Rapid adaptive responses to climate change in corals

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

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View at Publisher Website: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/NCLIMATE3374
 
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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.

Item ID: 50693
Item Type: Article (Research - C1)
ISSN: 1758-6798
Date Deposited: 20 Sep 2017 11:05
FoR Codes: 31 BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES > 3103 Ecology > 310305 Marine and estuarine ecology (incl. marine ichthyology) @ 100%
SEO Codes: 96 ENVIRONMENT > 9603 Climate and Climate Change > 960305 Ecosystem Adaptation to Climate Change @ 100%
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