Award: EF-1220641

This project has elucidated novel aspects about the cellular physiology of corals, generated educational material for the general public, K-12, undergraduate and graduate students, and produced seven highly qualified trainees. INTELLECTUAL MERIT: a novel cellular mechanism was elucidated by which host coral cells can promote photosynthesis by their symbiotic algae. Novel proteins involved in ion transport for coral calcification and photosynthesis were identified in specific cell types. Differential protein localization in two different coral species indicates the presence of species-specific mechanisms, which likely determines differential susceptibility to environmental stress. A mechanism for sensing CO2, pH and bicarbonate depending on the enzyme soluble adenylyl cyclase and the cyclic AMP pathway was characterized for the first time in corals. This research has clearly established the importance of understanding coral biology at the cellular level, and provided novel models that will help understand coral responses to metabolic and environmental stress in future studies. Overall, this research generated nine peer-reviewed publications (and three more currently at the writing stage). BROADER IMPACTS: the highlight is the development of a permanent museum exhibit at the Birch Aquarium at Scripps, which includes giant flat and touch screens explaining coral cell biology and ocean acidification to the general public. Since the inception of the exhibit in February 2016 through April 2017, total attendance was 549,048. This figure includes 48,424 K-12 students and 5,806 college students who visited on field trips (the next report about total attendance will be available in September). Other activities included an event to showcase marine biology science to the general public,career advice panels for the youth, a public lecture that is available online through UCSD-TV and YouTube (>500,000 views since 2013), workshops and seminars on marine physiology for high school students, and public lectures in Mexico and Panama. This project trained one postdoctoral reseracher, two PhD students, four Masters students, and four undergraduate students, nine of which belong to underrepresented minorities in science. All of those trainees have continued science-related careers, including a faculty position at a top reserach university, graduate school, a government policymaking fellowship, and jobs in biotech companies. Results from this project, together with other information about coral biology and ocean acidification, was taught in University courses for undergraduate and graduate students over the 5 years of this project. Last Modified: 08/03/2017 Submitted by: Martin Tresguerres