Identification of symbiotic zooxanthellae clades of sclerectinian coral species by PCR method in intertidal pools, Hengam Island-Persian Gulf

Subject Areas : New Technologies in Aquaculture Development

Received: 2020-01-08 Accepted : 2020-01-08 Published : 2011-05-22

Keywords: PCR, Persian Gulf, Hengam Island, Scleractinian corals, Symbiotic zooxanthellae,

Abstract :

Considering the importance of Zooxanthellae in bleaching phenomenon, and in order to understand the correlation between Coral reefs and symbiosis algae in the Persian Gulf and strength of reefs against environmental conditions, Symbiotic algae were studied. Materials and Methods: Samples of coral species (Siderastrea savignyana, Coscinaraea columna, Anomastrea irregulariis, Cyphastrea serailia, and Psammocora superficialis) were collected from intertidal pools of Hengam Island in Iranian side of the Persian Gulf (south of Qeshm Island-Hormozgan province). Partial 28S nuclear ribosomal (nr) DNA of Symbiodinium were amplified by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and then PCR products were analyzed the phylogenetic analyses of the LSU DNA sequences based on PAUP and Clustal X software. Results: The results showed that there are at least two clades of Symbiodinium from Hengam Island corals, Clade D was detected from C. columna, A. irregulariis, C. serailia species while clade C just found in  S. savignyana,  P.superficialis. Conclusion: This study showed that the persistence of clade D and clade C Symbiodinium in Hengam Island is due to high environmental stresses in the intertidal pools.