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APPLICATION OF A NEW MICROCULTURING TECHNIQUE TO ASSESS THE EFFECTS OF TEMPERATURE AND SALINITY ON SPECIFIC GROWTH RATES OF SIX SYMBIODINIUM ISOLATES
Citation:
ROGERS, JOHNE E. AND R. H. DAVIS. APPLICATION OF A NEW MICROCULTURING TECHNIQUE TO ASSESS THE EFFECTS OF TEMPERATURE AND SALINITY ON SPECIFIC GROWTH RATES OF SIX SYMBIODINIUM ISOLATES. BULLETIN OF MARINE SCIENCE 79(1):113-126, (2006).
Impact/Purpose:
In this study we developed and employed a new micro-culturing technique to examine the effects of temperature and salinity stress on the growth of several Symbiodinium isolates.
Description:
A simple micro-culturing technique is described for determining specific growth rates of cultured Symbiodinium spp. Micro-cultures were prepared by transferring 200 L fresh test medium containing 2–10 Symbiodinium cells to wells of a flat bottom 96-well plate. Cultures were incubated undisturbed to eliminate potential adverse effects of mixing or agitation. Specific growth rates were determined from daily cell counts obtained using an inverted microscope. Sufficient data for the calculation of specific growth rates were collected in 7–10 d. Specific growth rates approached the theoretical maximum of one division per day for inoflagellates. Similar growth rates also were observed with undisturbed 30 ml cultures prepared in sealed polyethylene sample bags. However, bag cultures that were mixed daily exhibited no growth; when daily mixing was stopped, cultures grew at rates similar to undisturbed bag cultures indicating that undisturbed cultures were optimal for Symbiodinium growth. The micro-culturing technique was used to examine the effects of temperature and salinity on the growth of six Symbiodinium spp. Growth was differentially affected by incubation temperatures of 27, 29, 31, 33, and 35 degrees C as well as by culture medium having salinities of 10, 15, 20, 25, 35, 40, and 45. This micro-culturing technique offers a relatively rapid approach for conducting growth studies with Symbiodinium spp.