1 KAUST Environmental Epigenetic Program (KEEP) – KAUST Environmental Epigenetic Program, Division of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering, King Abdullah University of
Science and Technology, Thuwal 23955-6900, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Saudi Arabia
2 Red Sea Research Center (RSRC) – Red Sea Research Center, Division of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal
23955-6900, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Saudi Arabia
3 ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies (CoralCoE) – ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef StudiesJames Cook University TownsvilleQueensland 4811 Australia, Australia
The Arabian killifish, Aphanius dispar, is a euryhaline fish able to tolerate a wide range of salinities, from freshwater to ˜175 ppt salt water. This cyprinodontid inhabits inland and coastal waters of the Arabian Peninsula with Saudi Arabian populations living in desert ponds (0.7 – 2 ppt), as well as in coastal lagoons of the highly saline Red Sea (41 – 44 ppt). In a recent genetic population study, we found that Red Sea killifish populations are flushed from desert ponds out to the sea during flash floods. With this in mind, we now investigate the remarkable ability of A. dispar to rapidly acclimate to different salinities. Fish are collected from a Saudi Arabian desert pond and a Red Sea coastal lagoon and maintained for at least 6 months before exposure in aquaria at 1.5 and 42 ppt, respectively. Desert pond fish are then transferred from 1.5 ppt to 42 ppt, and gills are sampled pre-transfer (0h), and at 6h, 24h, 3 days, 7 days and 3 weeks post-transfer. Collected gill samples are morphologically analysed using scanning electron microscopy, as well as used for RNA extractions. No mortality was recorded throughout the 3-week exposure and no differences in gill filament morphology were detected across sampling intervals nor between desert pond and Red Sea killifish populations.
So, we use RNA-sequencing to sequence the gill transcriptomes and then analyse changes in gene expression over the acclimation timeline. The aim of the analysis is to elucidate the molecular pathways allowing Aphanius dispar to occupy such diverse saline habitats without needing to remodel gills. These findings will provide insights into the mechanisms that allow killifish to thrive in some of the most extreme habitats on earth.
Global patterns of intraspecific life-history variation reveal hierarchical importance of
environmental drivers in widespread coral-reef fishes
Brett Taylor ∗ 1, Maia Kapur 2, Michael Berumen 3, Edward Demartini 4, Andrew Hoey 5, Stephen Newman 6, Mark Priest 7, Tane Sinclair-Taylor
3, Tuikolongahau Halafihi 8, J. Choat 5
1 Joint Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research, University of Hawaii (JIMAR) – 1845 Wasp Boulevard, Building 176 Honolulu, Hawaii 96818, United States
2 Joint Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research (JIMAR) – 1845 Wasp Boulevard, Building 176 Honolulu, Hawaii 96818, United States
3 King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) – Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
4Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology (HIMB) – Kaneohe, Hawaii, United States
5James Cook University – Townsville, Queensland, Australia
6 Western Australia Department of Fisheries – North Beach, Western Australia, Australia
7University of Queensland – St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
8Ministry of Agriculture and Food – Nuku’alofa, PO Box 871, Tonga
Metabolic rate in ectotherms is largely dependent on the interaction between ambient tem- perature and body size; hence, there are predictable demographic trends within species that arise along latitudinal gradients across broad spatial scales, whereby largest body size and greatest life span are often achieved with decreasing temperature at higher latitudes. The past decade of coral reef fish research has highlighted many examples, however, of substantial variation in life-history traits at various spatial scales that are not correlated with temperature, but rather demonstrate the importance of factors such as density-dependent competition, predation, habi- tat variability, reef geomorphology, anthropogenic fishing pressure and primary productivity. To understand the impacts of these factors collectively, we examined life-history variation across the entire range of the bullethead parrotfish (Chlorurus sordidus [Red Sea – Indian Ocean] and C. spilurus [Pacific]). Otolith-derived length-at-age profiles of populations from over 30 loca- tions spanning from the Northern Red Sea to French Polynesia provided estimates of growth rate, lifespan, length at sex change, and asymptotic length, and constituted the most extensive investigation of intraspecific life-history variation in any coral reef fish to date. Our research demonstrates that while temperature and productivity gradients strongly influence life history, our ability to identify other drivers of variation are constrained by the observed spatial scale, which pervades as the underlying context from which significance can be assessed.
