Rapid adaptive responses to climate change in corals

Authors

Gergely Torda, James Cook University
Jennifer M. Donelson, James Cook University
Manuel Aranda, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology
Daniel J. Barshis, Old Dominion University
Line Bay, James Cook University
Michael L. Berumen, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology
David G. Bourne, Australian Institute of Marine Science
Neal Cantin, Australian Institute of Marine Science
Sylvain Foret, James Cook University
Mikhail Matz, The University of Texas at Austin
David J. Miller, James Cook University
Aurelie Moya, James Cook University
Hollie M. Putnam, University of Rhode Island
Timothy Ravasi, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology
Madeleine J.H. Van Oppen, James Cook University
Rebecca Vega Thurber, Oregon State University
Jeremie Vidal-Dupiol, IFREMER Institut Francais de Recherche pour l'Exploitation de la Mer
Christian R. Voolstra, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology
Sue Ann Watson, James Cook University
Emma Whitelaw, La Trobe University
Bette L. Willis, James Cook University
Philip L. Munday, James Cook University

Document Type

Article

Date of Original Version

9-1-2017

Abstract

Pivotal to projecting the fate of coral reefs is the capacity of reef-building corals to acclimatize and adapt to climate change. Transgenerational plasticity may enable some marine organisms to acclimatize over several generations and it has been hypothesized that epigenetic processes and microbial associations might facilitate adaptive responses. However, current evidence is equivocal and understanding of the underlying processes is limited. Here, we discuss prospects for observing transgenerational plasticity in corals and the mechanisms that could enable adaptive plasticity in the coral holobiont, including the potential role of epigenetics and coral-associated microbes. Well-designed and strictly controlled experiments are needed to distinguish transgenerational plasticity from other forms of plasticity, and to elucidate the underlying mechanisms and their relative importance compared with genetic adaptation.

Publication Title, e.g., Journal

Nature Climate Change

Volume

7

Issue

9

Citation/Publisher Attribution

Torda, Gergely, Jennifer M. Donelson, Manuel Aranda, Daniel J. Barshis, Line Bay, Michael L. Berumen, David G. Bourne, Neal Cantin, Sylvain Foret, Mikhail Matz, David J. Miller, Aurelie Moya, Hollie M. Putnam, Timothy Ravasi, Madeleine J.H. Van Oppen, Rebecca Vega Thurber, Jeremie Vidal-Dupiol, Christian R. Voolstra, Sue Ann Watson, Emma Whitelaw, Bette L. Willis, and Philip L. Munday. "Rapid adaptive responses to climate change in corals." Nature Climate Change 7, 9 (2017): 627-636. doi: 10.1038/nclimate3374.