ORCID Profile
0000-0003-1363-4195
Current Organisation
University of Southampton
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Publisher: ZappyLab, Inc.
Date: 07-03-2020
DOI: 10.17504/PROTOCOLS.IO.BDC8I2ZW
Abstract: This method for extracting protein from ground coral s les is based on the Bradford assay for the colorimetric detection and quantification of total protein (Bradford, 1976) and is compared to a known standard dilution of bovine serum albumin (BSA). Pierce Inc. and Bio-Rad have developed the reagents and standards necessary for completing the extraction. There are five parts to quantifying total soluble protein in ground corals: 1) grind and sub-s le the coral and store at -80 °C until ready to extract, 2) solubilize protein via cell disruption [detergent lysis and freeze-thaw lysis], 3) separate the dissolved protein from tissue and skeletal particles, 4) quantify the protein concentration via Bradford microassay procedure, and 5) standardize the protein concentration to ash-free dry weight (AFDW). This method was originally developed by Rowan McLachlan with the assistance of Jamie Price and Kerri Dobson and with the guidance of Dr. Noah Weisleder and Andréa Grottoli at The Ohio State University. This protocol was written by Rowan McLachlan and reviewed by all co-authors.
Publisher: ZappyLab, Inc.
Date: 19-03-2020
DOI: 10.17504/PROTOCOLS.IO.BDYAI7SE
Abstract: This protocol outlines a method for quantifying the total biomass of Scleractinian coral s les which have been ground into a homogenous paste consisting of aragonite skeleton, coral host tissue, and endosymbiotic Symbiodiniaceae cells. There are four parts to quantifying total biomass: 1) grind coral fragments into a homogenous paste, 2) partition the biomass subs le, 3) quantify the ash-free dry weight [AFDW], and 4) standardize AFDW to the colony surface area. This method has been reported in several publications by Grottoli's team (e.g., Rodrigues & Grottoli 2007). This protocol was written by Rowan McLachlan (03-19-20) and was reviewed by all co-authors.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 04-05-2021
DOI: 10.1002/EAP.2262
Abstract: Coral bleaching is the single largest global threat to coral reefs worldwide. Integrating the erse body of work on coral bleaching is critical to understanding and combating this global problem. Yet investigating the drivers, patterns, and processes of coral bleaching poses a major challenge. A recent review of published experiments revealed a wide range of experimental variables used across studies. Such a wide range of approaches enhances discovery, but without full transparency in the experimental and analytical methods used, can also make comparisons among studies challenging. To increase comparability but not stifle innovation, we propose a common framework for coral bleaching experiments that includes consideration of coral provenance, experimental conditions, and husbandry. For ex le, reporting the number of genets used, collection site conditions, the experimental temperature offset(s) from the maximum monthly mean (MMM) of the collection site, experimental light conditions, flow, and the feeding regime will greatly facilitate comparability across studies. Similarly, quantifying common response variables of endosymbiont (Symbiodiniaceae) and holobiont phenotypes (i.e., color, chlorophyll, endosymbiont cell density, mortality, and skeletal growth) could further facilitate cross‐study comparisons. While no single bleaching experiment can provide the data necessary to determine global coral responses of all corals to current and future ocean warming, linking studies through a common framework as outlined here, would help increase comparability among experiments, facilitate synthetic insights into the causes and underlying mechanisms of coral bleaching, and reveal unique bleaching responses among genets, species, and regions. Such a collaborative framework that fosters transparency in methods used would strengthen comparisons among studies that can help inform coral reef management and facilitate conservation strategies to mitigate coral bleaching worldwide.
Publisher: PeerJ
Date: 02-11-2022
DOI: 10.7717/PEERJ.14176
Abstract: Coral reefs are declining worldwide primarily because of bleaching and subsequent mortality resulting from thermal stress. Currently, extensive efforts to engage in more holistic research and restoration endeavors have considerably expanded the techniques applied to examine coral s les. Despite such advances, coral bleaching and restoration studies are often conducted within a specific disciplinary focus, where specimens are collected, preserved, and archived in ways that are not always conducive to further downstream analyses by specialists in other disciplines. This approach may prevent the full utilization of unexpended specimens, leading to siloed research, duplicative efforts, unnecessary loss of additional corals to research endeavors, and overall increased costs. A recent US National Science Foundation-sponsored workshop set out to consolidate our collective knowledge across the disciplines of Omics, Physiology, and Microscopy and Imaging regarding the methods used for coral s le collection, preservation, and archiving. Here, we highlight knowledge gaps and propose some simple steps for collecting, preserving, and archiving coral-bleaching specimens that can increase the impact of in idual coral bleaching and restoration studies, as well as foster additional analyses and future discoveries through collaboration. Rapid freezing of s les in liquid nitrogen or placing at −80 °C to −20 °C is optimal for most Omics and Physiology studies with a few exceptions however, freezing s les removes the potential for many Microscopy and Imaging-based analyses due to the alteration of tissue integrity during freezing. For Microscopy and Imaging, s les are best stored in aldehydes. The use of sterile gloves and receptacles during collection supports the downstream analysis of host-associated bacterial and viral communities which are particularly germane to disease and restoration efforts. Across all disciplines, the use of aseptic techniques during collection, preservation, and archiving maximizes the research potential of coral specimens and allows for the greatest number of possible downstream analyses.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 19-06-2021
Publisher: PeerJ
Date: 08-07-2021
DOI: 10.7717/PEERJ.11763
Abstract: Under current climate warming predictions, the future of coral reefs is dire. With projected coral reef decline, it is likely that coral specimens for bleaching research will increasingly become a more limited resource in the future. By adopting a holistic approach through increased collaborations, coral bleaching scientists can maximize a specimen’s investigative yield, thus reducing the need to remove more coral material from the reef. Yet to expand a specimen’s utility for additional analytic methods, information on how corals are collected is essential as many methods are variably sensitive to upstream handling and processing. In an effort to identify common practices for coral collection, sacrifice, preservation, and processing in coral bleaching research, we surveyed the literature from the last 6.5 years and created and analyzed the resulting dataset of 171 publications. Since January 2014, at least 21,890 coral specimens were collected for bleaching surveys or bleaching experiments. These specimens spanned 122 species of scleractinian corals where the most frequently s led were Acropora millepora , Pocillopora damicornis , and Stylophora pistillata . Almost 90% of studies removed fragments from the reef, 6% collected skeletal cores, and 3% collected mucus specimens. The most common methods for sacrificing specimens were snap freezing with liquid nitrogen, chemical preservation (e.g., with ethanol or nucleic acid stabilizing buffer), or airbrushing live fragments. We also characterized 37 distinct methodological pathways from collection to processing of specimens in preparation for a variety of physiological, -omic, microscopy, and imaging analyses. Interestingly, almost half of all studies used only one of six different pathways. These similarities in collection, preservation, and processing methods illustrate that archived coral specimens could be readily shared among researchers for additional analyses. In addition, our review provides a reference for future researchers who are considering which methodological pathway to select to maximize the utility of coral bleaching specimens that they collect.
Location: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Location: No location found
Location: United States of America
Location: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Location: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Location: United States of America
No related grants have been discovered for Kerri Dobson.