Meeting Abstract

P2.35  Sunday, Jan. 5 15:30  Variation in immune response of several Caribbean octocorals to stressors STACY, C.**; MANN, W.T.; MYDLARZ, L.D.; University of Texas at Arlington; University of Texas at Arlington; University of Texas at Arlington carlen.stacy-lara@mavs.uta.edu

As ocean temperatures rise, corals are becoming increasingly susceptible to infections. As many reef-building corals are dying off, octocorals are increasing in numbers, even though many are susceptible to disease and high levels of mortality have been observed in many Caribbean species including Gorgonia ventalina (sea fan), Pseudoplexaura porosa (porous sea rod) and Briareum asbestinum (corky sea finger). In this study, we examine the individual immune responses of each aforementioned species to disease observed naturally in the field. Healthy and diseased samples were collected from La Parguera, Puerto Rico . Coral tissue was homogenized in liquid nitrogen and proteins were extracted and used in a suite of biochemical assays. We measured prophenoloxidase activity, melanin concentration antioxidant (catalase, peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase), and antimicrobial (bacterial and fungal) activities. Preliminary data indicate varying degrees of response to disease between species. G. ventalina had the most significant upregulated immune response. These results suggest that there may be differences in disease susceptibility between species that are linked to their basal immunity and immune responses to infections. Increasing our understanding of how various octocoral species react to disease and stressors in the field can provide a better picture of the structure for future octocoral reef ecosystems.