RNA/DNA ratios of scleractinian corals suggest acclimatisation/adaptation in relation to light gradients and turbidity regimes

RNA/DNA ratios are used in many organisms as an indicator of growth, biomass or metabolic functioning. We hypothesised that hermatypic corals, as they depend for growth largely on energy transferred from their algal symbionts, may show an effect in the RNA/DNA ratio with factors influencing irradian...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Marine ecology. Progress series (Halstenbek) 2002-02, Vol.227, p.233-239
Main Authors: Meesters, E. H., Nieuwland, G., Duineveld, G. C. A., Kok, A., Bak, R. P. M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acclimatization
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Applied ecology
Biological and medical sciences
Conservation, protection and management of environment and wildlife
Coral reefs
Corals
DNA
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Genetic variation
Irradiance
Marine
Metabolism
Nucleic acids
Parks, reserves, wildlife conservation. Endangered species: population survey and restocking
Porites
RNA
Scleractinia
Turbidity
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Summary:RNA/DNA ratios are used in many organisms as an indicator of growth, biomass or metabolic functioning. We hypothesised that hermatypic corals, as they depend for growth largely on energy transferred from their algal symbionts, may show an effect in the RNA/DNA ratio with factors influencing irradiance. This was tested along 2 environmental gradients: in relation to depth (decreasing irradiance) and in relation to environmental degradation (increased turbidity). RNA/DNA ratios were determined by HPLC in coral samples collected over depth gradients in 3 islands off the coast of north-west Java, Indonesia. The reefs range from shallow reefs (depth
ISSN:0171-8630
1616-1599
DOI:10.3354/meps227233