Ethological dynamics in diorama environments

Dinoflagellates of the family Symbiodiniaceae are unicellular microalgae that establish symbiotic relationships with multiple host organisms including cnidarian animals and play an important ecological role as primary producers sustaining coral reef ecosystems. However, ethological dynamics for these coral symbiotic algae to initiate and establish symbioses have not been well characterized. In this study, we aim to construct diorama environments to study the initial stage of symbiosis establishment, e.g. experimental settings that mimic interactions with the hosts in fluctuating marine environments. Using these diorama environments, we will clarify how coral symbiotic algae alter and finetune their swimming behavior in response to environmental changes. Moreover, we aim to understand and formulate the algorithms and/or heuristics behind the symbiotic relationships by analyzing environmental responses of the symbionts as a microalgal ‘proto-intelligence’ and organelle control of the hosts, and the crosstalk between those, which can contribute to the initiation and establishment of the symbioses.