Dynamics of Storage Lipids during the Recovery of Partially Bleached Coral Sinularia heterospiculata

Global warming is causing the loss of coral symbionts and their bleaching. Researches of coral recovery are very important for the conservation of coral reefs. The lipidomic approach can provide detailed information about the processes that take place in the coral during bleaching and recovery. Using supercritical fluid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry, the dynamics of the main classes of storage lipids, triacylglycerols (TG) and monoalkyldiacylglycerols (MADAG), during the recovery of the octocoral Sinularia heterospiculata after heat stress (32 & DEG;C) was examined. It was shown that MADAG plays a key role in the energy balance of S. heterospiculata after heat stress. Under stress, the coral S. heterospiculata primarily consumed saturated MADAG molecular species. Changes in the profile of TG molecular species occurred only on day 16 of the experiment. Probably, the stressed octocoral S. heterospiculata changes its energy strategy during recovery; therefore, the qualitative composition of storage lipids is rearranged during the recovery period.

Automated summary

Global warming leads to the loss of coral symbionts and bleaching, which highlights the importance of coral recovery research for conservation. Lipidomic approach using supercritical fluid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry reveals the dynamics of storage lipids in coral during recovery from heat stress. The study shows that saturated monoalkyldiacylglycerols (MADAG) play a significant role in the energy balance of Sinularia heterospiculata after heat stress.