Results from qPCR assays to quantify the abundance and photochemical performance of symbionts relative to coral cells in three coral species collected from colonies in southeast Florida in April and October 2019 before, during, and after heat stress tests

This dataset contains results from assays to quantify the abundance and photochemical performance of Breviolum, Cladocopium, and Durusdinium symbionts relative to coral cells in Montastraea cavernosa, Orbicella faveolata, and Siderastrea siderea corals collected from colonies in southeast Florida in April 2019 and in October 2019, before, during and after aquarium-based experimental heat stress tests. Bulk genomic DNA was extracted from tissue scrapings taken from 2.5cm diameter cores of corals and was used as a template for symbiont genus-specific qPCR assays. The resulting CT values were used to calculate the relative abundance of each symbiont genus within each coral core over the course of the heat stress. The photochemical efficiency of each coral core was also measured periodically throughout heat stress tests using an imaging pulse amplitude modulated (I-PAM) fluorometer. The publication based on these data is Buzzoni, et al. (2023) (DOI: 10.1007/s00338-023-02428-x).