Download or read book The Effect of Caffeine on Algal Endosymbionts of Reef building Corals written by Kelly Ann Pollack and published by . This book was released on 2008 with total page 234 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The deterioration of coral reefs is a global environmental problem. Several hypotheses proposed to explain coral bleaching include UV-light exposure, global warming, exposure to intercontinental dust, and sewage pollution. Caffeine is the most widely consumed and excreted psychoactive drug in the world. It is a ubiquitous tracer of urban sewage, but its ecological effects are not well understood. This study tests the hypothesis that caffeine exposure associated with sewage discharge into natural waters exacerbates the effects of environmental stressors associated with coral bleaching. Other investigators working in vitro have reported that 25 mM (5 g/L) of caffeine causes bleaching through its effect on protein phosphorylation. Here, I report the effects of caffeine on four species of coral algae endosymbionts. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of caffeine for cell proliferation ranged from 30 mg/L for Clade C Symbiodinium goreaui (C) and Clade B Symbiodinium sp. from Pseudoterogorgia bipinnata (B7), to 50 mg/L for Clade A Symbiodinium microadriaticum (A), and 75 mg/L for Clade B Symbiodinium sp. from Aiptasia pallida (B6). To assess the effect of caffeine on algal proteins, I used two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and peptide mass spectrometry to identify sensitive proteins. Differential display analyses showed several up-regulated and several down-regulated polypeptides in response to caffeine exposure in all algae species tested. Specifically, 12 polypeptide spots upregulated and 37 polypeptide spots downregulated in C, 19 upregulated and 6 downregulated in B7, 14 upregulated and 13 downregulated in A, and 22 upregulated and 7 downregulated in B6. The results show that caffeine exposure (1) causes a reduction in growth of algal endosymbionts, (2) affects the heat shock proteins that are also associated with coral bleaching, and (3) affects the proteins associated with photosynthesis and glycolysis which are fundamental functions of healthy symbionts. These results demonstrate that my hypothesis concerning the effects of caffeine on the reef ecosystem cannot be rejected. There is a possibility that other chemicals in sewage effluent and additional environmental stressors act synergistically together to contribute to coral bleaching. The findings from this research are important to our understanding of human influence on the marine ecosystem, for improving wastewater treatment policies, and for better environmental management of a valuable ecosystem.
Download or read book A Comparative Approach to Elucidating the Physiological Respones in Symbiodinium to Changes in Temperature written by Elizabeth S. McGinty and published by . This book was released on 2014 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Coral reefs are one of the most biodiverse ecosystems, and play a large role in the functioning of oceanic and coastal ecosystems. They are currently declining around the world, largely due to the effects of climate change and local anthropogenic issues. Temperature stress in particular has been associated with significant coral mortality over the last 30 years due to adverse effects on the relationship between reef-building corals and their algal endosymbionts from the genus Symbiodinium. Periods of elevated temperature have led to the phenomenon of coral bleaching, a disruption of the symbiosis that is characterized by the loss of the algal symbionts or their pigments. Variations in bleaching responses have been observed that correlate with the identity of the algal symbiont, but the mechanisms behind these differences remain unresolved. To examine how Symbiodinium physiology may be contributing to these observed differences, eight Symbiodinium cultures, or Symbiodinium types, were exposed to elevated temperature stress, and several parameters that impact the bleaching response were measured. These included the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), the activity of antioxidants responsible for scavenging ROS, oxygen uptake rates (V́́o2) as a measure of metabolism, growth rates, and loss of the photosynthetic chlorophyll a (Chl a) pigment. Each Symbiodinium type was found to display unique responses to elevated temperature stress, demonstrating a gradient of sensitivity. Symbiodinium types that were sensitive to elevated temperatures had increased production of ROS without a corresponding increase in antioxidants to scavenge them, increases in V́́o2, and decreases in growth rate concomitant with a loss in Chl a at relatively low temperatures. Tolerant attributes were found in other Symbiodinium types including low production of reactive oxygen, sometimes coupled with higher activity of antioxidants, stable V́́o2 and continued growth at relatively higher temperatures, and resistance to loss of the Chl a. In addition, the functional differences of intact associations from four coral species collected in La Parguera, Puerto Rico, were examined with regard to host and symbiont factors linked to resistance to bleaching and disease. Components of the melanin cascade in host tissue can confer resistance to bleaching as well as being important factors in the immune response, and antioxidant activity of both the host and symbiont have a role in preventing damage due to ROS produced by symbionts and by the host during the melanin cascade. Significant differences were found among different coral-Symbiodinium associations, and correlations were found in coral-Symbiodinium responses, including symbiont antioxidant activity and host melanin cascade. This indicates that each partner in the relationship can significantly influence the response of the other to environmental stress and pathogens. The culmination of this research demonstrates that the Symbiodinium stress response is a complex interaction of the stability of their metabolism, disruption to their photosynthetic apparatus, and influences from their host when in symbiosis. As temperatures increase, some types of Symbiodinium are physiologically robust, some are able to compensate, and others are negatively affected. These results suggest that stressors such as elevated temperature may also be influencing the relationship between the host and symbiont, potentially shifting the relationship from a mutualism to a parasitism.
