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Evolutionary radiation and microbial community dynamics shape the thermal tolerance of Fungiidae in the southern South China Sea.

Yuxin WeiBiao ChenKefu YuZhiheng LiaoXiaopeng YuZhenjun QinZeming BaoLijia XuYongzhi Wang
Published in: Microbiology spectrum (2024)
Coral reefs are facing significant threats due to global warming. The heat tolerance of coral holobionts depends on both the coral host and its microbiome. However, the association between coral evolutionary radiation and interspecific differences in microbial communities remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the role of evolutionary radiation and microbial community dynamics in shaping the thermal acclimation potential of Fungiidae in the Sanjiao Reef of the southern South China Sea. The study's results suggest that evolutionary radiation enhances the thermal tolerance of Fungiidae. Fungiidae species that have diverged more recently have exhibited a higher presence of heat-tolerant Symbiodiniaceae taxa, more stable bacterial communities, and a robust and resilient microbial interaction network, improving the thermal adaptability of Fungiidae. In summary, this study provides new insights into the thermal adaptation patterns of corals under global warming conditions.
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