Finding genes and pathways that underlie coral adaptation

Trends in Genetics, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 40(3), P. 213 - 227

Published: Feb. 6, 2024

Language: Английский

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Selective breeding enhances coral heat tolerance to marine heatwaves

Nature Communications, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 15(1)

Published: Oct. 14, 2024

Marine heatwaves are becoming more frequent, widespread and severe, causing mass coral bleaching mortality. Natural adaptation may be insufficient to keep pace with climate warming, leading calls for selective breeding interventions enhance the ability of corals survive such heatwaves, i.e., their heat tolerance. However, heritability this trait-a prerequisite approaches-remains unknown. We show that selecting parent colonies high rather than low tolerance increased adult offspring (3-4-year-olds). This result held response both 1-week +3.5 °C 1-month +2.5 simulated marine heatwaves. In each case, narrow-sense (h

Language: Английский

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Advancing the protection of marine life through genomics

PLoS Biology, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 20(10), P. e3001801 - e3001801

Published: Oct. 17, 2022

The rapid growth in genomic techniques provides the potential to transform how we protect, manage, and conserve marine life. Further, solutions boost resilience of species climate change other disturbances that characterize Anthropocene require transformative approaches, made more effective if guided by data. Although genetic have been employed conservation for decades availability data is rapidly expanding, widespread application still lags behind types. This Essay reviews genetics genomics utilized management initiatives ocean restoration, highlights success stories, presents a pathway forward enhance uptake protecting our oceans.

Language: Английский

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Intrapopulation adaptive variance supports thermal tolerance in a reef-building coral

Communications Biology, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 5(1)

Published: May 19, 2022

Abstract Coral holobionts are multi-species assemblages, which adds significant complexity to genotype-phenotype connections underlying ecologically important traits like coral bleaching. Small scale heterogeneity in bleaching is ubiquitous the absence of strong environmental gradients, provides adaptive variance needed for long-term persistence reefs. We used RAD-seq, qPCR and LC-MS/MS metabolomics characterize host genomic variation, symbiont community biochemical correlates two phenotypes vertically transmitting Montipora capitata . Phenotype was driven by symbiosis state genetic variance. documented 5 gene ontologies that were significantly associated with both binary phenotype composition, representing functions confer a via host-symbiont interactions. bred these corals show communities broadly conserved bulk-crosses, resulting higher survivorship under temperature stress juveniles, but not larvae, from tolerant parents. Using select re-sequence approach, we document numerous selected heat stress, some (cell signaling, antioxidant activity, pH regulation) have unique selection dynamics larvae thermally These data may an advantage climate change if interact influence phenotype.

Language: Английский

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Heat‐tolerant intertidal rock pool coral Porites lutea can potentially adapt to future warming

Molecular Ecology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 33(5)

Published: Jan. 24, 2024

Abstract The growing threat of global warming on coral reefs underscores the urgency identifying heat‐tolerant corals and discovering their adaptation mechanisms to high temperatures. Corals in intertidal rock pools that vary markedly daily temperature may have improved heat tolerance. In this study, stress experiments were performed scleractinian Porites lutea from subtidal habitat pool Weizhou Island northern South China Sea. Thermotolerance differences two habitats explored through phenotype, physiological indicators, ITS2, 16S rRNA, RNA sequencing. At extremely 34°C, P. had a stronger tolerance than those habitat. strong antioxidant capacity host its microbial partners was important resistance at 34°C immune apoptotic regulation, downregulated metabolism disease‐infection‐related pathways compared , habitat, upregulated Cladocopium C15 (Symbiodiniaceae) photosynthetic efficiency photoprotection, significantly increased bacterial diversity probiotics, including ABY1, Ruegeria Alteromonas . These findings indicate can tolerate temperatures integrated response holobionts. be ‘touchstones’ for future warming. Our research provides new insights into complex by which resist theoretical basis reef ecosystem restoration selection stress‐resistant populations.

