Dataset: Coral histology

Name: Histological analysis of Caribbean acroporid corals collected in September 2014 before and after exposure to thermal stress in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands.
Published: 2019-01-08
Keywords: oceans

Cite This Dataset

DOI:10.26008/1912/bco-dmo.752550.1

Spatial Extent: N:18.31701 E:-64.98923 S:18.31701 W:-64.98923

Temporal Extent: 2014-09-20 - 2014-09-22

Project:

Collaborative research: Is hybridization among threatened Caribbean coral species the key to their survival or the harbinger of their extinction? (Coral Hybridization)

Principal Investigator:

Nicole Fogarty (Nova Southeastern University)

BCO-DMO Data Manager:

Mathew Biddle (Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, WHOI BCO-DMO)

Version:

Version Date:

2019-01-08

Restricted:

Validated:

Yes

Current State:

Final no updates expected

Histological analysis of Caribbean acroporid corals collected in September 2014 before and after exposure to thermal stress in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands.

Abstract:

Histological analysis of Caribbean acroporid corals collected in September 2014 before and after exposure to thermal stress in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands.

Expand/Collapse All

Archival Copy

Version Date	Archive	Persistent Identifier	Date Assigned
2019-01-08	Marine Biological Laboratory/Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Library (MBLWHOI DLA)	10.26008/1912/bco-dmo.752550.1	2021-01-20

Description

A pilot project was conducted in the St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands to examine the effects of thermal stress on the three acroporid taxon.

Methods & Sampling

Two 10 cm fragments (1 for control tank and 1 for treatment tank) from five colonies of each acroporid taxon were collected from Flat Cay the day prior to the experiment and left under ambient temperature conditions overnight. Tissue samples (2cm) were collected immediately prior to and immediately after the experiment and preserved in a Z-Fix Concentrate: seawater (1:4) solution. One fragment (putative genotype) from each taxon was placed in a control tank (n=5) and one was placed in a treatment tanks (n=5). Powerheads that were slightly tilted out of the water to provide aeration and water movement were placed in all tanks. The ambient tanks were placed in a large tank with constant flowing seawater that served as a water bath. The five treatment tanks, each with an individual heater, were place in a neighboring large tank with no running seawater. All tanks were under a covered porch, but exposed to ambient light conditions.

A Hobo temperature logger was placed in each tank and a water temperature measurement was collected every 30 seconds. The control tanks ranged from 27.5 to 29.4C with an average of 28.2C and the heated tanks ranged from 29.1 to 32.7C with an average of 31.3C over the 48 hour experimental period.

Data Processing Description

The semi-quantitative rubric was designed by Dr. Esther Peters for the histological analysis.

Data legend:
ND = No Data
NS = not enough tissue to determine, not seen

Lesion Description:
H = healthy
WBD = white band disease
RTL = rapid tissue loss
BL = bleaching

Bleaching:
0 = none
1 = paling
2 = bleaching

Bleaching Distribution:
1 = focal
2 = multifocal distinct
3 = multifocal indistinct
4 = diffuse

Condition Scores:
0 = excellent
1 = very good
2 = good
3 = fair
4 = poor
5 = very poor

Intensity/Severity Scores:
0 = no change
1 = minimal
2 = mild
3 = moderate
4 = marked
5 = severe

Other:
P = present
A = absent
SI = staining issue
NS = not seen
N/A = not available
N = no

Epidermal mucocytes:
0 = not larger than ciliated columnar cells, uniform distribution
1 = slightly hypertrophied, numerous
2 = many hypertophied, abundant mucus release
3 = uneven, hypertrophied vs reduced
4 = atrophy, necrosis, and epidermal foci lacking mucocytes
5 = atrophy and most mucocytes lacking

Mesenterial Filament (CGB Epithelium) Mucocytes:
0 = none to few
1 = less than 1/2 area, not hypertrophied
2 = about 1/2 area, some hypertrophied
3 = about 1/2 area, all hypertrophied
4 = about 3/4/ area, some vacuolated
5 = much of area vacuolated, necrotic, loss of mucocytes

Calicodermis Condition:
0 = cells squamous but "thick," cover mesoglea
1 = cells slightly atrophied in some foci
2 = 1/2 of cells atrophied
3 = Most cells atrophied, beginning separation from mesoglea
4 = Cells atrophied and loss or sloughing present

Costal Tissue Loss:
0 = none, tissue over costae intact
1 = a few gaps noted
2 = 1/4 of costae exposed
3 = 1/2 of costae exposed
4 = 3/4 of costae exposed
5 = Most costae exposed, tissues attenuated, retracted?

