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Expression plasticity regulates intraspecific variation in the acclimatization potential of a reef-building coral

Author

Listed:
  • Crawford Drury

    (Hawaiʻi Institute of Marine Biology)

  • Jenna Dilworth

    (Hawaiʻi Institute of Marine Biology
    University of Southern California)

  • Eva Majerová

    (Hawaiʻi Institute of Marine Biology)

  • Carlo Caruso

    (Hawaiʻi Institute of Marine Biology)

  • Justin B. Greer

    (Western Fisheries Research Center)

Abstract

Phenotypic plasticity is an important ecological and evolutionary response for organisms experiencing environmental change, but the ubiquity of this capacity within coral species and across symbiont communities is unknown. We exposed ten genotypes of the reef-building coral Montipora capitata with divergent symbiont communities to four thermal pre-exposure profiles and quantified gene expression before stress testing 4 months later. Here we show two pre-exposure profiles significantly enhance thermal tolerance despite broadly different expression patterns and substantial variation in acclimatization potential based on coral genotype. There was no relationship between a genotype’s basal thermal sensitivity and ability to acquire heat tolerance, including in corals harboring naturally tolerant symbionts, which illustrates the potential for additive improvements in coral response to climate change. These results represent durable improvements from short-term stress hardening of reef-building corals and substantial cryptic complexity in the capacity for plasticity.

Suggested Citation

  • Crawford Drury & Jenna Dilworth & Eva Majerová & Carlo Caruso & Justin B. Greer, 2022. "Expression plasticity regulates intraspecific variation in the acclimatization potential of a reef-building coral," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:13:y:2022:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-022-32452-4
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-32452-4
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Frank Seebacher & Craig R. White & Craig E. Franklin, 2015. "Physiological plasticity increases resilience of ectothermic animals to climate change," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 5(1), pages 61-66, January.
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