Editorial: The Future of Coral Reefs Subject to Rapid Climate Change: Lessons From Natural Extreme Environments

• Published in: Frontiers in Marine Science Vol. 5
• Main Authors: Camp, Emma F., Schoepf, Verena, Mumby, Peter J., Suggett, David J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Lausanne Frontiers Research Foundation 20-11-2018; Frontiers Media S.A
• Subjects: Acidification; Algae; Climate change; Conflicts of interest; Coral reefs; Corals; Dispersal; Ecosystems; Editorials; Environmental changes; Environmental conditions; extreme; Genetic diversity; Genetic variation; Low temperature; marginal; Phenotypic plasticity; suboptimal; Success; Symbionts; Temperature gradients; Temperature tolerance; Thermal stress; Winnowing; Australia; Florida; United States > US; Great Barrier Reef
• ISSN: 2296-7745; 2296-7745
• DOI: 10.3389/fmars.2018.00433

An important emerging research area shaping our understanding of how coral reef ecosystems might adapt and/or acclimate to environmental and climate change, has been through the study of naturally extreme coral environments. Common survivorship traits expressed by corals within such extremes include phenotypic plasticity, maintenance of energy reserves (e.g., enhanced heterotrophy), and genetic diversity. The authors conclude in their review that corals may, in fact, have the tools required to cope with future climate change through their genetic diversity, phenotypic plasticity, dispersal abilities, and prevalence across large temperature gradients. Hume et al. investigated algal symbionts of corals from the world's hottest sea to better understand the genetic diversity of the Symbiodinium thermophilum group that has been associated with native corals' thermal tolerance.