Applying coral breeding to reef restoration: best practices, knowledge gaps, and priority actions in a rapidly evolving field

Restoration Ecology, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 31(7)

Опубликована: Апрель 3, 2023

Reversing coral reef decline requires reducing environmental threats while actively restoring ecological structure and function. A promising restoration approach uses breeding to boost natural recruitment repopulate reefs with genetically diverse communities. Recent advances in predicting spawning, capturing spawn, culturing larvae, rearing settlers have enabled the successful propagation, settlement, outplanting of offspring all world's major regions. Nevertheless, efforts frequently yield low survival, reflecting type III survivorship curve corals poor condition most targeted for restoration. Furthermore, programs are still limited spatial scale species diversity. Here, we highlight four priority areas research cooperative innovation increase effectiveness restoration: (1) expanding number sites species, (2) improving broodstock selection maximize genetic diversity adaptive capacity restored populations, (3) enhancing culture conditions improve health before after outplanting, (4) scaling up infrastructure technologies large‐scale Prioritizing these will enable practitioners address at relevant scales, re‐establish self‐sustaining ensure long‐term success interventions. Overall, aim guide community toward actions opportunities that can rapid technical larval breeding, foster interdisciplinary collaborations, ultimately achieve reefs.

Язык: Английский

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Symbiont Community Changes Confer Fitness Benefits for Larvae in a Vertically Transmitting Coral

Ecology and Evolution, Год журнала: 2025, Номер 15(1)

Опубликована: Янв. 1, 2025

ABSTRACT Coral reefs worldwide are threatened by increasing ocean temperatures because of the sensitivity coral‐algal symbiosis to thermal stress. Reef‐building corals form symbiotic relationships with dinoflagellates (family Symbiodiniaceae), including those species which acquire their initial symbiont complement predominately from parents. Changes in composition communities, through mechanisms shuffling or switching, can modulate host's limits. However, role coral acclimatization heat is understudied offspring and date has largely focused on adults. To quantify potential fitness benefits consequences changes communities under a simulated heatwave early life‐history stages, we exposed larvae juveniles widespread, vertically transmitting coral, Montipora digitata , stress (32°C) tracked growth, survival, photosynthetic efficiency, community over time relative controls. We found negative impacts warming all fitness‐related traits, varied significantly among larval families across stages. Larvae that survived exposure exhibited favored symbionts canonically more tolerant. Compared larvae, showed rapid mortality were fixed regardless temperature treatment, suggesting an inability alter as acclimatory response Taken together, these findings suggest capacity for may be modified ontogeny, juvenile life stage less flexible at risk climate this species.

Язык: Английский

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Slight thermal stress exerts genetic diversity selection at coral (Acropora digitifera) larval stages

BMC Genomics, Год журнала: 2025, Номер 26(1)

Опубликована: Янв. 14, 2025

Abstract Background Rising seawater temperatures increasingly threaten coral reefs. The ability of larvae to withstand heat is crucial for maintaining reef ecosystems. Although several studies have investigated larvae’s genetic responses thermal stress, most relied on pooled sample sequencing, which provides population-level insights but may mask individual genotype variability. This study uses larval sequencing investigate genotype-specific stress and the selective pressures shaping their genomes, offering finer resolution deeper insights. Results investigates response before acquiring symbiotic algae, aiming elucidate relationship between diversity stress. Larvae sourced from eight Acropora digitifera colonies were subjected ambient temperature (28 °C) conditions (31 °C). impact was assessed through sequencing. While overall diversity, represented by π, did not significantly differ control heat-exposed groups, Tajima’s D differed, indicating different in each group. genomic regions under higher lower broadly shared among head conditions, implying that operated distinctive manners. Many protein-coding sequences identified this region, codon evolution many these genes showed signs positive selection. These results highlight complex temperatures. showing selection also been influenced historical fluctuations, as suggested association with loci during Acroporid speciation. codon-level speciation potential role adaptation environmental changes over evolutionary timescales. Conclusion findings underscore significance reproduction They indicate even minor can exert significant pressure, potentially leading profound implications research understanding rising

Язык: Английский

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Global Free‐Living Symbiodiniaceae Biodiversity Mirrors Local Environments

