111.
Loss of zooxanthellae (dinoflagellate
Symbiodinium) from corals will sometimes lead to mass mortality of corals. To detect and quantify
Symbiodinium released from corals, we developed a zooxanthellae “trap” and a quantitative PCR (qPCR) system with
Symbiodinium clades A–F-specific primer sets. The trap was attached to a branch or the surface of several wild stony corals, and the water
samples within the traps, including released
Symbiodinium, were subjected to qPCR. All tested corals released clade C
Symbiodinium at estimates of ~5,900 cells h
−1 cm
−2 of coral surface. Although all tested
Pocillopora eydouxi harboured both clades C and D, some of these colonies released only clade C or released a lesser amount of clade D than that
in the tissues. Our
Symbiodinium quantification system revealed that wild hermatypic corals constantly release
Symbiodinium to the environment. Our result suggests that some corals may discharge certain clades of
Symbiodinium alternatively.
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