Understanding light pollution from an epigenetic perspective

• Grant number: 22/15934-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Post-doctor
• Start date: April 27, 2023
• End date: July 06, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Genetics - Molecular Genetics and Genetics of Microorganisms
• Principal Investigator: Marcelo Visentini Kitahara
• Grantee: Kátia Cristina Cruz Capel
• Supervisor: Oren Levy
• Host Institution: Centro de Biologia Marinha (CEBIMAR). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Sebastião , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Bar-Ilan University (BIU), Israel
• Associated to the scholarship: 20/15945-4 - Daily rhythms on zooxanthellate and azooxanthellate corals, an integrative approach of gene expression, microbiome, physiology, and environmental parameters, BP.PD

Abstract

Environmental rhythms modulate the behavior and physiology of all living organisms and outcomes as cyclic phenotypes. The day/night cycle is the most noticeable cycle regulating a range of biological rhythms either by an endogenous circadian clock or by a direct response to the light:dark cycle itself. In Anthozoa, light can influence important physiological and behavioral responses, such as larval settlement and timing of reproduction. Artificial light at night, also known as ecological light pollution (ELP), can lead to the disruption of the normal circadian rhythms in corals, impacting coral-dinoflagellate symbiosis, physiology, gene expression, and reproduction. To date, it remains unknown what are the long-term effects of light pollution and if or how corals are adapting to the new environmental conditions. DNA methylation has been associated to plastic responses to environmental changes in scleractinains and might have a role for the survival of scleractinians corals living exposed to light pollution. Here we aim to investigate DNA methylation and physiology of the scleractinian Pocillopora damicornis (Pocilloporidae) living under the effect of light pollution in the Gulf of Aqaba/Eilat in comparison to specimens from non-polluted environments. Results will shed new insights into the possible role of epigenetics on coral adaptation and, ultimately, will serve as the baseline for future studies. (AU)