Award: OCE-1452538

Corals, the foundation of most shallow-water tropical reefs, are dying worldwide from a combination of global and local threats and Caribbean are showing no signs of natural recovery. In response to this continued degradation, many organizations have invested significant resources into coral restorations efforts; however, most of the threats causing coral loss remain unabated. To combat this challenge, scientists, restoration practitioners, and managers have been developing intervention strategies to integrate resilience into restored populations. One approach includes screening coral genotypes for tolerance to major threats, eventually upscaling the inclusion of these resilient corals into active restoration. However, little is known about whether there are tradeoffs associated with these resistant traits. For example, heat tolerant corals may be less fecund or disease resistant genotypes may grow more slowly due to the allocation of limited energetic resources. The current NSF CAREER award studied a subset of Mote Marine Laboratory?s broodstock of Acropora cervicornis genotypes that have been outplanted throughout Florida?s Coral Reef for over a decade to characterize phenotypic response to high temperatures, ocean acidification conditions, and white band disease exposure. The study also measured growth among the genotypes tested and quantified fecundity to determine whether there were tradeoffs for corals that were more robust against these known threats. Additionally, experimental studies were repeated using the same, or altered, methodologies to quantify the phenotypic plasticity of each genotype. The fecundity and average growth of each genotype tested was also quantified. The data collected were amalgamated into a population-based model that projected population structure under different disease outbreak scenarios. The disease exposure study showed that disease resistance among tested Acropora cervicornis ranged from 0 ? 100% after exposure to white band disease under ambient conditions. When the corals bleached from anomalously warm water temperatures the variance among genotypes reduced; predominantly corals were 100% susceptible when bleached. However, two genotypes showed complete disease resistance whether bleached or not. These two genets also possessed a unique microbiome, devoid of an obligate intracellular parasitic bacterium that dominated the susceptible coral genotypes. Subsequent studies exposed genotypes of Acropora cervicornis to four treatments for two months (control, ocean acidification, high temperature, high temperature & ocean acidification). These studies showed that coral genotypes varied in their level of heat tolerance and resistance to ocean acidification, and there were no significant tradeoffs associated with the resilience to these two threats. Combined exposure to high temperature & ocean acidification conditions showed synergistic negative responses for at least some traits. Repeat exposures of the same genotypes to the same treatments the following year, however, indicated that phenotypic response was plastic, although general rankings of resistance among genets were relatively consistent under high temperature or high temperature & ocean acidification conditions. Additionally, shortening the exposure, but increasing the rate of temperature change within the experimental design, eliminated the variation in heat tolerance among genets and caused disease-related mortality thus highlighting the need to thoughtfully test methodologies to ensure confident phenotypes prior to interpretation. Finally, fecundity also varied by genotype with the two most disease resistant genets having significantly higher fecundity than the other genotypes measured. These results indicate that there may be a conferred level of robustness within certain genets making them more likely to survive current and future ocean conditions, while also overly contributing to the reproductive potential of the restored population. The population model results, which integrated fecundity and growth metrics, indicated that under normal conditions, future population levels would be higher when outplanting more disease susceptible genotypes than resistant. However, introducing disease outbreaks effectively crashed the population structure when only susceptible genotypes were outplanted. Thus, higher ratios of disease resistant to susceptible genotypes should be used for restoration when and where frequent disease events are expected. Our results of the phenotypic variation testing and applied population model support the importance of considering genetic variation and phenotype testing in restoration efforts to best support the rehabilitation of Florida?s Coral Reef. The present NSF CAREER award also developed a research-based after school program (RAPS) for middle and high school students in the Florida Keys and St. Croix, US Virgin Islands that focused on coral reef research and conservation. Each year, students developed and implemented research projects that focused on corals and reef ecosystems. At the end of the academic year, the students presented their respective projects at an annual showcase, which was open to community and family members. Additionally, the students participated in an annual immersive science camp at Mote?s International Center for Coral Reef Research and Restoration on Summerland Key, Florida. Here, members of both locations participated simultaneously, which cultivated peer-to-peer mentorship. Campers also conducted leadership and team-building activities daily, which resulted in life-long connections among students, educators, and scientists. Approximately 10 ? 18 students participated in the RAPS program each year, with a majority of members from under-represented communities. Last Modified: 08/02/2021 Submitted by: Erinn M Muller