Date of Award
2026
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science in Biological and Environmental Sciences (MSBES)
Department
Biological Sciences
First Advisor
Hollie Putnam
Abstract
Coral responses to repeated environmental stressors are shaped not only by their current physiological state but also by their recent environmental history. In this study, we tested whether exposure to sublethal heat and low-pH conditions induces physiological priming in two Caribbean corals, Diploria labyrinthiformis and Madracis decactis. Both species displayed priming effects predominantly in their photochemical efficiency, photosynthesis, and respiration, where prior exposure enhanced performance during subsequent heat stress. This shows metabolic shifts that indicate increased physiological flexibility through plasticity and suggest that early stress exposure reorganizes energy budgets in ways that supports and maintains function during later thermal challenges. Species-specific differences in baseline physiology and trait plasticity modulated the magnitude of priming responses, highlighting the role of species identity in determining acclimatory capacity. In contrast, chlorophyll concentrations, protein content, and symbiont density showed delayed responses. Together, these results demonstrate that environmental priming can modulate coral stress responses and may elicit environmental memory that contribute to resilience under climate change. Identifying when and how priming enhances stress tolerance is essential for forecasting coral performance under increasingly frequent marine heatwaves and for guiding restoration strategies that focus on acclimation potential.
Recommended Citation
Fields, Florence, "THE ROLE OF PRIMING TOWARDS THE TOLERANCE OF REEF BUILDING CORALS IN RESPONSE TO HEAT STRESS" (2026). Open Access Master's Theses. Paper 2755.
https://digitalcommons.uri.edu/theses/2755