Locally Adapted Coral Species Withstand a 2-Week Hypoxic Event

Oceans, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 6(1), P. 5 - 5

Published: Jan. 8, 2025

One approach to improve long-term coral restoration success utilizes naturally stress-tolerant corals from the wild. While focus has primarily been on thermal stress, low oxygen is a growing threat reefs and efforts should also consider hypoxia tolerance. Here we determine if Siderastrea siderea Agaricia tenuifolia populations reef with historical record of exhibit evidence local adaptation hypoxic events, compared reference reef. We employed laboratory-based reciprocal transplant experiment mimicking severe 14-night event monitored bleaching responses, photo-physiology, metabolic rates, survival all four during, for two weeks following event. In both species, found either fully persisted or recovered within 3 days contrast, conspecific naïve well-oxygenated experienced death. This showcases vulnerability exposed but suggests that locally adapted survive episodic hypoxia. Other past may be home signatures useful efforts.

Language: Английский

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Cryptic coral diversity is associated with symbioses, physiology, and response to thermal challenge

Science Advances, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 11(3)

Published: Jan. 15, 2025

Coral persistence in the Anthropocene depends on interactions among holobiont partners (coral animals and microbial symbionts) their environment. Cryptic coral lineages—genetically distinct yet morphologically similar groups—are critically important as they often exhibit functional diversity relevant to thermal tolerance. In addition, environmental parameters such variability may promote tolerance, but how interacts with shape responses challenge remains unclear. Here, we identified three cryptic lineages of Siderastrea siderea Bocas del Toro, Panamá that differ distributions across inshore offshore reefs, associations, phenotypic traits (i.e., phenomes), skeleton morphologies. A experiment failed increase subsequent recovery revealed one lineage maintained elevated energetic reserves, photochemical efficiency, growth. Last, cores highlighted this also exhibited greater growth historically. Functional variation highlights importance predicting reef climate change.

Language: Английский

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Cryptic coral community composition across environmental gradients

PLoS ONE, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 20(2), P. e0318653 - e0318653

Published: Feb. 6, 2025

Cryptic genetic variation is increasingly being identified in numerous coral species, with prior research indicating that different cryptic lineages can exhibit varied responses to environmental changes. This suggests a potential link between and local conditions. In this study, we investigate how communities of vary along gradients. We began by identifying within six species sampled around St. Croix, USVI based on 2b-RAD sequencing data. then analyzed associations the distributions across (i.e., “cryptic community composition”) ecoregions, or geographically distinct Our findings show depth more significant predictor composition than ecoregions most influential factor among 40 abiotic variables characterize ecoregions. These results imply are influenced both conditions, although exact factors driving these patterns remain unknown. Understanding turnover seascape important consider when outplanting corals restore reef, as locally-adapted may have differential fitness

Language: Английский

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Population genetics of the giant barrel sponge, Xestospongia muta, reveal distinct, hybridizing lineages across the Florida Reef Tract

Research Square (Research Square), Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: March 24, 2025

With recent anthropogenically driven coral reef declines, biodiversity and resilience have become a top priorities for natural resource management. Population genetic analyses can not only provide useful data understanding diversity connectivity but also help guide the restoration conservation of critical species habitats. The Giant Barrel Sponge, Xestospongia muta, is among most conspicuous abundant sponges on Florida Reef Tract provides important ecosystem services including nutrient cycling three-dimensional habitat fishes invertebrates. To better understand X. muta population structure throughout Keys National Marine Sanctuary Kristin Jacobs Coral Aquatic Preserve we genotyped individuals using 2bRAD-Seq across seven locations. Our revealed strong evidence populations Tract, except relatively distinct located in Fort Lauderdale. Two highly divergent lineages comprise Florida’s populations, with clear hybridization indicating they are likely separate species. While lineage from Ft. Lauderdale exhibits greater than other more common lineage, observed were consistent several sampled this region. These contribute to our growing benthic invertebrate Tract.

Language: Английский

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Differential effects of nutrients and consumer pressure on sympatric cryptic coral species (Pocillopora spp.)

Ecology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 106(5)

Published: May 1, 2025

Abstract Cryptic species (evolutionarily distinct lineages that do not align with morphologically defined species) are being increasingly discovered but poorly integrated into ecological theory. In particular, we still lack a useful understanding of if and how cryptic differ in ways affect community recovery from disturbances responses to anthropogenic stressors, such as the removal consumers pollution nutrients. On coral reefs, nutrient increases growth macroalgae displace corals. Reductions herbivorous fishes reduce suppression macroalgae, while reductions coralivorous predation on An unresolved question is respond differently these impacts, thereby differing their ability influence dynamics maintain dominance. Therefore, assessed response Pocillopora over period three years following simulated disturbance cyclone depended experimental reduction fish consumer pressure addition. After years, five cryptic, genetically distinct, recruited reef. However, recruitment was dominated by two species: tuahiniensis (46%) meandrina (43%). Under ambient conditions, P. similar, experimentally reducing increased up 73% reduced 49%. both species, enrichment colony rates equally, colonies grew faster were 25% larger after than those meandrina, unaffected pressure. Predation excavating corallivorous higher for , especially under enrichment. contrast, polyp extension (an indicator elevated heterotrophic feeding well susceptibility attractiveness corallivores) lower low medium Overall, uncovered differences foundation pervasive stressors reefs. Our results demonstrate key which may contribute diversity can support resilience or increase extinction risk.

