'Robust' coral produces amino acids to defend against bleaching

Some coral reefs have a stronger genetic makeup to fight off bleaching, a recent study said.

Researchers recently discovered that so-called "robust" coral, which includes certain brain corals and mushroom corals, are capable of producing special amino acids that prevent bleaching.

Other coral, like "complex" coral, have a special relationship with microalgae called Symbiodinium, which helps them to build their hard skeletons. But these robust coral don't need them.

"We now know that 'robust' corals can make at least one of the 'essential' amino acids without relying on Symbiodinium," David Miller, a professor at the ARC Center of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, said in a press release. "This suggests that they may be more resilient, at least in the short term, to bleaching than the 'complex' corals such as the branching staghorns."

The researchers findings were published Friday in the journal Genome Biology.

Many coral draw up to 90 percent of their energy from Symbiodinium, helping them to form their hard skeleton. When a coral feels high temperatures, it loses Symbiodinium, which causes bleaching. Coral bleaching can lead most corals to form a greater dependence on their diet for survival.

"Amino acids are the building blocks of life," said Dr. Hua Ying, researcher at The Australian National University. "They are crucial, for example, in repairing tissue or growing new tissue. But, generating amino acids is energetically costly for animals, so they usually only generate 11 of the 20 required for life. The remaining nine amino acids are called the 'essential' amino acids because they must be supplied by the animal's diet. For corals, this includes tiny drifting animals known as 'zooplankton.'"

As Symbiodinium leaves the system of a "robust" coral, its own amino acids kick in to provide it with nutrients.

"Our research also suggests that 'robust' corals are less choosey about which species of microalgae can take up residence in the coral's tissue. The ability to host a broader range of Symbiodinium types could facilitate more rapid acclimation to higher temperatures," said Prof Miller.

Related Links
Water News - Science, Technology and Politics

Tweet

Thanks for being there;
We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.

SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
$5+ Billed Monthly

paypal only

SpaceDaily Contributor
$5 Billed Once

credit card or paypal

Frequency not severity has greater impact of giant kelp forests
Santa Barbara CA (SPX) Oct 31, 2018
Giant kelp forests - those ethereal, swaying columns of seaweed found in the intermediate to deep water zones of cooler coasts along the Pacific Ocean and Southern Hemisphere - provide habitat for a variety of species that spend their lives in kelp's canopies or at the rocky bottoms. "Giant kelp's complex physical structure that extends throughout the water column and its very high productivity are unique," said Bob Miller, a research biologist at UC Santa Barbara's Marine Science Institute (MSI). ... read more