Coral holobiont heat stress responses

This study explores the stability of the symbiotic relationship between coral and their dinoflagellate algae (Symbiodiniaceae) under increasing heat stress. In a 2-month manipulative experiment, the thermotolerant coral Porites lutea was exposed to increasing temperatures, from 28C to 32C (0 - 8 Degree Heating Weeks, DHW), and the stability of the host-symbiont relationship was assessed through coral and Symbiodiniaceae transcriptomics, microbial 16S rRNA gene sequencing and physiological measurements.