Language: Английский

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Putting Structural Variants Into Practice: The Role of Chromosomal Inversions in the Management of Marine Environments

Molecular Ecology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: May 8, 2025

ABSTRACT Major threats to marine species and ecosystems include overfishing, invasive species, pollution climate change. The changing not only imposes direct through the impacts of severe heatwaves, cyclones ocean acidification but also complicates fisheries management by driving range shifts. dynamic nature these means that future our oceans will depend on ability adapt. This has led calls for genetic interventions focussed enhancing species' adaptive capacity, including translocations, restocking selective breeding. Assessing benefits risks such approaches requires an improved understanding architecture variation, in relation climate‐resilient phenotypes locally adapted populations fitness hybrids. Large structural variants as chromosomal inversions play important role local adaptation linking multiple loci. Consequently, are likely be particularly when managing capacity. However, under some circumstances, they accumulate deleterious mutations, potentially increasing risk inbreeding depression. Genetic takes account dual roles is more effective at ensuring population persistence. We summarise evolutionary factors influencing variation inversions, review found taxa, provide a framework predict consequences ignoring key scenarios. conclude describing practical methods bridge gap between theory application conservation.

Language: Английский

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Reef Adapt: A tool to inform climate-smart marine restoration and management decisions

Communications Biology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 7(1)

Published: Oct. 30, 2024

Language: Английский

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Genomic data reveals habitat partitioning in massive Porites on Guam, Micronesia

Scientific Reports, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 14(1)

Published: July 24, 2024

Corals in marginal reef habitats generally exhibit less bleaching and associated mortality compared to nearby corals more pristine environments. It is unclear, however, if these differences are due environmental differences, including turbidity, or genomic between the coral hosts different One particularly interesting case genus Porites, which contains numerous morphologically similar massive Porites species inhabiting a wide range of habitats, from turbid river deltas stagnant back reefs high-energy fore reefs. Here, we generate ddRAD data for 172 delta adjacent (<0.5 km) populations on Guam assess extent genetic differentiation among two contrasting environments throughout island. Phylogenetic population analyses consistently identify seven clades with largest predominantly either reefs, respectively. No structure was detected clades, Cladocopium dominant symbiont all The perceived resilience may therefore be attributed interspecific species, addition potentially mediating differences. Marginal not provide suitable refuge many heating world, but instead host additional cryptic diversity.

Language: Английский

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Distinct modes of holobiont specialization among cryptic coral lineages

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: July 6, 2024

Abstract As ocean warming threatens reefs worldwide, identifying corals with adaptations to higher temperatures is critical for conservation. Genetically distinct but morphologically similar ( i.e., cryptic) coral populations can be specialized extreme habitats and thrive under stressful conditions. These often associate locally beneficial microbiota (Symbiodiniaceae photobionts bacteria), clouding interpretation of the drivers thermal tolerance. Here, we leverage a holobiont (massive Porites ) high host-partner fidelity investigate adaptive variation across classic (“typical” conditions) characterized by light attenuation. We uncovered three cryptic lineages that exhibit limited micro-morphological variation; one lineage dominated (L1), had more even distributions (L2), third was restricted (L3). Two were closely related ∼4300 km away, suggesting these are widespread. All harbored Cladocopium C15 photobionts, strain-level compositions differed among reef types. L1 associated bacteria in each type, whereas L2 relatively stable associations. L3 hosted unique photobiont strains, signaling host-photobiont fidelity. Analysis harvesting capacity tolerance revealed key underpinning survival habitats. highest absorption efficiency lowest tolerance, it specialist. showing an intermediate habitat generalism, potentially explaining how survives well both findings reveal diverging strategies cope Resolving understanding populations; uncovering thermally-tolerant holobionts strengthen our evolution symbiosis, support global conservation restoration efforts.

Language: Английский

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Cryptic diversity shapes coral symbioses, physiology, and response to thermal challenge

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: July 13, 2024

Abstract Coral persistence in the Anthropocene is shaped by interactions among holobiont partners (coral animals, microbial symbionts) and their environment. Cryptic coral lineages–genetically distinct yet morphologically similar groups–are critically important as they often exhibit functional diversity relevant to thermal tolerance. Additionally, environmental parameters such variability may promote tolerance, but how interacts with shape responses challenge remains unclear. Here, we identified three cryptic lineages of Siderastrea siderea Bocas del Toro, Panamá that differ distributions across inshore offshore reefs, associations, phenomes, skeleton morphologies. A experiment failed increase subsequent recovery revealed one lineage maintained elevated energetic reserves, photochemical efficiency, growth. Lastly, cores highlighted this also exhibited faster growth historically. Functional variation highlights importance predicting reef climate change. Teaser host drives phenotypes

Language: Английский

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