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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Artículo científico |
| Language: | en |
| Published: |
iScience
2026
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| Online Access: | https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42221814/ |
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Table of Contents:
- Active host control of the internal O microenvironment in reef-building corals. Zhang, Qingfeng Bollati, Elena Pacherres, Cesar O Hughes, David J Dellisanti, Walter Ferrier-Pages, Christine Kühl, Michael The gastrovascular cavity of corals plays a central role in internal circulation, digestion, reproduction, and symbiont acquisition. However, despite its importance, our understanding of the physic-chemical characteristics and dynamic properties of this internal microenvironment remains limited. Here, we employ high-resolution microsensor measurements to investigate the vertical distribution of O within the coral gastrovascular cavity. By combining microsensor analysis with time-lapse imaging, we show that O levels inside corals are strongly affected by slow, synchronized tissue movements, suggesting a mechanism of active ventilation through modulation of cavity volume and exchange with the surrounding seawater. Together with cilia beating, these movements reduce O accumulation under light conditions and alleviate O depletion in darkness, thereby stabilizing internal O availability. These findings highlight a hitherto overlooked role of behavior in actively regulating the internal microenvironment and O status of the coral holobiont and provide critical insight into the organism-environment interactions of reef-building corals.