Coral reproduction is vital to the persistence of coral reefs. Decades of ecological studies have correlated environmental variables, such as temperature and light, to the timing of reproduction in anthozoan cnidarians, including corals and sea anemones. However, elevated temperatures associated with climate change impair reproductive success and threaten the resilience...
Cnidarians, such as corals and sea anemones serve as hosts to a variety of organisms including symbiotic dinoflagellates, bacteria, virus, and apicomplexans. As corals are vital to the health and productivity of the reef ecosystem it is important to understand how these organisms interact with each component of the holobiont....
Mutualistic associations between corals and symbiotic microalgae of the genus Symbiodium power tropical reef ecosystems, hotspots of marine biodiversity that buffer coastlines, support tourism- and fisheries-based economies, and offer untapped potential for discovery of novel pharmaceutical compounds. However, reef ecosystems are declining at an alarming rate, in large part due...
Cnidarians and their symbiotic dinoflagellates form a productive mutualism that shapes marine environments. In this symbiosis, dinoflagellate species from the family Symbiodiniacea reside within cnidarian host gastrodermal cells and provide the host with photosynthetically fixed carbon in exchange for host metabolites. This nutritional exchange allows both partners to thrive in...
Vibriosis caused by the bacterial pathogen Vibrio tubiashii is one of several factors contributing to mass larval mortalities of the Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas) in Pacific Northwest shellfish hatcheries in recent years. Genetically improved strains of the Pacific oyster resistant to V. tubiashii would be highly desirable. This study investigates...