Acropora palmata Transcriptome or Gene expression. Acropora palmata

This research focuses on the effects of temperature on dispersal of a reef-building coral, a topic particularly relevant in light of global warming and the sensitivity of corals to warming temperatures. A growing body of work has demonstrated the variability and importance of algal symbiont types ("clades") in determining survival of the holobiont (the coral animal and its algal symbionts) under high temperatures, but data is not available on the contribution of the coral animal. Acropora palmata is particularly worthy of attention because it is one of a few coral species currently listed as endangered under the US Endangered Species Act. By identifying signatures of selection over the range of the species, conservation efforts can prioritize source populations for restoration material based on adaptive similarity.