Microbial community and transcriptional responses to increased temperatures in coral Pocillopora damicornis holobiont.

ABSTRACT: A few studies have holistically examined successive changes in coral holobionts in response to increased temperatures. Here, responses of the coral host Pocillopora damicornis, its Symbiodiniaceae symbionts, and associated bacteria to increased water temperatures were investigated. High temperatures induced bleaching, but no coral mortality was observed. Transcriptome analyses showed that P. damicornis responded more quickly to elevated temperatures than its algal symbionts. Numerous genes putatively associated with apoptosis, exocytosis, and autophagy were upregulated in P. damicornis, suggesting that Symbiodiniaceae can be eliminated or expelled through these mechanisms when P. damicornis experiences heat stress. Furthermore, apoptosis in P. damicornis is presumably induced through tumou

SUBMITTER: Li J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7984454 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature