Characterizing transcriptomic responses to sediment stress across location and morphology in reef-building corals.

ABSTRACT: Anthropogenic activities increase sediment suspended in the water column and deposition on reefs can be largely dependent on colony morphology. Massive and plating corals have a high capacity to trap sediments, and active removal mechanisms can be energetically costly. Branching corals trap less sediment but are more susceptible to light limitation caused by suspended sediment. Despite deleterious effects of sediments on corals, few studies have examined the molecular response of corals with different morphological characteristics to sediment stress. To address this knowledge gap, this study assessed the transcriptomic responses of branching and massive corals in Florida and Hawai'i to varying levels of sediment exposure. Gene expression analysis revealed a molecular responsiveness to sedi

SUBMITTER: Ashey J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10836209 | biostudies-literature | 2024

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature