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Alternative Title

Symbiont contributions to the sea anemone (Exaiptasia pallida) stress response

Publication Date

2021

First Advisor

Rachel M. Wright

Document Type

Honors Project

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts

Department

Biological Sciences

Keywords

Corals, Reefs, Exaiptasia pallida, Light stress, Nutrient stress, Clonal lines, Climate change, Cnidarians, Anemones, Symbiosis, Aposymbiosis

Abstract

Coral reefs are hotspots for oceanic biodiversity, industry, and protection. Hidden within them is a complex relationship (symbiosis) between the coral host and photosynthetic algae that allows both organisms to thrive by working together as one. Climate change threatens to destabilize this symbiosis and ultimately impact the survival of coral reefs as a whole by increasing the occurrence of coral bleaching, leaving corals vulnerable to starvation and disease. The role of individual climate change-related stressors in triggering bleaching is largely unknown. This thesis explores the distinct roles played by cnidarian host and endosymbiont in response to single and combined stress, by assessing mortality, algal density, and reactive oxygen species presence in the sea anemone Exaiptasia pallida in symbiosis, aposymbiosis, and separate algal culture. Preliminary results indicate that stress treatment and symbiotic state are significant predictors of anemone mortality, particularly when combined. These findings support theories of coral bleaching as an end result of destabilizing the cnidarian-algal symbiosis, potentially by means of a shift from mutualism to parasitism when placed under sufficient stress. These limited data are highly encouraging of further planned research, including metabolic and transcriptomic assessment.

Rights

©2021. Quinton Oliver Celuzza. Access limited to the Smith College community and other researchers while on campus. Smith College community members also may access from off-campus using a Smith College log-in. Other off-campus researchers may request a copy through Interlibrary Loan for personal use.

Language

English

Comments

49 pages : color illustrations. Includes bibliographical references (pages 42-49)

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