My research interest is centered on environmental tolerance limits in hermatypic corals. Although reef-building corals thrive at their upper most tolerance limit (temperature, light, etc.), there is considerable habitat variation within and between environments over which they exist. A major and rapid change in global climates is expected to occur during the coming century. Several models have predicted a rise in sea surface temperatures along with increased levels of ultraviolet radiation (UVR). Anticipation of these large-scale changes in the world’s climate has led to growing concern about the effects of climate change on populations of coral reefs. Light and temperature are two important abiotic factors responsible for the distribution, survival, and dispersal of coral populations. Both have been linked to the occurrence of widespread coral bleaching (1980’s to present), and are now, due to a variety of causes expected to increase in severity and duration. Subsequently, interest has increased in the role of elevated temperature and UVR levels as important contributing factors to the loss of reef habitat. Previous studies have indicated that corals can acclimate to different environmental stress conditions, however, our understanding of coral acclimation is still not well defined and has changed little over the last decade.
Differences in ability of coral to acclimate to changes in UVR and temperature may be induced by environmental variation, reflect genetic variation or both. I am interested in the extent to which a given environment can change the expression of a genotype at the phenotypic level, which is known as phenotypic plasticity. Acclimation of a particular organism to stress is directly related to the magnitude and variation of its plastic response. Genotypes may differ in their susceptibility to environmental modification, which raises the question of the role of genetic variation in response to stress. The response of coral to environmental stress (i.e. bleaching) can vary within a colony, across colonies, and across populations (over latitudes). My research specifically will focus on the level of variation in response to stress and to what extent genetic variation plays in ability of a given coral to acclimate. Ultimately I hope to make a connection between coral acclimation and climate change, how changes in climate might affect the evolution of corals and their ability to adapt to a rapid-changing environment.