Scaling-up assisted evolution on coral reefs: an empirical modelling approach
Lead Research Organisation:
Newcastle University
Department Name: Sch of Natural & Environmental Sciences
Abstract
"This novel project will be the first attempt to empirically model the efficacy and feasibility of assisted evolution, i.e. sexual propagation of corals, selectively bred for heritable high thermal tolerance (TT), as a state-of-the-art method to increase wild coral population resistance to mass coral bleaching in Palau.
Research Questions
A. Do trade-offs exist between thermotolerance traits and growth/fecundity for adult/juvenile coral?
B. Can assisted evolution enhance the resilience of coral reefs enough to stabilise declining trajectories on a population/ecosystem scale?
How do response trajectories vary between:
1. IPCC climate prediction scenarios (RCP8.5 - RCP2.6)
2. trade-off classes (measured empirically by temperature tank experiments and growth/fecundity/survival field surveys)
C. How many and how soon do thermotolerant recruits need to be out-planted in order to stabilise declining coral reef trajectories on population/ecosystem scales?
Methodology
A. Adult Experiments: Analyses will be conducted on 4 coral species representing
various life history strategies (Table 1). In-situ tagged adult coral colonies (nmin = 30 species-1) will be sampled annually for:
1. Colony size: in-situ photographs, Image analysis, growth = interannual variability in colony size
2. Fecundity: oocytes/polyp (coral individual) from decalcified corals fragments
3. Temperature tolerance: survival of coral fragments (n = 6/colony) throughout long-term (~7 week) temperature stress experiment (T = 2 C)
4. Symbiont types: identified by the CORASSIST molecular genetics team
NOTE: Growth of non-sampled control colonies (n = 6) will be monitored to test the effect of fragmentation-sampling.
Research Questions
A. Do trade-offs exist between thermotolerance traits and growth/fecundity for adult/juvenile coral?
B. Can assisted evolution enhance the resilience of coral reefs enough to stabilise declining trajectories on a population/ecosystem scale?
How do response trajectories vary between:
1. IPCC climate prediction scenarios (RCP8.5 - RCP2.6)
2. trade-off classes (measured empirically by temperature tank experiments and growth/fecundity/survival field surveys)
C. How many and how soon do thermotolerant recruits need to be out-planted in order to stabilise declining coral reef trajectories on population/ecosystem scales?
Methodology
A. Adult Experiments: Analyses will be conducted on 4 coral species representing
various life history strategies (Table 1). In-situ tagged adult coral colonies (nmin = 30 species-1) will be sampled annually for:
1. Colony size: in-situ photographs, Image analysis, growth = interannual variability in colony size
2. Fecundity: oocytes/polyp (coral individual) from decalcified corals fragments
3. Temperature tolerance: survival of coral fragments (n = 6/colony) throughout long-term (~7 week) temperature stress experiment (T = 2 C)
4. Symbiont types: identified by the CORASSIST molecular genetics team
NOTE: Growth of non-sampled control colonies (n = 6) will be monitored to test the effect of fragmentation-sampling.
Organisations
People |
ORCID iD |
| John Bythell (Primary Supervisor) | |
| Liam Lachs (Student) |
Studentship Projects
| Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NE/S007512/1 | 01/10/2019 | 30/09/2027 | |||
| 2271884 | Studentship | NE/S007512/1 | 01/10/2019 | 30/12/2023 | Liam Lachs |
| Description | Coral reefs have an inherent capacity for adaptation that has not previously been found. It is unlikey that selecting for corals with higher heat tolerance will have negative tradeoffs with other important traits like growth and reproductive output, for the case study of Palau. Mass bleaching can be predicting more accurately using a revised global algorithm. Restorative interventions like assisted evolution can rely on this scientific information to improve the chance of success. |
| Exploitation Route | Adoption of heat stress algorithm amendments by researchers and NOAA CRW, which is happening in the near future. |
| Sectors | Environment |
| Description | My results on improving heat stress algorithms to predict mass belaching have contributed to improving the global bleaching risk monitoring product by NOAA Coral Reef Watch. This tool is used in academia, but also by reef managers to monitor coral bleaching risk. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2020 |
| Sector | Environment |
| Impact Types | Policy & public services |
| Description | Scaling Up Coral Preservation in Palau |
| Amount | $1,200 (USD) |
| Funding ID | LACHPALA1219 |
| Organisation | Idea Wild |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United States |
| Start | 07/2020 |
| End | 12/2023 |
| Description | Scaling-up restorative assisted evolution on Anthropocene coral reefs |
| Amount | £13,366 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | NE/T014547/1 |
| Organisation | Natural Environment Research Council |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 04/2020 |
| End | 03/2022 |
| Title | SizeExtractR - a workflow for extracting object size metrics from scaled images |
| Description | Here, we present SizeExtractR, an open-source workflow that enables faster extraction of size metrics from scaled images (e.g., each image includes a ruler) using semi-automated protocols. It comprises a set of ImageJ macros to speed up size extraction and annotation, and an R-package for the quality control of annotations, data collation, calibration, and visualization. |
| Type Of Material | Data analysis technique |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Being used by researchers in University of Leeds, University of Hull, Oxford, and the Australian Institute of Marine Science. |
| URL | https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5997934 |