Seasonal dynamics of Symbiodinium spp. in Porites divaricata

Porites divaricata (Thin Finger Coral) colonies after the January 2010 cold-water bleaching event

'Ann' Hui Lui, Master's candidate at SUNY at Buffalo, NY, recently returned to KML to collect samples for her 'Seasonal Dynamics of Symbiodinium spp. in Porites divaricata' project.
Symbiodinium spp., commonly referred to as 'zoozanthellae', are single-celled dinoflagellate algae which form an obligate symbiotic relationship with schleractinian corals in oligotrophic environments. These symbionts are diverse both genetically and in their physiologies. The symbiont type can vary both with specific coral host species, as well as with different environmental conditions..

P. divaricata samples in a seawater table before processing

Variation in symbiont communities within P. divaricata colonies at Craig Key (Middle Florida Keys) was investigated with colonies sampled seasonally since 2003 (with the exception of 2008) and found to typically have both Clade A and Clade B symbionts. Genetic analysis of the symbiont assemblages suggests that a major shuffling of the symbiont communities within the P. divaricata population at Craig Key occurred after the 2005 bleaching event, resulting in a loss of Clade A symbionts and a shift to primarily Clade B symbionts.

Ann working on samples in Lab II at KML

Ann returned to Buffalo after her 2 weeks at KML, where she will analyze her most recent samples to see how the January 2010 Keys cold-spell affected her P. divaricata colonies at Craig Key.

Ann snorkeling at her study site at Craig Key