∗Speaker
Impacts of anthropogenic noise on fish:
individual effects, population consequences and mitigation
Andrew Radford ∗ 1, Sophie Nedelec 2, Harry Harding 1, Timothy Gordon
2, Ricardo Beldade 3, Isabelle Cˆ ot´ e 4, David Lecchini 5, Mark Mccormick
6, Mark Meekan 7, Suzanne Mills 3,8, Stephen Simpson 2
1 University of Bristol – School of Biological Sciences, 24 Tyndall Avenue, Bristol, BS8 1TQ, United Kingdom
2 University of Exeter – Biosciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Stocker Road, Exeter EX4 4QD, United Kingdom
3 Centre de Recherche Insulaire et Observatoire de l’Environnement (CRIOBE) – Univ de Perpignan Via Domitia, ´Ecole Pratique des Hautes ´Etudes [EPHE], CNRS : USR3278 – BP 1013 Papetoai,
Moorea, French Polynesia, France
4Simon Fraser University – Earth to Ocean Group, Department of Biological Sciences, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada
5Centre de Recherches Insulaires et Observatoire de l’Environnement (CRIOBE) – PSL Research University, EPHE-CNRS-UPVD, USR3278 CRIOBE Laboratoire d’Excellence ”CORAIL”, BP 1013,
Papetoai, 98729 Moorea, French Polynesia
6James Cook University – Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies and School of Marine and Tropical Biology, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia
7Australian Institute of Marine Science – Australian Institute of Marine Science, Perth, Western Australia 6009, Australia
8Laboratoire d’Excellence “Corail” – Univ de Perpignan Via Domitia – 58 avenue Paul Alduy, 66860 Perpignan, France
Since the Industrial Revolution, human activities have changed the soundscape of many aquatic ecosystems, both increasing the amount of acoustic energy and generating sounds that are different from those arising from natural sources. International legislation recognises the need to assess and manage the biological impacts of this anthropogenic noise. Over the last 8 years, we have considered how a range of man-made noise sources (including shipping, mo- torboats, pile-driving and seismic gun arrays) might affect a variety of fish species. Our initial experiments were conducted in aquaria using playbacks to consider short-term effects of single noise exposures; a logistically simple approach allowing tight control of conditions. We have subsequently developed our research programme using coral reef fish in the Indo-Pacific region as model species. Extensive previous research has provided a detailed knowledge about the life- history of such species, the calm, clear waters around coral reefs allow detailed and replicated
than extrapolating from short-term behavioural or physiological responses. Third, by examin- ing intra-population variation in effects arising from both intrinsic (e.g. body condition) and extrinsic (e.g. prior exposure) factors. Our ongoing goal is to provide strong conclusions to in- form policy makers and managers, as well as working with industry to test potential mitigation measures that may lessen the impacts of this global pollutant on fish populations.
It takes three to tango: global warming puts clownfish future in hot water
Suzanne Mills ∗ 1, Agathe Blandin 1, Rory O’donnell 2, Ricardo Beldade 1
1 Centre de Recherche Insulaire et Observatoire de l’Environnement (CRIOBE) – BP 1013, Moorea, French Polynesia
2 Ulster University – Coleraine, Ireland
Organisms can behaviourally, physiologically and morphologically adjust to environmental variation via integrative hormonal mechanisms, ultimately allowing animals to cope with envi- ronmental change. The stress response to environmental and social changes commonly promotes survival at the expense of reproduction. However, despite climate change impacts on population declines and diversity loss, few studies have attributed hormonal stress responses, or their regu- latory effects, to climate change in the wild. Here, we report hormonal and fitness responses of individual wild fish to a recent large-scale sea warming event that caused widespread bleaching on coral reefs. This 14-month monitoring study shows a strong correlation between anemone bleaching (zooxanthellae loss), anemonefish stress response and reproductive hormones that de- creased fecundity by 73%. These findings suggest that hormone stress responses play a crucial role in changes to population demography following climate change and plasticity in hormonal responsiveness may be a key mechanism enabling individual acclimation to climate change.
Latitudinal variation in behavioural patterns and social group structure of coral reef fishes
Paloma Matis ∗† 1, Andrew Hoey 2, Rebecca Fox 1, David Booth 1
1 University of Technology Sydney (UTS) – PO Box 123, Broadway NSW 2007, Australia, Australia
2 ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies (CoralCoE) – ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef StudiesJames Cook University TownsvilleQueensland 4811 Australia, Australia
Ocean warming is driving rapid poleward expansion of tropical marine organisms, partic- ularly in areas surrounding poleward flowing ocean currents. Each summer during spawning season, the East Australian Current transports fish larvae from tropical to temperate locations.
Many knowledge gaps remain on how tropical fishes behave on high-latitude reefs and how this affects their ability to adapt to these novel environments. Such information is crucial to under- standing which species are likely or unlikely to shift, as well as how these animals may impact na- tive species and ecosystem dynamics. This study investigates how the behavioural time budgets, feeding patterns and movement of three common tropical fishes (Chaetodon auriga, Abudefduf sexfasciatus and Pomacentrus coelestis) found across a latitudinal gradient on the east coast of Australia, spanning from the Great Barrier Reef (23◦30’30”S) to Sydney (33◦4806S). Species behavioural time budgets and social group structure varied both among latitudes and among species. A key finding of this study was the novel social group interactions observed at the higher latitudes but not at the tropical location. At the subtropical and temperate locations C. auriga,A. sexfasciatus andP. coelestis formed heterospecific groups with other tropical and temperate species. Individuals of all species moved greater distances in the 3 min observation period at tropical and subtropical reefs compared to temperate locations. The intake rate of food byC. aurigawas higher at the tropical reef locations compared to the subtropical and tem- perate reefs. Differences in species behaviour among locations further highlight the constraints associated with high latitude reef environments (e.g. temperature, resource availability, preda- tion and competition). These results give us greater insight into the ability of species to cope or adapt through modifications in their behaviour that may ultimately influence their distribution under climate change and potential impacts to native species.