Journal of Biogeography, Год журнала: 2025, Номер unknown

Опубликована: Апрель 7, 2025

ABSTRACT Aim For free‐living Symbiodiniaceae, we aim to synthesise current knowledge, identify gaps in our understanding of biogeography and conduct the first quantitative genetic analysis at a global scale. Location Global. Taxon Free‐living dinoflagellates Family Symbiodiniaceae. Methods Publicly available sequences were used characterise Symbiodiniaceae community environment. Using ITS2 marker combined with DADA2 pipeline, amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) assess diversity, abundance distribution patterns from local scales. Results Relative abundances, composition diversity differed significantly between wider Caribbean Indo‐Pacific, within across three study regions: Great Barrier Reef (GBR), Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary (FGBNMS) Moorea French Polynesia. assemblage was most different GBR FGBNMS, dominance Cladocopium Breviolum FGBNMS. There also significant variability these regions, as shown through beta dispersion test. The highest indices found GBR, followed by Main Conclusions We locations Importantly, mirrored local‐scale patterns. These biogeographical hospite symbiont With studies highlight need for expanded sampling efforts unexplored regions such Indian Ocean. Given potentially role coral acclimation climate change, identifying protecting taxa should be conservation priority.

Язык: Английский

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Shifts and critical periods in coral metabolism reveal energetic vulnerability during development

Current Biology, Год журнала: 2025, Номер unknown

Опубликована: Май 1, 2025

Язык: Английский

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Rapid shifts in thermal reaction norms and tolerance of brooded coral larvae following parental heat acclimation

Molecular Ecology, Год журнала: 2022, Номер 32(5), С. 1098 - 1116

Опубликована: Дек. 18, 2022

Abstract Thermal priming of reef corals can enhance their heat tolerance; however, the legacy effects stress during parental brooding on larval resilience remain understudied. This study investigated whether preconditioning adult coral Pocillopora damicornis to high temperatures (29°C and 32°C) could better prepare larvae for stress. Results showed that heat‐acclimated adults brooded with reduced symbiont density shifted thermal performance curves. Reciprocal transplant experiments demonstrated higher bleaching resistance photosynthetic autotrophic in heat‐exposed from acclimated compared unacclimated adults. RNA‐seq revealed strong cellular responses have been effective rescuing host cells stress, as evidenced by widespread upregulation genes involved cell cycle mitosis. For symbionts, a molecular coordination between light harvesting, photoprotection carbon fixation was detected adults, which may help optimize activity yield under temperature. Furthermore, acclimation led opposing regulations catabolic anabolic pathways favoured nutrient translocation thus functional symbiosis. Notwithstanding, improved tolerance paralleled light‐enhanced dark respiration, indicating metabolic depression energy saving. Our findings suggest rapidly shift provide integrated physiological evidence this adaptive plasticity, increase climate resilience. However, be maladaptive long‐term organismal performance, highlighting importance curbing emissions protect corals.

Язык: Английский

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Photosymbiont Density Is Correlated with Constitutive and Induced Immunity in the Facultatively Symbiotic Coral, Astrangia poculata

Integrative and Comparative Biology, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 64(5), С. 1278 - 1290

Опубликована: Май 23, 2024

Scleractinian corals, essential ecosystem engineers that form the base of coral reef ecosystems, have faced unprecedented mortality in recent decades due to climate change-related stressors, including disease outbreaks. Despite this emergent threat many questions still remain regarding mechanisms underlying observed variation susceptibility. Recent data suggest at least some degree response may be linked variability relationship between host corals and their algal photosymbionts (Family Symbiodiniaceae). Still, nuances connections symbiosis immunity cnidarians, scleractinian poorly understood. Here, we leveraged an model species, facultatively symbiotic, temperate, Astrangia poculata, investigate associations symbiont density both constitutive induced immunity. We used a combination controlled immune challenges with heat-inactivated pathogens transcriptomic analyses. Our results demonstrate A. poculata mounts robust initial pathogenic stimuli is highly similar responses documented tropical corals. document positive responses, agreement preliminary studies poculata. A suite genes, those coding for antioxidant peroxiredoxin biosynthesis, are positively associated under conditions. Furthermore, distinct patterns response; low induce preventative mechanisms, whereas high mobilize energetic resources fuel humoral responses. In summary, our study reveals need more nuanced symbiosis-immune interplay across diverse preferably quantitative energy budget analysis full disentanglement these complex effects on pathogen

Язык: Английский

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Nutritional exchange between reef-building corals and algal endosymbionts buffers the energetic demand of larval development and metamorphosis

