Spatially restricted coral bleaching as an ecological manifestation of within-colony heterogeneity
Abstract Coral bleaching is a widespread stress response of reef-building corals to elevated sea temperatures, resulting in the loss of symbiotic algae and often leading to coral death and reef degradation. Although coral bleaching occurs globally, not all reefs, species, colonies, or polyps bleach...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Communications Biology |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-025-08150-4 |
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| author | Christian R. Voolstra Marlen Schlotheuber Emma F. Camp Matthew R. Nitschke Sebastian Szereday Sonia Bejarano |
| author_facet | Christian R. Voolstra Marlen Schlotheuber Emma F. Camp Matthew R. Nitschke Sebastian Szereday Sonia Bejarano |
| author_sort | Christian R. Voolstra |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Coral bleaching is a widespread stress response of reef-building corals to elevated sea temperatures, resulting in the loss of symbiotic algae and often leading to coral death and reef degradation. Although coral bleaching occurs globally, not all reefs, species, colonies, or polyps bleach equally. Understanding intra-colony bleaching heterogeneity is crucial to anticipate the extent of coral loss at 2°C warming and harness variability to inform restorative interventions. Partially bleached coral colonies are commonly documented yet rarely tracked to determine whether they reflect ecologically distinct heterogeneity (e.g., in thermal tolerance) or eventually bleach completely. Focusing on bleaching that appears restricted to certain areas within a coral colony, we examine its putative basis in the spatial variability of the holobiont. A coral’s three-dimensional structure creates mosaics of microenvironments. Adaptations to these microenvironments are underpinned by intra-colony differences in Symbiodiniaceae association, microbiome assemblage, and nutritional status, giving rise to microhabitats. Genetic mosaicism and epigenetic changes further contribue to intra-colony phenotypic heterogeneity. We pinpoint methodologies to align spatially restricted bleaching to different forms of coral surface heterogeneity, examine the common assumption that coral fragments represent entire colonies, and illuminate implications for coral biology and restoration. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-0e04cc7b5a284a4eae6091ae2d0e731d |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2399-3642 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Communications Biology |
| spelling | doaj-art-0e04cc7b5a284a4eae6091ae2d0e731d2025-08-20T03:10:32ZengNature PortfolioCommunications Biology2399-36422025-05-018111010.1038/s42003-025-08150-4Spatially restricted coral bleaching as an ecological manifestation of within-colony heterogeneityChristian R. Voolstra0Marlen Schlotheuber1Emma F. Camp2Matthew R. Nitschke3Sebastian Szereday4Sonia Bejarano5Department of Biology, University of KonstanzDepartment of Biology, University of KonstanzClimate Change Cluster, University of Technology SydneyAustralian Institute of Marine ScienceCoralku Solutions, Non-Profit Organization for Coral Reef Research and RestorationReef Systems Research Group, Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research (ZMT)Abstract Coral bleaching is a widespread stress response of reef-building corals to elevated sea temperatures, resulting in the loss of symbiotic algae and often leading to coral death and reef degradation. Although coral bleaching occurs globally, not all reefs, species, colonies, or polyps bleach equally. Understanding intra-colony bleaching heterogeneity is crucial to anticipate the extent of coral loss at 2°C warming and harness variability to inform restorative interventions. Partially bleached coral colonies are commonly documented yet rarely tracked to determine whether they reflect ecologically distinct heterogeneity (e.g., in thermal tolerance) or eventually bleach completely. Focusing on bleaching that appears restricted to certain areas within a coral colony, we examine its putative basis in the spatial variability of the holobiont. A coral’s three-dimensional structure creates mosaics of microenvironments. Adaptations to these microenvironments are underpinned by intra-colony differences in Symbiodiniaceae association, microbiome assemblage, and nutritional status, giving rise to microhabitats. Genetic mosaicism and epigenetic changes further contribue to intra-colony phenotypic heterogeneity. We pinpoint methodologies to align spatially restricted bleaching to different forms of coral surface heterogeneity, examine the common assumption that coral fragments represent entire colonies, and illuminate implications for coral biology and restoration.https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-025-08150-4 |
| spellingShingle | Christian R. Voolstra Marlen Schlotheuber Emma F. Camp Matthew R. Nitschke Sebastian Szereday Sonia Bejarano Spatially restricted coral bleaching as an ecological manifestation of within-colony heterogeneity Communications Biology |
| title | Spatially restricted coral bleaching as an ecological manifestation of within-colony heterogeneity |
| title_full | Spatially restricted coral bleaching as an ecological manifestation of within-colony heterogeneity |
| title_fullStr | Spatially restricted coral bleaching as an ecological manifestation of within-colony heterogeneity |
| title_full_unstemmed | Spatially restricted coral bleaching as an ecological manifestation of within-colony heterogeneity |
| title_short | Spatially restricted coral bleaching as an ecological manifestation of within-colony heterogeneity |
| title_sort | spatially restricted coral bleaching as an ecological manifestation of within colony heterogeneity |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-025-08150-4 |
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