Download or read book Dissertation Abstracts International written by and published by . This book was released on 2009 with total page 810 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Environmental Stressors and the Destabilization of Coral Reef Symbiosis written by Kelly Ann Pollack and published by . This book was released on 2004 with total page 170 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Carbon Cycling in the Caribbean Reef building Coral Orbicella Quantitative Evidence for Enzymatic Control of Skeletal Density Banding and Coral endosymbiont Physiological Plasticity During Seasonal Environmental Change written by and published by . This book was released on 2014 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Environmental Microbiology of Aquatic and Waste Systems written by Nduka Okafor and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2011-06-21 with total page 311 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book places the main actors in environmental microbiology, namely the microorganisms, on center stage. Using the modern approach of 16S ribosomal RNA, the book looks at the taxonomy of marine and freshwater bacteria, fungi, protozoa, algae, viruses, and the smaller aquatic animals such as nematodes and rotifers, as well as at the study of unculturable aquatic microorganisms (metagenomics). The peculiarities of water as an environment for microbial growth, and the influence of aquatic microorganisms on global climate and global recycling of nitrogen and sulphur are also examined. The pollution of water is explored in the context of self-purification of natural waters. Modern municipal water purification and disease transmission through water are discussed. Alternative methods for solid waste disposal are related to the economic capability of a society. Viruses are given special attention. By focusing on the basics, this primer will appeal across a wide range of disciplines.
Download or read book Photosynthesis in Algae Biochemical and Physiological Mechanisms written by Anthony W.D. Larkum and published by Springer Nature. This book was released on 2020-06-03 with total page 534 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Algae, including cyanobacteria, are in the spotlight today for a number of reasons; firstly it has become abundantly clear over recent years that algae have been neglected in terms of basic research and that knowledge gap is being rapidly closed with the establishment of some surprising discoveries, such as the presence of Near-Infra-Red-Absorbing cyanobacteria and a wealth of natural products; secondly molecular approaches have provided a wealth of approaches to genetically modify algae and produce value-added products; thirdly it has become clear just how important, marine phytoplankton is to global carbon capture and the production of food globally; and fourthly, it has also become clear that algae present unparalleled opportunities to generate biofuels in a sustainable and non-polluting way. This volume presents 15 chapters by world experts on their subjects, ranging from reviews of algal diversity and genetics to in-depth reviews of special algal groups such as diatoms (which account for over 30% of marine carbon capture). Other chapters chart the ways in which this carbon capture occurs or how there are a multiplicity of ways in which algae intercept sun light and deploy this energy for carbon capture. A fascinating aspect here is the way in which sun light is harvested. A special chapter is devoted to the very recent and exciting possibility that algae use coherent light energy transformation to enhance the efficiency of light capture, an aspect of quantum physics that has implications for future developments at several levels and a variety of industries. Just how and why algae use Chlorophyll a as the major light capture pigment is discussed in several chapters. However, attention is also given to those cyanobacteria, which have been found to use the special Near-Infra Red absorbing chlorophylls mentioned above. And attention is also given to those algae that employ phycobiliproteins to fill in the “green window”, i.e., the spectral region from 400 – 650 nm, which is not efficiently covered by chlorophyll and carotenoid pigments. Photoinhibition and photoprotection is the subject area of several chapters and one which it is essential to understand a we work towards greater efficiency of algal photosynthesis. A final chapter is devoted to understanding the molecular basis for coral bleaching, a much-neglected area that is essential in trying to come up with solutions to this very worrying phenomenon, caused by global warming and ocean acidification. This is a book for research scientists, environmentalists, planners in a range of areas including those of marine resources, nutrient control and pollution of water bodies and that growing body of concerned citizens interested in controlling carbon emissions and global warming. Special attention has been given to generating a set of articles that will be read by university students, informed laymen and all those whose wish to understand the rapid changes that have come about in our knowledge of algae over the past decade.
