Mesophotic zone as refuge : acclimation and in-depth proteomic response of yellow gorgonians in the Mediterranean sea

Mesophotic zone as refuge : acclimation and in-depth proteomic response of yellow gorgonians in the Mediterranean sea Beauvieux A. auteur aut IRD Mérigot B. auteur aut IRD Le Luyer J. auteur aut IRD Fromentin J. M. auteur aut IRD Couffin N. auteur aut IRD Brown A. auteur aut IRD Bianchimani O. auteur aut IRD Hocdé Régis auteur aut IRD Aurelle D. auteur aut IRD Ledoux J. B. auteur aut IRD Bertile F. auteur aut IRD Schull Q. auteur aut IRD text journalArticle eng text/pdf born digital access The intensification of warming-induced mass-mortalities in invertebrate populations including in temperate regions is a critical global issue. Mesophotic zones (30-150 m depth) have been suggested as potential refuges from climate change for gorgonian populations, offering hope for reseeding damaged shallow populations. Using a proteomic approach, we investigated the responses and acclimatization ability of the yellow gorgonian Eunicella cavolini along an environmental gradient following reciprocal transplantations between shallow (20 m) and mesophotic (70 m) zones. Our findings indicate that yellow gorgonians from mesophotic waters exhibit a greater plasticity when transplanted to shallow waters, compared to shallow gorgonians transplanted to the mesophotic zone at 70 m. Transplanted colonies from mesophotic to shallow waters showed an increasing level of proteins involved in immune response but displayed no signs of necrosis or apoptosis, highlighting the acclimation potential of mesophotic populations. These results suggest that Eunicella cavolini populations may exhibit physiological plasticity in response to future climate change, allowing natural colonization from mesophotic populations. This analysis offers valuable insights into gorgonians' cellular and molecular responses to environmental changes. specialized Deep sea refugia hypothesis Eunicella cavolini Global change Molecular phenotype Physiological plasticity Reciprocal transplantations MEDITERRANEE 034 021 Coral Reefs [Early access] [14 ] 2024 0722-4028 https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010089639 10.1007/s00338-024-02477-w 0722-4028 [F B010089639] https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010089639 https://www.documentation.ird.fr/intranet/publi/2024-04/010089639.pdf Accès réservé (Intranet de l'IRD) IRD - Base Horizon / Pleins textes 2024-04-05 2025-11-06 fdi:010089639 fre