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Год журнала: 2023, Номер unknown

Опубликована: Март 23, 2023

Abstract Anthropogenic climate change threatens the persistence of coral reefs by impacting reproduction and accelerating loss. Adult corals depend on nutritional exchange with their endosymbiotic algae (Symbiodiniaceae) to fulfill energetic demands. However, mechanisms underlying onset this during early life stages how it contributes developmental energy demands are unclear. We conducted an integrative analysis metabolism across in Montipora capitata , a vertically transmitting (Symbiodiniaceae passed from parent offspring) Hawai□i. applied physiological (metabolism symbiont density) multi-omic (metabolomics, transcriptomics, microbial amplicon sequencing) approaches over 13 time points between 1-255 hours post-fertilization eggs settled recruits. Energetic demand (respiration) increased as embryos developed into larvae progressed through metamorphosis. Symbiont photosynthetic capacity (photosynthesis cell ontogeny, demonstrating potential for symbiont-derived nutrition fuel development growth. Indeed, gene expression metabolomic analyses revealed that is metabolized starting motile larval stage increasing utilization metamorphosis following settlement. Specifically, metabolic pathways associated organic compound transport glucose fatty acid were enriched there was expanded use carbohydrate lipid metamorphosed polyps Larvae also demonstrate cellular processes maintain nutrient balance host regulate populations genes nitrogen assimilation response reactive oxygen species. Collectively, our characterization reveals becomes increasingly important buffer required In environmentally stressful conditions, species may be vulnerable loss nutrition. Therefore, interventions reduce symbiotic stress sensitive could enhance reef recruitment recovery intensifies.

Язык: Английский

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Ramicrusta invasive alga causes mortality in Caribbean coral larvae

Frontiers in Marine Science, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 10

Опубликована: Апрель 18, 2023

The settlement of coral larvae is an important process which contributes to the success and longevity reefs. Coral often recruit benthic structures covered with crustose coralline algae (CCA) produce cues that promote metamorphosis. Peysonneliaceae Ramicrusta spp. are red-brown encrusting alga have recently become abundant on shallow Caribbean reefs, replacing CCA habitat, overgrowing corals potentially threatening recruitment. In order assess threat recruitment, we compared survival Porites astreoides Favia fragum 0.5 – 2 mg ml -1 solutions sp. or as well sterile seawater (control). all cases larval mortality was extremely high in treatments control treatments. We found 96% (± 8.9% standard deviation, SD) P. when exposed 0 - 4% observed 100% F. 5 10% 10 20% Settlement surface interaction 40 68% 22 37% for 65 75% 19% . Two larva survived exposure did settle/surface interact, suggesting some may be tolerant These results suggest a lethal

Язык: Английский

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Acute heat priming promotes short-term climate resilience of early life stages in a model sea anemone

PeerJ, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 11, С. e16574 - e16574

Опубликована: Дек. 5, 2023

Across diverse taxa, sublethal exposure to abiotic stressors early in life can lead benefits such as increased stress tolerance upon repeat exposure. This phenomenon, known hormetic priming, is largely unexplored stages of marine invertebrates, which are increasingly threatened by anthropogenic climate change. To investigate this larvae the sea anemone and model invertebrate Nematostella vectensis were exposed control (18 °C) or elevated (24 °C, 30 35 39 temperatures for 1 h at 3 days post-fertilization (DPF), followed return °C). The animals then assessed growth, development, metabolic rates, heat 4, 7, 11 DPF. Priming intermediately augmented growth development compared controls priming °C. Indeed, °C hampered developmental progression, with around 40% still planula stage DPF, contrast 0% all other groups. Total protein content, a proxy biomass, respiration rates not significantly affected suggesting resilience. Heat was quantified acute exposures, higher primed intermediate those time points. possible molecular mechanism observed changes tolerance, expression shock 70 (HSP70) Expression HSP70 increasing temperature, presence doublet band persistent negative effects on homeostasis. Interestingly, second cohort cultured 6 weeks continued display responses, whereas lost; contrast, short-term extreme (39 persisted. These results demonstrate that some dose-dependent waned over while others persisted, resulting heterogeneity organismal performance across ontogeny following priming. Overall, these findings suggest may augment resilience via modulation key physiological phenotypes, also affirming need limit further ocean warming.

Язык: Английский

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