Download or read book Algal Chemical Ecology written by Charles D. Amsler and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2007-11-03 with total page 322 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Yet another Springer world-beater, this is the first ever book devoted to the chemical ecology of algae. It covers both marine and freshwater habitats and all types of algae, from seaweeds to phytoplankton. While the book emphasizes the ecological rather than chemical aspects of the field, it does include a unique introductory chapter that serves as a primer on algal natural products chemistry.
Download or read book The Gastro Archeologist written by Jeremy Woodward and published by Springer. This book was released on 2022-02-18 with total page 304 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In order to understand common conditions such as coeliac disease and Crohn’s disease, one must view the gut in its evolutionary context. This is the novel approach to the gut and its diseases that is adopted in this book. The first part tells the story of the evolution of the gut itself – why it came about and how it has influenced the evolution of animals ever since. The second part focuses on the evolution of immunity and how the layers of immune mechanisms are retained in the gut, resembling the strata revealed in an archeological dig. The final part, ‘The Gastro-Archeologist’, ties the first two together and highlights how understanding the gut and immune system in their evolutionary context can help us understand diseases affecting them. Ambitious in its scope but telling a unique story from a refreshingly novel perspective, the book offers an informative and enjoyable read. As the story of the gut, immunity and disease unfolds, the author aims to endow readers with the same sense of awe and excitement that the subject evokes in him. Difficult concepts are illustrated using simple and colourful analogies, and the main content is supplemented with anecdotes and unusual and amusing facts throughout the book. The book is intended for anyone with an interest in the gut, its immunity and diseases, ranging from school and college biology and biomedical students, to professionals working in the field, and to patients suffering from intestinal diseases who want to understand more about their conditions.
Download or read book Chemical Evolution written by Bernd Markert and published by Springer. This book was released on 2015-02-19 with total page 295 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book is written for researchers and students interested in the function and role of chemical elements in biological or environmental systems. Experts have long known that the Periodic System of Elements (PSE) provides only an inadequate chemical description of elements of biological, environmental or medicinal importance. This book explores the notion of a Biological System of the Elements (BSE) established on accurate and precise multi-element data, including evolutionary aspects, representative sampling procedures, inter-element relationships, the physiological function of elements and uptake mechanisms. The book further explores the concept Stoichiometric Network Analysis (SNA) to analyze the biological roles of chemical species. Also discussed is the idea of ecotoxicological identity cards which give a first-hand description of properties relevant for biological and toxicological features of a certain chemical element and its geo biochemically plausible speciation form. The focus of this book goes beyond both classical bioinorganic chemistry and toxicology.
Download or read book Lehninger Principles of Biochemistry written by David L. Nelson and published by Macmillan. This book was released on 2008-02 with total page 1303 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Authors Dave Nelson and Mike Cox combine the best of the laboratory and best of the classroom, introducing exciting new developments while communicating basic principles of biochemistry.
