SymbioGBR

SymbioGBR compiles and standardizes molecular sequences, host association records, and specimen metadata for Symbiodinium to enable comparative analyses of host–symbiont diversity and biogeographic patterns on the Great Barrier Reef.

Key Features:

• Centralized repository: Aggregates Symbiodinium sequences and associated host and specimen metadata into a relational database focused on the Great Barrier Reef.
• Multi-marker sequence integration: Includes sequence data from ITS1, ITS2, LSU D1/D2, chloroplast 23S rDNA, and the psbA minicircle.
• Cross-referencing of genetic markers: Enables validation and comparison between conventional markers (e.g., ITS2) and markers with low intragenomic variability (e.g., psbA).
• Specimen-level collection metadata: Stores detailed collection information to contextualize sequences by environmental and geographic variables.
• Quantitative assessment of associations: Supports quantitative analyses of host–Symbiodinium associations across samples and locations.
• Comparative dataset integration: Facilitates direct comparison of new sequence data with existing Symbiodinium datasets to assess diversity and association patterns.
• Support for classification efforts: Centralizes diverse genetic markers to aid in sequence-based classification and assessment of Symbiodinium species diversity.

Scientific Applications:

• Ecological and evolutionary studies: Analyze patterns of Symbiodinium diversity and host specificity across reef invertebrates.
• Host–symbiont association analysis: Quantify and compare host–Symbiodinium pairings across environmental gradients and spatial scales.
• Climate-impact research: Investigate differential responses of host–symbiont associations to rising seawater temperatures.
• Marker validation and taxonomy: Compare ITS2 and other conventional markers with low-variability markers like psbA to improve identification and classification.

Methodology:

Compilation of sequences and specimen metadata into a relational database; integration and cross-referencing of multiple genetic markers (ITS1, ITS2, LSU D1/D2, chloroplast 23S rDNA, psbA minicircle); inclusion of collection-level environmental and geographic metadata to enable quantitative and comparative analyses.