Language: Английский

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Coral Reef Population Genomics in an Age of Global Change

Annual Review of Genetics, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 57(1), P. 87 - 115

Published: June 29, 2023

Coral reefs are both exceptionally biodiverse and threatened by climate change other human activities. Here, we review population genomic processes in coral reef taxa their importance for understanding responses to global change. Many on characterized weak genetic drift, extensive gene flow, strong selection from complex biotic abiotic environments, which together present a fascinating test of microevolutionary theory. Selection, hybridization have played will continue play an important role the adaptation or extinction face rapid environmental change, but research remains limited compared urgent needs. Critical areas future investigation include evolutionary potential mechanisms local adaptation, developing historical baselines, building greater capacity countries where most diversity is concentrated.

Language: Английский

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An epigenetic toolbox for conservation biologists

Evolutionary Applications, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 17(6)

Published: June 1, 2024

Abstract Ongoing climatic shifts and increasing anthropogenic pressures demand an efficient delineation of conservation units accurate predictions populations' resilience adaptive potential. Molecular tools involving DNA sequencing are nowadays routinely used for these purposes. Yet, most the existing focusing on sequence‐level information have shortcomings in detecting signals short‐term ecological relevance. Epigenetic modifications carry valuable to better link individuals, populations, species their environment. Here, we discuss a series epigenetic monitoring that can be directly applied various contexts, complementing already molecular frameworks. Focusing sequence‐based methods (e.g. methylation, which applications readily available), demonstrate how (a) identification epi‐biomarkers associated with age or infection facilitate determination individual's health status wild populations; (b) whole epigenome analyses identify signatures selection linked environmental conditions estimating potential (c) epi‐eDNA (epigenetic DNA), epigenetic‐based tool, presents non‐invasive sampling method monitor biological beyond mere presence individuals. Overall, our framework refines strategies, ensuring comprehensive understanding species' persistence ecologically relevant timescales.

Language: Английский

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To live or let die? Epigenetic adaptations to climate change—a review

Current Zoology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 10(1)

Published: Jan. 1, 2024

Anthropogenic activities are responsible for a wide array of environmental disturbances that threaten biodiversity. Climate change, encompassing temperature increases, ocean acidification, increased salinity, droughts, and floods caused by frequent extreme weather events, represents one the most significant alterations. These drastic challenges pose ecological constraints, with over million species expected to disappear in coming years. Therefore, organisms must adapt or face potential extinctions. Adaptations can occur not only through genetic changes but also non-genetic mechanisms, which often confer faster acclimatization wider variability ranges than their counterparts. Among these mechanisms epigenetics defined as study molecules perpetuate alternative gene activity states context same DNA sequence. Epigenetics has received attention past decades, epigenetic sensitive cues, epimutations spread populations mutations. Epimutations be neutral, deleterious, adaptative transmitted subsequent generations, making them crucial factors both long- short-term responses fluctuations, such climate change. In this review, we compile existing evidence involvement adaptation change discuss derived perspectives remaining field epigenetics.

Language: Английский

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Heat tolerance varies considerably within a reef-building coral species on the Great Barrier Reef

Communications Earth & Environment, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 5(1)

Published: Sept. 23, 2024

Language: Английский

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Environmental, host, and symbiont drivers of heat tolerance in a species complex of reef-building corals

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

Published: Feb. 1, 2024

Abstract Reef-building coral populations are under unprecedented threat from climate warming. Yet, variation in heat tolerance exists whereby some colonies can cope with higher sea temperatures than others and thus may hold unique value for conservation restoration. Here, we quantify of an ecologically important tabular species complex across the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) while also measuring genomic host symbiont partners. Coral bleaching photochemical traits were measured 569 within Acropora hyacinthus 17 reefs following exposure to standardized acute stress assays. We detected substantial tolerance, where individual colony thermal thresholds differed by up 7.3°C 5.7°C among reefs, respectively. Sea surface temperature climatology was strongest predictor warmer northern inshore typically exhibited highest thresholds, cooler southern able tolerate greater increases relative their local summer temperatures. Heat positively associated weeks preceding measurements. Assignment clusters revealed four putative A. that did not vary responses experimental stress. Symbiodiniaceae communities comprised primarily Cladocopium ITS2 variants spatially but had minimal effect on tolerance. Between 36 - 80% explained environmental, host, predictors, leaving 20 64% be additional underlying drivers such as functional here. These results used inform restoration actions, including targeting tolerant individuals selective breeding, will provide a foundation evaluating basis

Language: Английский

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