Oocytes:
0 - none present
1 - single cells in mesoglea
2 - early oocytes
3 - mid-development
4 - mature
5 - spawned

Spermaries:
0 - none present
1 - clusters of single cells in mesoglea
2 - few, early spermaries
3 - numerous spermaries, spermatocytes
4 - mature, spermatozoa
5 - spawne

BCO-DMO Processing Notes:

added conventional header with dataset name, PI name, version date
modified parameter names to conform with BCO-DMO naming conventions
added lat, lon columns

Data Files

File
coral_histology.csv (Comma Separated Values (.csv), 19.65 KB) MD5:64bd6394ee50ac010254b832215fe616 Primary data file for dataset ID 752550

More Information about this dataset

Funding Sources

Funding Source	Award Number
NSF Division of Ocean Sciences	OCE-1538469

Deployments

None available yet

Instruments

Temperature Logger

Supplied Name: Hobo Pro v2 data logger

Supplied Description:

A Hobo temperature logger was placed in each tank and a water temperature measurement was collected every 30 seconds.

Instrument Type

Generic Name: Temperature Logger

Generic Description:

Records temperature data over a period of time.

Parameters

Date and time formats are described in python strftime() syntax.

Supplied Name	Supplied description	Supplied Units	Standard Name
Enrobing	Was the sample enrobbed in agarose gel to preserve the oritentation of cells and tissues while processing and embedding the sample? (Typically required if there is tissue sloughing on the sample)	unitless	sample_descrip
In_situ_Photo	Was a photograph taken during the experiment? (Y or N)	unitless	sample_descrip
Gross_Photo_Fixed_Sample	Was a photograph taken after the sample was preserved? (Y or N)	unitless	sample_descrip
Decal	The solution used to decalcifiy the coral skeleton	unitless	sample_descrip
Number_of_Blocks_Made	The number of samples embedded in paraffin to be sectioned and mounted on slides	unitless	sample_descrip
Sample_Number	The assigned unique identifier	unitless	sample
Study	Study title	unitless	sample_descrip
Histo_Number	Sample number	unitless	sample
Fixation	preservative used (Zfix:seawater in 1:4)	unitless	sample_descrip
Piece_Number	Pre= collected before experiment; Post= collected after experiment	unitless	sample_descrip
Collector	PI on project	unitless	person
General_Condition_10x	Observed tissue condition at 10x maginfication. Combines all parameters into a general score- 0=Excellent; 1= very good; 2= good; 3 =fair; 4 = poor; 5= very poor	unitless	sample_descrip
Zooxanthellae_10x	Observed symbiont (zooxanthellae) condition at 10x magnification. 0=Excellent; 1= very good; 2= good; 3 =fair; 4 = poor; 5= very poor. Scores related to the number of zooxanthellae present and their overall apperance (atrophy or hypertrophy).	unitless	sample_descrip
Mesenterial_Filament_Mucocytes	Observed mucocyte condition in the cnidoglandular band area of mesenterial filaments. These are the internal longtiduinal partitions of tissue that provide structual support and increase surface area within the gastrovacular cavity. These regions aid in digestive processes and gonad development. 0=Excellent; 1= very good; 2= good; 3 =fair; 4 = poor; 5= very poor	unitless	sample_descrip
Costal_Tissue_Loss	Observed condition of tissue over the costal ridges (extensions of the septa of the corallite); 0 = none; tissue over costae intact; 1 = a few gaps noted; 2 = 1/4 of costae exposed; 3 = 1/2 of costae exposed; 4 = 3/4 of costae exposed; 5 = Most costae exposed; tissues attenuated; retracted	unitless	sample_descrip
Epidermal_Mucocytes_Condition	Observed condition of the unicellular secretory gland cells that secrete mucus through an apical pore to aid in protection; sediment removal; and feeding. Epidermal mucocytes are those found in the epidermis; the outermost tissue layer in corals. Condition of mucocytes; 0 - not larger than ciliated columnar cells; uniform distribution; 1 - slightly hypertrophied; numerous; 2 - many hypertophied; abundant mucus release; 3 - uneven; hypertrophied and/or reduced in number; 4 - atrophy; necrosis; and epidermal foci lacking mucocytes; 5 - atrophy and most mucocytes lacking	unitless	sample_descrip
Degeneration_Cnidoglandular_Bands	Observed condition of the free edge or middle ridge of the mesentary in the gastrovascular cavity. Scores related to reduction in cell height or number of cells; and atrophy of the epithelium in the cnidoglandular band. 0=Excellent; 1= very good; 2= good; 3 =fair; 4 = poor; 5= very poor	unitless	sample_descrip
