Phenotypic plasticity for improved light harvesting, in tandem with methylome repatterning in reef-building corals.

Acclimatization through phenotypic plasticity represents a more rapid response to environmental change than adaptation and is vital to optimize organisms' performance in different conditions. Generally, animals are less phenotypically plastic than plants, but reef-building corals exhibit plant-like properties. They are light dependent with a sessile and modular construction that facilitates rapid morphological changes within their lifetime. We induced phenotypic changes by altering light exposure in a reciprocal transplant experiment and found that coral plasticity is a colony trait emerging from comprehensive morphological and physiological changes within the colony. Plasticity in skeletal features optimized coral light harvesting and utilization and paralleled significant methylome and transcriptome modifications. Network-associated responses resulted in the identification of hub genes and clusters associated to the change in phenotype: inter-partner recognition and phagocytosis, soft tissue growth and biomineralization. Furthermore, we identified hub genes putatively involved in animal photoreception-phototransduction. These findings fundamentally advance our understanding of how reef-building corals repattern the methylome and adjust a phenotype, revealing an important role of light sensing by the coral animal to optimize photosynthetic performance of the symbionts.

Photosynthetic usable energy explains vertical patterns of biodiversity in zooxanthellate corals.

The biodiversity in coral reef ecosystems is distributed heterogeneously across spatial and temporal scales, being commonly influenced by biogeographic factors, habitat area and disturbance frequency. A potential association between gradients of usable energy and biodiversity patterns has received little empirical support in these ecosystems. Here, we analyzed the productivity and biodiversity variation over depth gradients in symbiotic coral communities, whose members rely on the energy translocated by photosynthetic algal symbionts (zooxanthellae). Using a mechanistic model we explored the association between the depth-dependent variation in photosynthetic usable energy to corals and gradients of species diversity, comparing reefs with contrasting water clarity and biodiversity patterns across global hotspots of marine biodiversity. The productivity-biodiversity model explained between 64 and 95% of the depth-related variation in coral species richness, indicating that much of the variation in species richness with depth is driven by changes in the fractional contribution of photosynthetically fixed energy by the zooxanthellae. These results suggest a fundamental role of solar energy availability and photosynthetic production in explaining global-scale patterns of coral biodiversity and community structure along depth gradients. Accordingly, the maintenance of water optical quality in coral reefs is fundamental to protect coral biodiversity and prevent reef degradation.

Elucidating gene expression adaptation of phylogenetically divergent coral holobionts under heat stress.

As coral reefs struggle to survive under climate change, it is crucial to know whether they have the capacity to withstand changing conditions, particularly increasing seawater temperatures. Thermal tolerance requires the integrative response of the different components of the coral holobiont (coral host, algal photosymbiont, and associated microbiome). Here, using a controlled thermal stress experiment across three divergent Caribbean coral species, we attempt to dissect holobiont member metatranscriptome responses from coral taxa with different sensitivities to heat stress and use phylogenetic ANOVA to study the evolution of gene expression adaptation. We show that coral response to heat stress is a complex trait derived from multiple interactions among holobiont members. We identify host and photosymbiont genes that exhibit lineage-specific expression level adaptation and uncover potential roles for bacterial associates in supplementing the metabolic needs of the coral-photosymbiont duo during heat stress. Our results stress the importance of integrative and comparative approaches across a wide range of species to better understand coral survival under the predicted rise in sea surface temperatures.

Evaluación del cumplimiento de las recomendaciones de la Resolución 0412/00 en recién nacidos atendidos en un centro de atención primaria en la ciudad de Manizales (Colombia), 2011-2012, estudio de corte transversal / Newborn assessment and monitoring the third day of life in a primary care center in the Manizales city (Colombia). 2011-2012, cross-sectional study / Avaliação da aplicação das recomendações da Resolução 0412/00 em recém nascidos em um centro de atenção primaria na cidade de Manizales (Colômbia) 2011-2012, estudo de corte transversal

Objetivo: Evaluar la evolución del recién nacido según los cuidados de puericultura citados en la Resolución 0412 del Ministerio de la Protección Social (Colombia) al momento del nacimiento y al tercer día de nacido. Materiales y métodos: Es un estudio de corte transversal retrospectivo, que se realizó con datos obtenidos de 1202 historias clínicas de atención al nacimiento y control al tercer día en el año 2012 de niños nacidos en el centro ASSBASALUD ESE (Manizales, Colombia). Se evaluaron variables de la madre, variables del parto, variables del neonato al nacimiento y al 3° día. Resultados: La edad promedio de la madre de 23 años, el 95,1% asistieron a los controles prenatales. Al momento del nacimiento se encontró que al 98.8% de los recién nacidos se les colocó brazalete de identificación, también al 98,4% de los RN se les aplicó las vacunas (BCG, anti-hepatitis B), en el 83,9% de los partos se realizó un pinzamiento tardío del cordón umbilical; al 99,6% profilaxis ocular, 99,7% profilaxis muñón umbilical. Al control del tercer día se observó que el 13,4% de los recién nacidos presentaron ictericia, el 3,8% presentaron anormalidades al examen físico siendo la conjuntivitis la más frecuente con un 0,7% y el 90,1% asistieron a este control. Conclusiones: En los hallazgos de esta investigación se concluye que en los cuidados que se le brinda a esta población, se cumplen los parámetros establecidos por la Resolución 0412 del Ministerio de la Protección Social de la República de Colombia.

