Data from: Coral feeding on microalgae assessed with molecular trophic markers

Herbivory in corals, especially for symbiotic species, remains controversial. To investigate the capacity of scleractinian and soft corals to capture microalgae, we conducted controlled laboratory experiments offering five algal species: the cryptophyte Rhodomonas marina, the haptophytes Isochrysis galbana and Phaeocystis globosa, and the diatoms Conticribra weissflogii and Thalassiosira pseudonana. Coral species included the symbiotic soft corals Heteroxenia fuscescens and Sinularia flexibilis, the asymbiotic scleractinian coral Tubastrea coccinea, and the symbiotic scleractinian corals Stylophora pistillata, Pavona cactus and Oculina arbuscula. Herbivory was assessed by end-point PCR amplification of algae-specific 18S rRNA gene fragments purified from coral tissue genomic DNA extracts. The ability to capture microalgae varied with coral and algal species and could not be explained by prey size or taxonomy. Herbivory was not detected in S. flexibilis and S. pistillata. P. globosa was the only algal prey that was never captured by any coral. Although predation defence mechanisms have been shown for Phaeocystis spp. against many potential predators, this study is the first to suggest this for corals. This study provides new insights on herbivory in symbiotic corals and suggests that corals may be selective herbivorous feeders.Feeding results for different scleractinian and soft coral species offered microalgae preyData from laboratory feeding experiments where different microalgae prey were offered to different coral species. Each combination of one coral and microalgae species was performed individually and in replicates (n = 3). Positive and negative results were obtained by the presence/absence of PCR amplification product visualized by gel electrophoresis (2% agarose gel). Results for positive and negative controls are also shown. Positive results were genomic DNA extracts of algal cultures and of filtered water from feeding experiments. Negative controls were genomic DNA extracts of coral tissue that were unfed.Leal_data_dryad.doc