Introgression and adaptive potential following heavy bleaching events in Acropora corals

• Published in: Current biology Vol. 35; no. 13; pp. 3064 - 3075.e5
• Main Authors: Furukawa, Mao, Tarigan, Ariyo Imanuel, Kitanobo, Seiya, Hanahara, Nozomi, Ohki, Shun, Morita, Masaya
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Inc 07.07.2025
• Subjects: Acropora; Adaptation, Physiological - genetics; Animals; Anthozoa - genetics; Anthozoa - physiology; climate change adaptation; Coral Bleaching; coral hybridization; Coral Reefs; gamete compatibility; genetic diversity; Genetic Introgression; Genetic Variation; Hybridization, Genetic; introgression; Japan; resilience; Japan; genetic diversity; Acropora; coral hybridization; climate change adaptation; introgression; resilience; gamete compatibility; coral bleaching

The decline of reef-building corals due to severe bleaching events poses a global threat to coral reef ecosystems. In Okinawa, Japan, despite the devastating 1998 bleaching event and subsequent elevated sea surface temperatures in summer, three interbreeding coral species within the Acropora cf. hum...