Objective: Evaluate the evolution of newborn care as childcare resolution 0412 cited in Ministry of Social Protection at birth and on the third day of life. Materials and methods: This is a retrospective cross-sectional study, which was performed with 1202 data from medical records of birth care and control on the third day in 2012 children born in the center ASSBASALUD ESE (Manizales, Colombia). The study evaluated 37 variables were classified as maternal variables, birth variables, and NB variables to 3 days. Results: The average age of the mother of 23 years, 95.1% attended prenatal care. At birth it was found that 100% of infants were placed identification bracelet, also at 100% of newborns were administered vaccines (vsg, hepatitis B), 83.9% of births performed delayed cord clamping. The control of the third day was observed that 13.4% of the newborns had jaundice, 3.8% of the newborns had abnormalities on physical examination remain the most frequent conjunctivitis with 0.7% and 90, 1% attended this control. Conclusions: In the findings of this research concludes that ASSBASALUD ESE institution meets the parameters of 0412 resolution of health and social protection ministry of the Colombian republic.

Objetivo: Avaliar a evolução do recém nascido segundo as recomendações de puericultura da resolução 0412 do Ministério da Proteção Social (Colômbia) no momento do nascimento e ao terceiro dia de nascido. Materiais e Métodos: Estudo de coorte transversal-retrospectivo o qual foi feito em 2012 com dados obtidos de 1202 historias clinicas de atenção ao nascimento e controle ao terceiro dia, de crianças nascidos no centro ASSBASALUD ESE (Manizales, Colômbia). Foram avaliadas variáveis da mãe, de parto, do neonato ao nascimento e ao terceiro dia. Resultados: A idade meia das mães foi de 23 anos; o 95% tiveram controles pré-natais. Ao momento do nascimento, o 98.8% dos recém nascidos tinham pulseira de identificação, o 98.4% tinham vacinas (BCG, anti-hepatitis B); o 83.9% tinham pinçamento tardio do cordão umbilical; o 99.6% profilaxia ocular e o 99.7% profilaxia do cordão umbilical. No controle do terceiro dia (90,1% das crianças) se observou que o 13,4% dos recém nascidos apresentaram icterícia. Além disso, o 3.8% apresentaram anormalidades ao exame físico, sendo a conjuntivites a mais frequente (0,7%). Conclusões: Os dados deste estúdio concluem que os cuidados que são oferecidos a esta população cumprem os parâmetros estabelecidos pela resolução 0412 do Ministério da Proteção Social da Republica da Colômbia.

Temporal patterns in coral reef, seagrass and mangrove communities from Chengue bay CARICOMP site (Colombia): 1993-2008

Few monitoring programs have simultaneously assessed the dynamics of linked marine ecosystems (coral reefs, seagrass beds and mangroves) to document their temporal and spatial variability. Based on CARICOMP protocol we evaluated permanent stations in coral reefs, seagrass beds and mangroves from 1993 to 2008 in Chengue Bay at the Tayrona Natural Park, Colombian Caribbean. Overall, the studied ecosystems showed a remarkable stability pattern over the monitoring period. While there were annual variations in coral reefs (coral cover) and mangroves (litterfall) caused by hurricane Lenny in 1999, particular trends in seagrass (leaf area index and leaf productivity) appear to reflect the natural variability in this ecosystem. We suggest that monitoring sites at the three marine ecosystems had in general a healthy development in the last 16 years. Our results are critical to locally improve the management strategies (Tayrona Natural Park) and to understand the long-term dynamics of closely associated marine ecosystems in the Caribbean. Rev. Biol. Trop. 58 (Suppl. 3): 45-62. Epub 2010 October 01.

Pocos programas de monitoreo han estudiado simultáneamente la dinámica de ecosistemas marinos estrechamente relacionados (arrecifes coralinos, pastos marinos y manglares) para documentar su variabilidad espacial y temporal. Siguiendo el protocolo de monitoreo del programa CARICOMP, estaciones permanentes de monitoreo en estos ecosistemas fueron evaluadas entre 1993 y 2008 en la Bahía de Chengue del Parque Nacional Natural Tayrona (Caribe Colombiano). En general los ecosistemas monitoreados han presentado un patrón de estabilidad durante los años de estudio. Mientras los arrecifes coralinos (cobertura de coral) y manglares tuvieron algunas variaciones anuales debidas al paso del huracán Lenny en 1999, los pastos marinos registraron tendencias particulares de cambio (índicece de área foliar y productividad de hojas) que podrían estar reflejando la variabilidad natural de la pradera estudiada.Por lo tanto se sugiere que los sitios monitoreados en cada ecosistema han tenido un desarrollo saludable en los últimos 16 años. Estos resultados son importantes para mejorar localmente las estrategias de manejo (Parque Nacional Natural Tayrona) y para evaluar la dinámica a largo plazo en los ecosistemas marinos del Caribe.

Temporal patterns in coral reef, seagrass and mangrove communities from Chengue bay CARICOMP site (Colombia): 1993-2008.

Few monitoring programs have simultaneously assessed the dynamics of linked marine ecosystems (coral reefs, seagrass beds and mangroves) to document their temporal and spatial variability. Based on CARICOMP protocol we evaluated permanent stations in coral reefs, seagrass beds and mangroves from 1993 to 2008 in Chengue Bay at the Tayrona Natural Park, Colombian Caribbean. Overall, the studied ecosystems showed a remarkable stability pattern over the monitoring period. While there were annual variations in coral reefs (coral cover) and mangroves (litterfall) caused by hurricane Lenny in 1999, particular trends in seagrass (leaf area index and leaf productivity) appear to reflect the natural variability in this ecosystem. We suggest that monitoring sites at the three marine ecosystems had in general a healthy development in the last 16 years. Our results are critical to locally improve the management strategies (Tayrona Natural Park) and to understand the long-term dynamics of closely associated marine ecosystems in the Caribbean.