Data and script to replicate analyses in Hsu et al. (2020). Knit Hsuetal2020_Analysis.Rmd. If used in full or in part, please cite the original publication:
Hsu THT, Carlu L, Hsieh YE, Lai TYA, Wang CW, Huang CY, Yang SH, Wang PL, Sturaro N, Denis V (2020) Stranger things: organismal traits of two octocorals associated with singular Symbiodiniaceae in a high-latitude coral community from northern Taiwan. Frontiers in Marine Science 7:606601. doi: 10.3389/fmars.2020.606601
Organismal trait data also available on Dryad
A study from FRElab, Institute of Oceanography, National Taiwan University, TAIWAN
Plain Language Summaries:
漢語 八放珊瑚被視為在未來珊瑚礁中可能佔優勢的關鍵生物。然而，我們對八放珊瑚物種生理上的差異認識非常少，而其中的個體變異又可能攸關到天擇的作用。在當前的研究中，我們採集同時生存在北台灣高緯度珊瑚群集中，具共生藻的兩種八放珊瑚，並比較他們的個體性狀。實穗軟珊瑚（Stereonephthya sp.）及錦花軟珊瑚（Litophyton sp.）有著截然不同的生理表現，這可能可以用他們與其獨特的共生藻之共生關係加以解釋。兩個物種的營養皆明顯偏離自營性。與Durusdinium共生的錦花軟珊瑚能利用光合作用獲得之能量，來補充自身異營性以外的營養。相反地，與Gerakladium共生的實穗軟珊瑚則更專一於異營性，而其與藻類的共生關係所帶來的效益並不大。整體而言，本研究為整合種內變異以定義八放珊瑚生活史策略奠定了基礎，也讓我們更了解牠們對於當前環境挑戰的反應。
ENGLISH Octocorals have emerged as key candidates to prevail in future reefs. However, physiological differences remain largely overlooked among species of this group as well as individual variation upon which natural selection may operate. In the present study, we compared individual organismal traits in two symbiotic octocorals inhabiting in sympatry the high-latitude coral communities of northern Taiwan. Stereonephthya sp. and Litophyton sp. displayed contrasting performances that could partly be explained by the relationship they maintained with distinctive algal symbionts. Both species clearly deviate from an autotrophic diet. Litophyton sp. associated with Durusdinium appears to complement its heterotrophic diet with photosynthetically acquired energy. In contrast, Stereonephthya sp. associated with Gerakladium tends to be more specialized and might benefit little from its symbiotic relationship. Overall, this study paves the way for the integration of the intraspecific variance in the definition of octocoral strategies and in our understanding of their response when facing current environmental challenges.