A comparison of the thermal bleaching responses of the zoanthid Palythoa caribaeorum from three geographically different regions in south Florida

Population densities of zooxanthellae were analyzed and their genetic identity determined using PCR-DGGE analysis of the internal transcribed spacer region 2. The results showed that samples of P. caribaeorum from reefs that experienced the smallest range in annual seawater temperature released the most zooxanthellae. Seasonal comparisons revealed that winter samples lost more zooxanthellae than summer samples. P. caribaeorum harbored two genetic types of zooxanthellae, C1 and D1a. Individual colonies contained populations of only C1 or D1a, or combinations of C1 and D1a. However, these genotypic patterns did not relate latitudinal distribution nor to differences in experimental thermal tolerance.

This is the author's version of a work accepted for publication byElsevier. Changes resulting from the publishing process, including peer review, editing,corrections, structural formatting and other quality control mechanisms, may not be reflectedin this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted forpublication. A definitive version was published at www.elsevier.com/locate/jembeKemp, Dustin W., Clayton B. Cook, Todd C. LaJeunesse, and W. Randy Brooks (2006) Acomparison of the thermal bleaching responses of the zoanthid Palythoa caribaeorum fromthree geographically different regions in south Florida, Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 335:266–276 doi: 10.1016/j.jembe.2006.03.017

Florida Atlantic University. Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute contribution #1629.