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SEMINAR: MBF 602 seminar- Paul Jones Friday, April 2nd, 2010 4:00pm S/A seminar room

From: Cary Rios <crios@rsmas.miami.edu>
Subject: SEMINAR: MBF 602 seminar- Paul Jones Friday, April 2nd, 2010 4:00pm S/A seminar room
Date: Thu, 1 Apr 2010 10:47:24 -0400

Where’s Symbo?

Developing methods to localize and identify remnant Symbiodinium in bleached corals

 

Despite the longevity of the association between scleractinian corals and dinoflagellates (> 200 Myr), their photosymbiotic relationship can be alarmingly fragile. Numerous environmental stressors induce the eviction/departure of the algal symbionts (Symbiodinium spp.), resulting in coral bleaching. However, bleached corals are never completely devoid of symbionts.  If corals recovering from bleaching are unable to acquire new symbionts from the water, these residual symbionts are solely responsible for replenishing the algal symbiont community and represent a functional constraint on coral resilience.

In order to determine which Symbiodinium types remain after bleaching, and where they are localized I will be examining coral polyps using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Samples for analysis will be anaesthetized, fixed in paraformaldehyde (to preserve internal structure), decalcified, frozen, cut into thin sections and adhered to filter paper for ease of handling.  Hybridizing these coral slices with fluorescent probes targeting specific Symbiodinium ribosomal sequences will identify which types of symbiont are present, and where within the coral they are located. Autofluorescence of the samples will be reduced by the use of solvents (such as ethanol) to remove chlorophyll.  To corroborate the results of FISH, and generate sequence data for sub-cladal typing of symbiont, filter mounted polyp sections will be dissected, and DNA from different parts of the polyp (tentacle, base etc.) analyzed using both quantitative and standard PCR.  This investigation will help elucidate symbiont community composition in stressed corals and determine how different symbiont types affect the recovery of individual coral colonies. 

Paul Jones

B.Sc. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, UK, 1999

M.S. Marine Biology and Biochemistry, University of Delaware, USA, 2005

Entered Ph.D. program: Fall 2008

Advisor: Dr. Andrew Baker

 









Cary Rios
Graduate Studies Office
University of Miami
Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science
4600 Rickenbacker Cswy
S/A 132
P. 305.421.4920
F. 305.421.4771
http://www.rsmas.miami.edu
crios@rsmas.miami.edu

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