Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/88223
Title: Lateral light transfer ensures efficient resource distribution in symbiont-bearing corals
Authors: Larkum, Anthony William D.
Wangpraseurt, Daniel
Franklin, Jim
Szabó, Milán
Ralph, Peter J.
Kühl, Michael
Keywords: DRNTU::Science::Biological sciences
Coral Reef
Tissue Optics
Issue Date: 2014
Source: Wangpraseurt, D., Larkum, A. W. D., Franklin, J., Szabo, M., Ralph, P. J., & Kuhl, M. (2014). Lateral light transfer ensures efficient resource distribution in symbiont-bearing corals. Journal of Experimental Biology, 217, 489-498. doi:10.1242/jeb.091116
Series/Report no.: Journal of Experimental Biology
Abstract: Coral tissue optics has received very little attention in the past, although the interaction between tissue and light is central to our basic understanding of coral physiology. Here we used fibre-optic and electrochemical microsensors along with variable chlorophyll fluorescence imaging to directly measure lateral light propagation within living coral tissues. Our results show that corals can transfer light laterally within their tissues to a distance of ~2 cm. Such light transport stimulates O2 evolution and photosystem II operating efficiency in areas >0.5–1 cm away from direct illumination. Light is scattered strongly in both coral tissue and skeleton, leading to photon trapping and lateral redistribution within the tissue. Lateral light transfer in coral tissue is a new mechanism by which light is redistributed over the coral colony and we argue that tissue optical properties are one of the key factors in explaining the high photosynthetic efficiency of corals.
URI: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/88223
http://hdl.handle.net/10220/45711
ISSN: 0022-0949
DOI: 10.1242/jeb.091116
Schools: School of Biological Sciences 
Organisations: Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering
Rights: © 2014 The Author(s) (published by The Company of Biologists Ltd). This paper was published in Journal of Experimental Biology and is made available as an electronic reprint (preprint) with permission of The Company of Biologists Ltd. The published version is available at: [http://dx.doi.org/10.1242/jeb.091116]. One print or electronic copy may be made for personal use only. Systematic or multiple reproduction, distribution to multiple locations via electronic or other means, duplication of any material in this paper for a fee or for commercial purposes, or modification of the content of the paper is prohibited and is subject to penalties under law.
Fulltext Permission: open
Fulltext Availability: With Fulltext
Appears in Collections:SBS Journal Articles

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