Algal symbiont diversity in Acropora muricata from the extreme reef of Bouraké associated with resistance to coral bleaching

Widespread coral bleaching has generally been linked to high water temperatures at larger geographic scale. However, teh bleaching response can be highly variable aming individuals of the same species, between different species, and across localities; what causes this variability remais unresolved. Here, we tracked bleached and non-bleached colonies of Acropora muricata to see if they recovered or died following a stress event inside the semi-enclosed lagoon of Bouraké (New Caledonia), where corals are long-term acclimatized to extreme conditions of temperature, pH and dissolved oxygen, and at a nearby control reef. We describe Symbiodiniaceae community changes, metabolic responses, and energetical reserves (12 physiological traits evaluated) during La Niña warm and rainy summer in 2021. Widespread coral bleaching (score 1 and 2 on coral colour health chart) was observed only in Bouraké, likely due to the combination of the high temperatures (up to 32 oC) and heavy rain. All colonies (i..., See the mauscript for the methods, , # **Algal symbiont diversity in *Acropora muricata* from the extreme reef of Bouraké associated with resistance to coral bleaching** [https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.05qfttf8z](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.05qfttf8z) There are four main files. The first file (physio) reports the physiological responses of bleached and unbleached corals inhabiting the extreme semi-lagoon of Bouraké (New Caledonia). ## Description of the data and file structure File name: Gross photosynthesis Description: data are reported in an excel file containing the relative to all physiological parameters used in this study. Format(s): .xls \* Size(s): 11 KB \* Dimensions: 61 rows x 6 columns \* Pg: gross photosynthesis \* ID: the ID of the coral sample \* Condition: the category that define coral health status and provenience (BZ = Bouraké healthy, BB = Bouraké bleached; RZ = Reference healthy) \* Origin: the site of origin \* State: defines the health status \* Time: time of sampling File name: respiration Des...