∗Speaker
†Corresponding author: paloma.a.matis@student.uts.edu.au
Moderate rate of temperature increase leads to transgenerational differences in metabolic
pathways in a coral reef fish
Moises Bernal ∗ 1, Jennifer Donelson 2, Heather Veilleux 2, Taewoo Ryu 3, Philip Munday 2, Timothy Ravasi 1
1King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) – Integrative Systems Biology Lab Division of Biological and Environmental Sciences Engineering Division of Applied Mathematics and Computer Sciences King Abdullah University of Science and Technology Thuwal 23955-6900 Kingdom
of Saudi Arabia, Saudi Arabia
2 James Cook University (JCU) – ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies James Cook University Townsville Queensland 4811 Australia, Australia
3 APEC Climate Center (APEC) – 12 Centum 7-ro Haeundae-gu Busan 48058 Korea, South Korea
Anthropogenic activities are leading to an increase in sea surface temperatures at an un- precedented rate. Thermal increments can have considerable impact on poikilotherm organisms, such as coral reef fishes, as their life cycle is heavily influenced by environmental conditions.
Hence, it is imperative to understand how species react to thermal stress, and elucidate poten- tial mechanisms of acclimation to future conditions. In this study, the metabolic response of the spiny chromis,Acanthochromis polyacanthus, to transgenerational temperature increase was an- alyzed. We report a significant increase in hepatosomatic index for individuals exposed to 31.5C since development, regardless of which temperature their parents were exposed to. The resting metabolic rate of transgenerational treatments exposed at elevated temperatures was very simi- lar to the control, while higher rates were observed for individuals exposed at development. The assays of gene expression for developmental treatments showed that temperature increase led to upregulation of pathways related with carbohydrate metabolism and mitochondrial activity when compared to control and transgenerational individuals. Overall, these results suggest that in terms of metabolism, transgenerational individuals are better suited to withstand elevated temperatures. However, individuals exposed to gradual increase across generations also have the capacity to compensate their metabolism at elevated temperatures, as evidenced by their respiration rates. Our findings indicate the onset of thermal acclimation depends on the temper- ature at which parents are exposed to, as well as the developmental stage at which individuals are subject to thermal stress.
Molecular basis of sex-dependent
heritability of CO2 tolerance in a coral reef fish
Alison Monroe ∗† 1,2, Megan Welch 3, Celia Schunter 2, Michael Berumen
1, Philip Munday 4, Timothy Ravasi 2
1 Red Sea Research Center (RSRC) – Red Sea Research Center, Division of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal
23955-6900, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Saudi Arabia
2 KAUST Environmental Epigenetic Program (KEEP) – KAUST Environmental Epigenetic Program, Division of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering, King Abdullah University of
Science and Technology, Thuwal 23955-6900, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Saudi Arabia
3 ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies (CoralCoE) – ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University Townsville, Queensland 4811 Australia, Australia
4 ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies (CoralCoE) – ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef StudiesJames Cook University TownsvilleQueensland 4811 Australia, Australia
In order to maintain their performance, marine organisms will need to adapt to projected future ocean acidification caused by the uptake of additional CO2 from the atmosphere. Im- pairment in crucial predator response behaviors have been shown to be one important impact of increased CO2 on reef fishes. However, individual variation in behavior and brain transcriptional program were demonstrated for Acanthochromis polyacanthus, with some fish displaying more tolerance to elevated CO2 than others. A signature of this variation in behavioral tolerance of adults is also present in the molecular phenotype of their offspring. However, little is known about the influence of maternal and paternal components on the behavioral tolerance to high CO2 of the next generation. To investigate maternal and paternal components of CO2 tolerance in A. polyacanthus we crossed CO2 tolerant fathers with CO2 sensitive mothers and CO2 tol- erant mothers with CO2 sensitive fathers. We then reared their offspring at ambient CO2 (414 matm) for 6 weeks or acutely exposed them to elevated CO2 (754 matm) at 6 weeks of age. To investigate the effects of parental behavior on the molecular phenotype of the offspring 68 brain transcriptomes were sequenced, mapped to a reference genome, and differential gene expression was analyzed. Individual variation and heritability of paternal tolerance to acute exposure to high CO2 suggest that A. polyacanthus may have some capacity to adapt to rising CO2 levels in the ocean. Our analysis elucidates the molecular pathways that may enable this process in reef fish.
∗Speaker
†Corresponding author: alison.monroe@kaust.edu.sa
Neurobiological-induced breakdown of cleaning mutualisms under ocean warming
and acidification
Jose Ricardo Paula ∗† 1, Tiago Repolho 1, Maria Rita Pegado 1, Per Ove Thornqvist 2, Catarina Santos 1, Regina Bispo 3, Philip Munday 4, Svante