looking for instances of this sps hybrid

So, the shape, structure and color of he polyps are that of the pocillopora? Any other distinguishing features of the pocillopora in the monti?


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To answer your question, now that I'm on a computer and not my phone...

First, I'm not a currently a molecular biologist, so certainly take this with a grain of salt. However, I am trained in molecular biology and did spend a few years working as a research assistant in a molecular biology lab. At the time I primarily developed recombinant DNA systems, to study differentiation of multipotential progenitor cells and the organization of these differentiated cells into functional zebrafish retinal tissue. So, I should, at least have a reasonable understanding of the concepts involved in genetic recombination.

Based on what I know anyways, there are really only a few things that could happen. These are either non-genetic changes. I.e. a graft/chimera or genetic changes.

Non-genetic changes

- the pocillopora polyps could have grafted to the montipora. Perhaps even the coral spawned and larva settled on the new coral and little pocillopora's are trying to grow.

- There could be two corals growing together and perhaps the pocillopora is growing through the montipora. I'm not sure that there would necessarily need to be a distinct boundary for this to happen. It depends how the tissue interacts.

Genetic changes

- The two corals could be phylogenetically related or at least, there is a similar polyp structure coded in the montipora DNA. In either case, the polyp structure you are seeing is coded in the montipora DNA, however, typically that phenotype does not manifest. For some reason, possibly due to environmental cues, certain housekeeping genes have activated producing this phenotype. This would seem to be the most likely explanation if it isn't a graft or chimera. This could even be due to a change in symbionts, as symboiosis interacts at a genetic level and the host and symbionts can alter each others genetic expression. So, perhapse the monti picked up a zoox clade, or symbiotic bacteria from the pocillopora. However, it could also just be as simple as flow, lighting or temperature.

- The gene(s) for the polyp is associated with a transposon and transposed to a virus or symbiont and then to the organism. This could happen, however, for this to happen, a lot of pieces would have to occur in sequence. Also, IME, these tend not to persist past a few generations do to gene silencing events, such as DNA methylation. So, new polyp growth would likely be limited to a few replications.

-Hybridization. The two corals spawned and their gamets combined to form a hybrid species. This is very unlikely based on what you've stated and probably just very unlikely anyways ;D

 

Sounds like the class I just took.

Hmm. I'm think environmental change.

 

Thanks for the responses. I have been going stir-brained doing research all day today only to find nothing - very frustrating!

Pocillopora can reproduce by bailing out polyps, and so polyps can graft to other corals, but I'm trying to figure out how that would cause those type polyps (if they are indeed poci polyps which is what they look like) to grow out as the only type polyps on the new growth areas of the Ig monti undata, as opposed to being restricted to the spots in which they land to form new colonies. There are NO green poci polyps on any of the liverock to which the little pieces of undata are attached. (One of my green poci corals was the result of a colony simply "growing out of nowhere" in another WAMAS member's tank).

What I have been finding in trying to do research, is a ton of stuff on pigments and fluorescing proteins green fluorescing protien... GFP). GFP can be transferred between coral species. One of the very first responses when I very first mentioned my coral, before I started researching, was that perhaps there was a protien transfer of some sort. It was with that notion that I contacted Wet Web media and had some communication with Bob Fenner; he commented that what I have may not be entirely a monti (the new coral growth with the green polyps).

It's not too hard to find things about GFP "grafting" as far as the body tissue of corals is concerned, but I can't find a single thing about the polyps of a coral. But then, my green polyps aren't even the same size as the regular ones. The pieces of the undata were very badly injured from chipping and scraping, so lots of "open" wounds for all kinds of things to "infect" them.

Then again, they may not be poci polyps, but they are definitely not Ig monti undata polyps.

What can I do to make this freaking coral grow overnight so I can get some immediate answers to this mystery?!!? Right now, the "chips" are like 1/2" or less in size. I keep taking pictures trying to get one that would make what I am seeing with my eyes obvious to anyone looking at a digital picture, but it is not easy with such tiny pieces.

 

The polyps are just green due to environmental factors that influenced expression of green polyps. It could be anything but most likely just due to the uptake of certain zoox which probably was in abundance if and when a pocci spawned.
It is very likely that the gametes containing the pocci green zoox were consumed by the polyps and then the zoox contained was harvested and hosted then. There was no genetic transfer or grafting etc... Just simple transition of zoox clades (as m2434 stated)

Also it is just absurd for two separate organisms to share DNA. It is quite possible between the species level but much less common between the genus level. That's like a person having a baby with a giraffe lol

 

Could a color shift occur because of an exchange of zooxanthellae algae?

 

Oops, sorry, like Dingo said. Didn't bother reading thoroughly. :-[

 

Yup, that is quite probably. A change in zoox could cause some significant changes.


Also, BTW treesprite, Welcome! I notice you are new and haven't introduced yourself to the group yet. We have a introduction forum to get to know new members. http://www.3reef.com/forums/say-hello/ I'm sure people would be interested in hearing more about yourself and tanks. So, please feel free to introduce yourself! Also, post some pics, we always like to see peoples tanks, regardless of the camera ;D

 

Here are some pictures. They aren't very good, but good enough to distinguish the polyps. The chip of coral on the frag plug is only 3/8" - they are all very small. The green polyps are very bright green in person, but I was having to hold the coral up and the light wasn't right. Also, the polyps on the single chip are not extended... the polyps on the picture that has a bunch of chips on a rock, are extended so you can see the size difference.

Compare normal polyps in main area of coral chip, to the weird polyps in the new growth area around the edges. The color is washed out... as already stated, the polyps are very bright green in person.

Green polyp up close (it's bright green in person, and it isn't fully extended due to m handling it - in person it looks more like a poci polyp, though there's no way to know for certain what kind of polyps they are)

Several chips on a small rock. Some of the weird polyps are circled. This pic you can see the obvious size difference of the polyps when extended (more than on the single chip in the other pictures). Also, this shows that multiple pieces are affected, it's not a matter of a single coral piece touching something else.

 

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