Heritability of heat tolerance of corals on the Great Barrier Reef (MTSRF Project 2.5i.2)

Using a quantitative genetics approach, the proportion of the variance in thermal tolerance traits that has a genetic basis (i.e. heritability) was estimated as a proxy for their adaptive potential in the widespread Indo-Pacific reef-building coral Acropora millepora. Two physiologically different populations that associate respectively with one thermotolerant (Symbiodinium clade D) and one less tolerant symbiont type (Symbiodinium C2) were chosen.

Pulse amplitude modulated (PAM) fluorometry and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis was used to assess photosynthesis and photoprotective pigment profile. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) assays were used to assass changes in expression of fundamental stress genes.