Climate adaptive loci revealed by seascape genomics correlate with phenotypic variation in heat tolerance of the coral Acropora millepora.

One of the main challenges in coral reef conservation and restoration is the identification of coral populations resilient under global warming. Seascape genomics is a powerful tool to uncover genetic markers potentially involved in heat tolerance among large populations without prior information on phenotypes. Here, we aimed to provide first insights on the role of candidate heat associated loci identified using seascape genomics in driving the phenotypic response of Acropora millepora from New Caledonia to thermal stress.

Formal recognition of host-generalist species of dinoflagellate (Cladocopium, Symbiodiniaceae) mutualistic with Indo-Pacific reef corals.

The existence of widespread species with the capacity to endure diverse, or variable, environments are of importance to ecological and genetic research, and conservation. Such "ecological generalists" are more likely to have key adaptations that allow them to better tolerate the physiological challenges of rapid climate change. Reef-building corals are dependent on endosymbiotic dinoflagellates (Family: Symbiodiniaceae) for their survival and growth.

Responding to Threats Both Foreign and Domestic: NOD-Like Receptors in Corals.

Historically mechanisms with which basal animals such as reef-building corals use to respond to changing and increasingly stressful environments have remained elusive. However, the increasing availability of genomic and transcriptomic data from these organisms has provided fundamental insights into the biology of these critically important ecosystem engineers. Notably, insights into cnidarians gained in the post-genomics age have revealed a surprisingly complex immune system which bears a surprising level of similarity with the vertebrate innate immune system.