Calicodermis_Condition	Observed condition of the basal surface lining epithelium which contains calicoblasts- cells responsible for secreting a matrix to promote crystallization of calcium carbonate; thus assiting in the formation of coral skeleton. 0 = cells squamous but "thick;" cover mesoglea; 1 = cells slightly atrophied in some foci; 2 = 1/2 of cells atrophied; 3 = Most cells atrophied; beginning separation from mesoglea; 4 = Cells atrophied and loss or sloughing present; 5 = Multifocal necrosis or sloughing of atrophied cells or absent on mesoglea	unitless	sample_descrip
Dissociation_of_Mesenterial_Filaments	Observed condition of cells in the mesenterial filaments. Scores related to loss of cells and atrophy of cells. 0 - none to few; 1 - less than 1/2 area; not hypertrophied; 2 - about 1/2 area; some hypertrophied; 3 - about 1/2 area; all hypertrophied; 4 - about 3/4/ area; some vacuolated; 5 - much of area vacuolated; necrotic; loss of mucocytes	unitless	sample_descrip
Number_Stained_with_H_E	Number of slides stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stain	count	count
Number_of_Slides_Made	Number of slides made from each block	count	count
Coccidia	Number of single-celled intracellular parasites belonging to apicomplexans observed.	count	count
Filament_RLOs	Number of Rickettsia-like organisms observed within the mesentary filaments.	count	count
Gastrodermal_RLOs	Number of Rickettsia-like organisms observed within the gastrodermis.	count	count
Epidermal_RLOs	Number of Rickettsia-like organisms observed in the epidermal tissue layers.	count	count
WBD_Bacterial_Aggregates	Number of bacterial aggregates associated with white band disease observed.	count	count
Surface_Bacteria	Number of bacteria present on the outer epidermal layer.	count	count
Embed	Medium used to embed tissue sample	unitless	sample_descrip
Sample_Type	location within coral colony	unitless	sample_type
Spermaries_Stage_in_Development	Location of developing spermatozoa in the mesentaries. 0 - none present; 1 - clusters of single cells in mesoglea; 2 - few; early spermaries; 3 - numerous spermaries; spermatocytes; 4 - mature; spermatozoa; 5 - spawned	unitless	sample_descrip
Calicodermis_Repair	Is there evidence of repair of the calicodermis? Are there columnar calicoblasts with extensions of plasmallema present? (Present = 1; Not Present = 0)	unitless	sample_descrip
Tissue_Loss	Is the skeleton void of tissue? (Y or N)	unitless	sample_descrip
Lesion_Description	Healthy (apparently) (H); White band disease (WBD); Rapid tissue loss (RTL); Bleaching (BL)	unitless	sample_descrip
Oocytes_Stage_in_Development	Egg cells found in the mesentaries: 0 - none present; 1 - single cells in mesoglea; 2 - early oocytes; 3 - mid-development; 4 - mature; 5 - spawned	unitless	sample_descrip
Sample_Location	Collection location (18.31701 -64.98923)	unitless	site_descrip
Field_or_Lab_Number	assigned coral identifier	unitless	site
Necrotic_Cell_Spherules	Are there signs of necrotic (dying) cell or group of cells present? (Present = 1; Not Present = 0)	unitless	sample_descrip
Non_zooxanthellate_Ciliates	Are single-celled protozoans with hair-like organelles called cilia present in other locations of sample? (Present = 1; Not Present = 0)	unitless	sample_descrip
Zooxanthellate_Ciliates	Are single-celled protozoans with hair-like organelles called cilia observed with zooxanthellae? (Present = 1; Not Present = 0)	unitless	sample_descrip
Collection_Notes	anything notable about photographs	unitless	no_bcodmo_term
Other_Stains	Additional stains used on samples (Yes = Stain specified or N = No)	unitless	sample_descrip
Lab	Academic affiliation	unitless	responsible_entity
Species	A.cerv = Acropora cervicornis; A.pal = Acropora palmata; A. pro = Acropora prolifera	unitless	species
lon	longitude coordinates with East positive	decimal degrees	lon
lat	latitude coordinates with North positive	decimal degrees	lat
Date_Collected	coral collection date in MM/DD/YY format	unitless	date
Colony_Bleaching_Distribution	1 = Focal; 2 = Multifocal Distinct; 3 = Multifocal Indistinct; 4 = Diffuse	unitless	sample_descrip
Bleaching	0 = No; 1 = Paling; 2 = Bleaching	unitless	sample_descrip

Database

Contribute Data

Dataset: Coral histology