalence was significantly higher in 2017 in some sites than all other years with site S12 having significant higher probability during all four surveyed years. In terms of GAs, certain sites in 2020 had higher probability of occurrence than during the other years. While the general trend of GAs increased from 2017 to 2020, it was observed to be non-fatal to colonies. In both diseases, the interaction between sites and years was significant. We also observed certain BBD-infected colonies escaping complete mortality. BBD progression rates were monitored in 2020 at site S4, and progression was related to seawater temperatures and was suppressed during periods of heavy rain and large strong typhoons. Our results suggest that higher BBD progression rates are linked with high sea water temperatures (SST > bleaching threshold SST) and higher light levels (>1400 µmol m−2 s−1), indicating the need for further controlled laboratory experiments. The current research will help form the basis for continued future research into these diseases and their causes in Okinawa and the Indo-Pacific Ocean