PAM fluorometry monitoring symbiosis stability of Symbiodiniaceae in the foraminifera Sorites orbiculus

The photosystem II efficiency of the symbiotic algae of Sorites orbiculus was measured with PAM fluorometry in an experiment, assessing the long-term stability of newly established symbiotic associations. Therefore, specimens were cultivated for 14 days following menthol-DCMU bleaching and re-inoculation with Symbiodinium microadriaticum (strains KB8 and CCMP2467) and Fugacium kawagutii (strain F2) individually and collectively. The final re-inoculation measurement also served as the initial stability measurement. Accordingly, this measurement is included in both data tables and is provided here under the experimental treatment label "re-inoculation." Specimens were cultivated in 6-well plates, with 12 samples containing 4 replicates and 2 samples containing 2 replicates per treatment / control. The medium, supplemented with a Nannochloropsis food mixture, was exchanged twice weekly. Control groups included non-bleached specimens and bleached specimens maintained with or without 5 µmol L-1 DCMU in artificial seawater (ASW). Environmental conditions were maintained at 22 - 24°C temperature, 37.5 - 40.5‰ salinity, and 46 - 63 µmol photons cm-2 s-1 illumination under a 12:12 h light-dark cycle.