Journal of Tropical Oceanography ›› 2022, Vol. 41 ›› Issue (2): 132-141.doi: 10.11978/2021064CSTR: 32234.14.2021064

• Marine Biology • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Analysis of photosynthetic physiology and symbiotic fungi community in Galaxea fascicularis

ZHU Wentao1,3(), XIA Jingquan2,3, LIU Xiangbo2,3, YIN Hongyang2,3, ZHU Ming2,3, REN Yuxiao2,3, XIE Minrui2, HUANG Jianzhong1,3, LI Xiubao2,3()   

  1. 1. College of Ecology and Environment, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
    2. College of Marine Science, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
    3. State Key Laboratory of Marine Resource Utilization in South China Sea, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
  • Received:2021-05-19 Revised:2021-07-16 Online:2022-03-10 Published:2021-07-26
  • Contact: LI Xiubao E-mail:2274430217@qq.com;xiubaoli@hainanu.edu.cn
  • Supported by:
    National Natural Science Foundation of China(42076108);National Natural Science Foundation of China(42161144006);Hainan Provincial Key Research and Development Program(ZDYF2020177);Foundation of Hainan University(KYQD(ZR)1805)

Abstract:

Differences in zooxanthellae density, photosynthetic physiological indicators, and symbiotic fungal communities between healthy and bleaching states of Galaxea fascicularis were investigated in this study. The results showed that the zooxanthellae density and maximum photochemical quantum yield (Fv/Fm) of Galaxea fascicularis in the bleaching state were significantly lower by 75% and 16%, respectively, than those in the healthy corals. The composition of endolithic fungi community was mainly Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, Chytridiomycota, and Mucoromycota. The Shannon diversity index of endolithic fungi in healthy corals was slightly lower than that in bleaching corals, and the endolithic fungi compositions of these two coral groups had some similarity. Zooxanthellae content of healthy corals was significantly reduced due to the threat of heat stress, but it was still within the recommended appropriate symbiont density range. Despite the significant lost of density of symbiotic zooxanthellae from bleached corals, their Photosystem Ⅱ complexes were not completely destroyed. The results showed that there was no significant increase in diversity index, fungal pathogen group and predictive function in bleaching corals. The stability of endolithic fungi community may play an important role in the heat stress response. In the future, we will consider combining traditional isolation and culture techniques, high-throughput sequencing, metagenomics, and other methods to comprehensively study the diversity and ecological functions of coral endolithic fungi.

Key words: Galaxea fascicularis, bleaching, zooxanthellae density, endolithic fungi, community structure

CLC Number: 

  • P732.42