Selective breeding enhances coral heat tolerance even over small spatial scales

Coral reefs globally are experiencing escalating mass bleaching and mortality. Reefs along the western Indian Ocean have been relatively unimpacted. We assessed heat tolerance baselines in two widespread reef-building Acropora species and used selective breeding from two thermally distinct (present day and stress histories) northern (Mean Monthly Maximum 27.9 °C) and southern (26.6 °C) reefs along the Ningaloo World Heritage Reef. Fitness responses were measured in control and heat stress temperatures (adults = 31.0 °C, larvae = 35.5 °C), including survival, tissue necrosis, bleaching, and photosynthesis. Larvae with one parent from the warmer population exhibited >2.2-fold higher survival under heat stress, while those with both parents from the warmer population survived 1.6-fold better (compared to control larvae with two parents from the cooler population). Photosynthesis was maintained in both species and both populations, suggesting heat responses were host driven. Adults from ..., , , # Selective breeding enhances coral heat tolerance even over small spatial scales

[https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.7wm37pw3x](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.7wm37pw3x)

## Description of the data and file structure

### Description

Physiological responses of coral adults from thermally distinct reefs Oyster Stacks (OS) and Pelican Point (PP) in the Ningaloo (Western Australia) and their selected larval offspring from reproductive crosses (intrapopulation: OSxOS and PPxPP; interpolation: OSxPP and PPxOS) of Acropora species (A. tenuis and A. millepora) under experimental heat stress with control at 27.1 oC and heat temperatures of 31.0 oC (adults) and 35.5 oC (larvae). 

Thermal regimes and history of the reefs (OS) and (PP) were investigated a priori to coral collection and selective breeding to select potentially thermally distinct coral populations across Ningaloo. 

### Files and variables

All data files are uploaded as \"Data\". All package codes and scripts are uploaded as \"Software...,

全球珊瑚礁正面临日益加剧的大规模白化与死亡事件，而西印度洋沿岸的珊瑚礁受影响相对较小。本研究对宁格罗世界遗产礁（Ningaloo World Heritage Reef）两处热特征迥异（基于当前环境与胁迫历史）的北部（月均最高温27.9℃）与南部（26.6℃）礁体，开展了两种广泛分布的造礁鹿角珊瑚属（Acropora）物种（细枝鹿角珊瑚A. tenuis与多孔鹿角珊瑚A. millepora）的耐热基准评估，并实施了选择性繁育实验。在对照与热胁迫温度条件下（成体实验温度为31.0℃，幼体为35.5℃），我们测定了适合度响应指标，包括存活率、组织坏死、白化程度与光合作用效率。实验结果显示：携带一个来自暖温种群亲本的幼体在热胁迫下的存活率较对照提升2.2倍以上；而双亲均来自暖温种群的幼体存活率较双亲均来自冷温种群的对照幼体提升1.6倍。两种珊瑚物种与两个种群的光合作用效率均得以维持，表明热响应由宿主主导。成体相关实验结果……# 选择性繁育可提升珊瑚的耐热性，即使在极小空间尺度下亦然

[https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.7wm37pw3x](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.7wm37pw3x)

## 数据与文件结构说明

### 数据集概述
本数据集针对宁格罗（西澳大利亚）两处热特征迥异的礁体——牡蛎礁群（Oyster Stacks，OS）与鹈鹕角（Pelican Point，PP）的成体珊瑚，以及通过生殖杂交获得的其选育幼体（种群内杂交：OSxOS、PPxPP；跨种群杂交：OSxPP、PPxOS）的生理响应展开研究，实验设置了27.1℃的对照温度，以及成体热胁迫温度31.0℃、幼体热胁迫温度35.5℃的热胁迫条件。

在珊瑚采集与选择性繁育前，我们已预先对OS与PP两处礁体的热环境特征与历史胁迫情况开展调研，以筛选宁格罗地区潜在的热特征迥异的珊瑚种群。

### 文件与变量说明
所有数据文件均以"Data"文件夹上传，所有程序包代码与脚本均以"Software..., "文件夹上传……