Caribbean Reef-Building Coral-Symbiodiniaceae Network: Identifying Symbioses Critical for System Stability in a Changing Climate
Abstract
Coral reef bleaching events across the globe are increasing following intensifying marine heatwaves and higher ocean temperatures. The frequency and intensity of bleaching events are expected to rise over the next 100 years. An increase in coral mortality has been observed in the Caribbean between 1970-2012. Our objective is to produce a network of all Caribbean hermatypic coral-Symbiodiniaceae associations and analyze it in the context of increased temperatures and coral bleaching events. The available scientific literature was explored and inspected to evaluate whether these papers included relevant data for building the network, including the coral host, host depth, sample location, symbiont ITS2 phylotype, symbiont transmission mode, and coral host reproductive mode. This search was centered around reef-building Caribbean corals that were missing symbiont association data or had little data available. Pertinent data was used to build the data library of coral-symbiont associations required for analysis by a graduate student at NSU. This collected data and data from samples collected in the field will be used to create the Caribbean coral-symbiont network in R. This network will be significant to establish which coral-symbiont associations are crucial for network stability and increase conservation focus in areas of high vulnerability.
Faculty Sponsors
Dr. Timothy Swain
Project Type
Event
Start Date
4-6-2022 12:00 PM
End Date
4-7-2022 5:00 PM
Caribbean Reef-Building Coral-Symbiodiniaceae Network: Identifying Symbioses Critical for System Stability in a Changing Climate
Coral reef bleaching events across the globe are increasing following intensifying marine heatwaves and higher ocean temperatures. The frequency and intensity of bleaching events are expected to rise over the next 100 years. An increase in coral mortality has been observed in the Caribbean between 1970-2012. Our objective is to produce a network of all Caribbean hermatypic coral-Symbiodiniaceae associations and analyze it in the context of increased temperatures and coral bleaching events. The available scientific literature was explored and inspected to evaluate whether these papers included relevant data for building the network, including the coral host, host depth, sample location, symbiont ITS2 phylotype, symbiont transmission mode, and coral host reproductive mode. This search was centered around reef-building Caribbean corals that were missing symbiont association data or had little data available. Pertinent data was used to build the data library of coral-symbiont associations required for analysis by a graduate student at NSU. This collected data and data from samples collected in the field will be used to create the Caribbean coral-symbiont network in R. This network will be significant to establish which coral-symbiont associations are crucial for network stability and increase conservation focus in areas of high vulnerability.