Download or read book Marine and Industrial Biofouling written by Hans-Curt Flemming and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2008-12-11 with total page 330 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Biofouling is a costly problem, and it is encountered in a wide spectrum of technical systems, ranging from the shipping industry, power industry, water purification, automobile industry, paint and pharmaceuticals, to the microelectronics and food industries. Micro- and macroorganisms attach to surfaces and accumulate there, forming biofilms that cause interferences – a fundamentally natural process. Usually, a medical paradigm is applied: kill biofilms and the problem is solved. This leads to excessive biocide use. However, the success of this strategy is very limited; furthermore it leads to equipment damage and environmental pollution. Simply trying to kill the fouling organisms is clearly not seen as a successful strategy while cleaning is put forward as much more important. In this book, strategies to prevent adhesion, to mitigate the extent and effects of biofouling, and to detect and remove fouling layers are presented. Holistic approaches to the fouling process are elaborated, taking into account options such as nutrient limitation, repellent and easy-to-clean surfaces for fouling layer limitation, and replacing biocides with more environmentally friendly methods – in other words: learning how to live with fouling biofilms without suffering the damage they can do.
Download or read book Lehninger Principles of Biochemistry written by Albert L. Lehninger and published by Macmillan. This book was released on 2005 with total page 1256 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: CD-ROM includes animations, living graphs, biochemistry in 3D structure tutorials.
Download or read book Fundamentals of Ecosystem Science written by Kathleen C. Weathers and published by Elsevier. This book was released on 2021-07-26 with total page 358 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Fundamentals of Ecosystem Science, Second Edition provides a comprehensive introduction to modern ecosystem science covering land, freshwater and marine ecosystems. Featuring full color images to support learning and written by a group of experts, this updated edition covers major concepts of ecosystem science, biogeochemistry, and energetics. Case studies of important environmental problems offer personal insights into how adopting an ecosystem approach has helped solve important intellectual and practical problems. For those choosing to use the book in a classroom environment, or who want to enrich further their reading experience, teaching and learning assets are available at Elsevier.com. Covers both aquatic (freshwater and marine) and terrestrial ecosystems with updated information Includes a new chapter on microbial biogeochemistry Features vignettes throughout the book with real examples of how an ecosystem approach has led to important change in policy, management, and ecological understanding Demonstrates the application of an ecosystem approach in synthesis chapters and case studies Contains new coverage of human-environment interactions
Download or read book Host Microbe Interactions written by and published by Academic Press. This book was released on 2016-08-03 with total page 346 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Host-Microbe Interactions, the latest volume in the Progress in Molecular Biology series, provides a forum for the discussion of new discoveries, approaches, and ideas in molecular biology. It contains contributions from leaders in their respective fields, along with abundant references. This volume is dedicated to the subject of host-microbe interactions. Provides the latest research on host-microbe interactions, including new discoveries, approaches, and ideas Contains contributions from leading authorities on topics relating to molecular biology Informs and updates on all the latest developments in the field
Download or read book Microbial Physiology written by Albert G. Moat and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2003-03-31 with total page 715 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Fourth Edition of Microbial Physiology retains the logical, easy-to-follow organization of the previous editions. An introduction to cell structure and synthesis of cell components is provided, followed by detailed discussions of genetics, metabolism, growth, and regulation for anyone wishing to understand the mechanisms underlying cell survival and growth. This comprehensive reference approaches the subject from a modern molecular genetic perspective, incorporating new insights gained from various genome projects.
Download or read book Invertebrate Medicine written by Gregory A. Lewbart and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2011-09-20 with total page 532 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Invertebrate Medicine, Second Edition offers a thorough update to the most comprehensive book on invertebrate husbandry and veterinary care. Including pertinent biological data for invertebrate species, the book’s emphasis is on providing state-of-the-art information on medicine and the clinical condition. Invertebrate Medicine, Second Edition is an invaluable guide to the medical care of both captive and wild invertebrate animals. Coverage includes sponges, jellyfish, anemones, corals, mollusks, starfish, sea urchins, crabs, crayfish, lobsters, shrimp, hermit crabs, spiders, scorpions, and many more, with chapters organized by taxonomy. New chapters provide information on reef systems, honeybees, butterfly houses, conservation, welfare, and sources of invertebrates and supplies. Invertebrate Medicine, Second Edition is an essential resource for veterinarians in zoo animal, exotic animal and laboratory animal medicine; public and private aquarists; and aquaculturists.
