Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sophie L. Nedelec, Andrew N. Radford, Peter Gatenby, Isla Keesje Davidson, Laura Velasquez Jimenez, Maggie Travis, Katherine E. Chapman, Kieran P. McCloskey, Timothy A. C. Lamont, Bjorn Illing, Mark McCormick, Stephen D. Simpson
Summary: This study demonstrates that reducing noise pollution can improve animal reproductive success and enhance the resilience of coral reef ecosystems, based on field and laboratory experiments with a model fish system on the Great Barrier Reef.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Arne A. S. Adam, Luke Thomas, Jim Underwood, James Gilmour, Zoe T. Richards
Summary: Anthropogenic climate change has caused widespread loss of species biodiversity and ecosystem productivity, particularly on tropical coral reefs. This study explores patterns of genetic offset in the reef-building coral Acropora digitifera across Western Australia using population genetic and seascape analyses. The findings reveal restricted gene flow and limited genetic connectivity among geographically distant reef systems, as well as loci strongly associated with regional temperature variation.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yaeli Rosenberg, Tirza Doniger, Sarit Lampert, Frederic Sinniger, Saki Harii, Oren Levy
Summary: The study aimed to understand the daily fluctuations in gene expression at a transcript level in the coral Acropora digitifera and create a map of the biological processes that occur under natural environmental conditions. The results showed specific patterns of gene expression at different times of the day, with genes playing critical roles in physiological and behavioral processes. Understanding the daily rhythms of gene expression in marine organisms is crucial for coral survival and reef preservation.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Rowan Watt-Pringle, David J. Smith, Rohani Ambo-Rappe, Timothy A. C. Lamont, Jamaluddin Jompa
Summary: Mass coral bleaching events have a disproportionate impact on branching corals, leading to coral community restructuring, reduced biodiversity, and decreased structural complexity. A study conducted in Indonesia's Wakatobi Marine National Park found that a mass bleaching event in 2010 significantly reduced the cover of Acropora and other branching corals, and Acropora showed suppressed recovery compared to other branching corals.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sarah Barfield, Sarah W. Davies, Mikhail V. Matz
Summary: This study investigated the possibility of sweepstakes reproductive success (SRS) in Acropora hyacinthus at Yap Island, Micronesia. The genetic diversity of adults and juveniles at different sites was compared, and a dip in genetic diversity was observed in juveniles compared to adults at two sites. However, there was no detectable genetic structure among juveniles. Nonetheless, a pair of juvenile siblings was identified at the site with the lowest genetic diversity, suggesting the existence of SRS.
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Jessica Bouwmeester, Alasdair J. Edwards, James R. Guest, Andrew G. Bauman, Michael L. Berumen, Andrew H. Baird
Summary: Early research suggested that spawning synchrony in corals was driven by latitude, but recent studies have shown no correlation between latitude and reproductive synchrony. Further research is needed to understand the factors driving variation in reproductive synchrony.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Benjamin M. M. Mason, Mitsumasa Koyanagi, Tomohiro Sugihara, Makoto Iwasaki, Vladlen Slepak, David J. J. Miller, Yusuke Sakai, Akihisa Terakita
Summary: We identified six opsins from a coral species, including three novel opsins. We characterized the properties of four of these opsins and found that opsins 1 and 6 can activate Gs-type G protein in a light-dependent manner, with maximum sensitivities at 472 nm and 476 nm, respectively. Opsin 4 can induce intracellular Ca2+ increases through light-dependency. Our findings reveal that corals possess multiple opsins that regulate light-dependent signaling through different cascades.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Wyatt C. Million, Maria Ruggeri, Sibelle O'Donnell, Erich Bartels, Trinity Conn, Cory J. Krediet, Carly D. Kenkel
Summary: Genotype-by-environment interactions are crucial for the persistence and restoration strategies of tropical coral reefs. Through a transplant experiment on Acropora cervicornis, we found significant GxE effects on coral size, shape, and survivorship, with individual-level morphological plasticity positively influencing growth and survival.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Dayana Rada-Osorio, Luis A. Gomez-Lemos, Rocio Garcia-Uruena
Summary: This study aimed to document the early life history of A. cervicornis, finding that embryogenesis lasted for 63 hours and larvae began to settle 8 days after fertilization. There were no significant differences in settlement between surfaces, but survival on rugose surfaces was lower due to sediment accumulation and turf algae.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Hanna R. R. Koch, Yuen Azu, Erich Bartels, Erinn M. M. Muller
Summary: As assisted sexual reproduction becomes more common in coral reef restoration, understanding the trade-offs between reproductive output and disease resistance is crucial. This study assessed the reproductive output of A. cervicornis genets with known disease resistance or susceptibility and found a positive correlation between colony size and fecundity, as well as a negative correlation between disease susceptibility and oocyte size. These findings are important for population management and active restoration efforts.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Kaz Kawamura, Koki Nishitsuji, Eiichi Shoguchi, Shigeki Fujiwara, Noriyuki Satoh
Summary: Planula larvae of Acropora tenuis coral were successfully dissociated into single cells using a tissue dissociation solution, leading to the establishment of in vitro cell lines. Brown-colored cells proliferated transiently, while translucent and pale blue cells decreased in number. The brown-colored cells exhibited morphogenesis-like behavior and continued to proliferate stably, expressing a specific set of genes corresponding to different cell properties.
MARINE BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Diane L. Brinkman, Florita Flores, Heidi M. Luter, F. Mikaela Nordborg, Maxime Brooks, Thomas F. Parkerton, Andrew P. Negri
Summary: The risks posed by petroleum spills to coral reefs are not well understood. This study aims to quantify the toxicity thresholds of aromatic hydrocarbons to reef-building corals. The results show that Acropora millepora is more sensitive to aromatic hydrocarbons compared to other corals and aquatic taxa.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2023)
Article
Biology
Sanaz Hazraty-Kari, Parviz Tavakoli-Kolour, Seiya Kitanobo, Takashi Nakamura, Masaya Morita
Summary: Elevated temperatures can cause coral bleaching and reef degradation. However, this study found that coral may have the ability to cope with thermal stress by producing more heat-tolerant larvae. The stressed coral fragments showed a trade-off in egg production, with an increase in egg number but a decrease in size. Additionally, larvae and recruits from the stressed colony had marginally higher survival rates in higher water temperatures, which may contribute to improving coral reef resilience.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Felipe Torquato, Jessica Bouwmeester, Pedro Range, Alyssa Marshell, Mark A. Priest, John A. Burt, Peter R. Moller, Radhouan Ben-Hamadou
Summary: A population genetic study on the regional endemic table coral species, Acropora downingi, in the northeastern Arabian Peninsula revealed distinct genetic clusters between the Arabian/Persian Gulf and Sea of Oman populations. Despite a slightly structured population indicated by neutral markers, hypotheses such as bottleneck events and ecological speciation were considered to explain the observed genetic differences.
Article
Cell Biology
Masaya Morita, Seiya Kitanobo, Shun Ohki, Kogiku Shiba, Kazuo Inaba
Summary: The study identified genes that play important roles in fertilization in reef-building corals. These genes have undergone rapid molecular evolution and contribute to species boundaries in corals.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
