Lunar Phase Modulates Circadian Gene Expression Cycles in the Broadcast Spawning Coral Acropora millepora
Abstract
Many broadcast spawning corals in multiple reef regions release their gametes with incredible temporal precision just once per year, using the lunar cycle to set the night of spawning. Moonlight, rather than tides or other lunar-regulated processes, is thought to be the proximate factor responsible for linking the night of spawning to the phase of the Moon. We compared patterns of gene expression among colonies of the broadcast spawning coral Acropora millepora at different phases of the lunar cycle, and when they were maintained under one of three experimentally simulated lunar lighting treatments: i) lunar lighting conditions matching those on the reef, or lunar patterns mimicking either ii) constant full Moon conditions, or iii) constant new Moon conditions. Normal lunar illumination was found to shift both the level and timing of clock gene transcription cycles between new and full moons, with the peak hour of expression for a number of genes occurring earlier in the evening under a new Moon when compared to a full Moon. When the normal lunar cycle is replaced with nighttime patterns equivalent to either a full Moon or a new Moon every evening, the normal monthlong changes in the level of expression are destroyed for most genes. In combination, these results indicate that daily changes in moonlight that occur over the lunar cycle are essential for maintaining normal lunar periodicity of clock gene transcription, and this may play a role in regulating spawn timing. These data also show that low levels of light pollution may have an impact on coral biological clocks.
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cry2 upregulation under artificial FM conditions was not reproduced by Brady et al.
“Furthermore, cry2 upregulation under artificial FM conditions was not reproduced by Brady et al. [27], although the sampling was conducted at a similar nighttime (see Figure 2).”
From The Still Dark Side of the Moon: Molecular Mechanisms of Lunar-Controlled Rhythms and Clocks (2020) · cites this paper as [27]
Further studies employing artificial illumination mimicking both light/dark cycles and moonlight provided conflicting results for some of the above-mentioned data collected under natural light conditions.
“It has to be noted that further studies employing artificial illumination mimicking both light/dark cycles and moonlight provided conflicting results for some of the above-mentioned data collected under natural light conditions.”
From The Still Dark Side of the Moon: Molecular Mechanisms of Lunar-Controlled Rhythms and Clocks (2020) · cites this paper as [27]
The expression of timeless (tim) was significantly different between natural conditions and artificial illumination during NM nights.
“In line with this, also the expression of the circadian clock gene, timeless (tim), was found significantly different between natural conditions and artificial illumination during NM nights [27].”
From The Still Dark Side of the Moon: Molecular Mechanisms of Lunar-Controlled Rhythms and Clocks (2020) · cites this paper as [27]
In Acropora millepora, only cry1 (but not cry2) was affected by exposure to DD, whereas cry2 increased under natural moonlight compared to artificial one during both LQM and FM.
“For instance, only cry1 (but not cry2) was affected by exposure to DD, whereas, although not significantly, cry2 increased under natural moonlight compared to the artificial one during both LQM and FM [27,31].”
From The Still Dark Side of the Moon: Molecular Mechanisms of Lunar-Controlled Rhythms and Clocks (2020) · cites this paper as [27]
Studies in corals and D. melanogaster show discrepancies in gene expression data between field and laboratory samples.
“studies in corals and D. melanogaster show discrepancies in gene expression data between field and laboratory samples [26,27,132]”
From The Still Dark Side of the Moon: Molecular Mechanisms of Lunar-Controlled Rhythms and Clocks (2020) · cites this paper as [27]
In A. millepora, cry1 levels fluctuated, with elevated expression at midnight during the first-quarter moon.
“Furthermore, in their study, also cry1 levels showed fluctuations, with elevated expression levels at midnight during the first-quarter moon (23).”
From An Overview of Monthly Rhythms and Clocks (2017) · cites this paper as [23]
In A. millepora, cry2 showed elevated expression at midnight during new moon-not full moon-nights.
“While these researchers also describe changes in transcript levels for the cry2 gene over the lunar light cycle, cry2 showed elevated expression levels at midnight during new moon—and not full moon—nights.”
From An Overview of Monthly Rhythms and Clocks (2017) · cites this paper as [23]
In A. millepora, midnight cry1 and cry2 transcript levels still showed differences at different phases of the lunar cycle independent of illumination, consistent with corals possessing a circalunar clock.
“Interestingly, midnight cry1 and cry2 transcript levels still showed differences at different phases of the lunar cycle independent of illumination, consistent with the idea that corals also possess a circalunar clock.”
From An Overview of Monthly Rhythms and Clocks (2017) · cites this paper as [23]
In corals, free-running regulation was observed for presumptive circadian clock genes Ami-cycle, Ami-clock, and Ami-tim.
“Finally, free-running regulation was also observed for several coral genes, like the presumptive circadian clock genes Ami-cycle, Ami-clock, and Ami-tim (23).”
From An Overview of Monthly Rhythms and Clocks (2017) · cites this paper as [23]
Brady et al. observed that levels of a gene with similarity to the eyes absent family changed when compared between full moon and new moon nights.
“It is interesting, however, that in one of the aforementioned studies on coral gene expression, Brady et al. also observed that levels of a gene with similarity to the eyes absent family changed when compared between full moon and new moon nights (23).”
From An Overview of Monthly Rhythms and Clocks (2017) · cites this paper as [23]
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References 40 · Cited by 48
- Authors
- Brady, A. K., Willis, B. L., Harder, L. D., & Vize, P. D.
- Affiliations
- University of Calgary (CA)
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies (AU)
- Venue
- The Biological Bulletin
- Publisher
- University of Chicago Press
- Published
- 2016-04
- Volume
- 230
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 130-142
- ISSN
- 0006-3185 (ISSN-L)
- 1939-8697
- OpenAlex
- W2345073138
- Cited by
- 48
- References
- 40
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 5
- FWCI
- 3.60
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Biological Bulletin (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- ResearchOnline at James Cook University (James Cook University) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Alberta Innovates
- Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Circadian rhythm and melatonin
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Ecology › Coral and Marine Ecosystems Studies
- Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Paleontology › Marine Invertebrate Physiology and Ecology
- Keywords
- lunar phases, broadcast spawning, Acropora millepora, circadian gene expression, clock genes, moonlight, spawning timing, light pollution
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Circadian Rhythm, Environment, Gene Expression Regulation, Light, Moon, Anthozoa
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