Alkaline phosphatase activity in symbiotic dinoflagellates (zooxanthellae) as a biological indicator of environmental phosphate exposure

Alkaline phosphatase activity (APA) is an indicator of phosphorus status in marine plants. We examined APA in the symbiotic dinoflagellateSymbiodinium bermudense, which occurs with the sea anemoneAiptasia pallida. We have developed an assay for APA that serves as a biological indicator of inorganic...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Marine ecology. Progress series (Halstenbek) 2002-12, Vol.245, p.11-20
Main Authors: Annis, Eric R., Cook, Clayton B.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aiptasia pallida
Algae
Animal and plant ecology
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Applied ecology
Biological and medical sciences
Conservation, protection and management of environment and wildlife
Coral reefs
Corals
Demecology
Environmental degradation: ecosystems survey and restoration
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Keys
Marine
Montastraea faveolata
Phosphatases
Phosphates
Phosphorus
Plants and fungi
Sea water
Symbiodinium bermudense
Symbionts
Symbiosis
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Summary:Alkaline phosphatase activity (APA) is an indicator of phosphorus status in marine plants. We examined APA in the symbiotic dinoflagellateSymbiodinium bermudense, which occurs with the sea anemoneAiptasia pallida. We have developed an assay for APA that serves as a biological indicator of inorganic phosphate (Pi) exposure in coral reef environments and phosphorus deficiency in zooxanthellae. Zooxanthellae maintained in culture responded to a lack of Piwith elevated levels of APA. Laboratory experiments withA. pallidademonstrated that this effect occurs in symbiosis, although at a longer timescale. The addition of Pito ambient sea water resulted in higher zooxanthellae density in unfed anemones compared to unfed controls maintained without additional Pi, indicating thatS. bermudensecan utilize exogenous sources of Pi. APA was measured in zooxanthellae from the coralMontastraea faveolatacollected from 2 reef sites with different phosphorus exposure. Zooxanthellae from corals at the low Pisite had significantly higher APA levels than those from the high Pisite. These results indicate the potential of this assay as an indicator of phosphorus exposure in a coral reef environment.
ISSN:0171-8630
1616-1599
DOI:10.3354/meps245011