This research study seeks to explain coral resilience to heat stress by looking at differences in genes that are expressed in heat tolerant (resilient) versus heat sensitive corals (of the same species). Authors simulated bleaching stress and used DNA-sequencing to determine genes expressed in heat-tolerant versus heat-sensitive corals during no-stress and stress periods.
Results indicate heat-resilient corals have 60 genes that constantly make products to help with heat stress, even during no-stress periods (an activity called “frontloading”) and that this is acquired from natural exposure to extremes of heat stress. This study further supports managing or protecting corals that experience constant natural stress, as they may be more tolerant and resilient to future climate change impacts
Author: Barshis, D.J., J.T. Ladner, T.A. Oliver, F.O. Seneca, N. Traylor-Knowles, and S.R. Palumbi
Year: 2013
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Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 110(4). doi:10.1073/ pnas.1210224110
