Interspecific hybridisation provides a low-risk option for increasing genetic diversity of reef-building corals

Annika M Lamb; Lesa M Peplow; Ashley M Dungan; Sophie N Ferguson; Peter L Harrison; Craig A Humphrey; Guy A McCutchan; Matthew R Nitschke; Madeleine J H van Oppen

doi:10.1242/bio.060482

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Interspecific hybridisation provides a low-risk option for increasing genetic diversity of reef-building corals

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Interspecific hybridisation provides a low-risk option for increasing genetic diversity of reef-building corals

Annika M Lamb, Lesa M Peplow, Ashley M Dungan, Sophie N Ferguson, Peter L Harrison, Craig A Humphrey, Guy A McCutchan, Matthew R Nitschke and Madeleine J H van Oppen

Biology open, Vol.13(9)

09/2024

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1242/bio.060482

Appears in Recent Faculty of Science and Engineering Publications

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Abstract

Acropora

Coral reef

Great Barrier Reef

Symbiodiniaceae

Hybrid

Interspecific hybridisation increases genetic diversity and has played a significant role in the evolution of corals in the genus Acropora. In vitro fertilisation can be used to increase the frequency of hybridisation among corals, potentially enhancing their ability to adapt to climate change. Here, we assessed the field performance of hybrids derived from the highly cross-fertile coral species Acropora sarmentosa and Acropora florida from the Great Barrier Reef. Following outplanting to an inshore reef environment, the 10-month survivorship of the hybrid offspring groups was intermediate between that of the purebred groups, although not all pairwise comparisons were statistically significant. The A. florida purebreds, which had the lowest survivorship, were significantly larger at 10 months post-deployment compared to the other three groups. The four offspring groups harboured the same intracellular photosymbiont communities (Symbiodiniaceae), indicating that observed performance differences were due to the coral host and not photosymbiont communities. The limited differences in the performance of the groups and the lack of outbreeding depression of the F1 hybrids in the field suggest that interspecific hybridisation may be a useful method to boost the genetic diversity, and as such increase the adaptive capacity, of coral stock for restoration of degraded and potentially genetically eroded populations.Interspecific hybridisation increases genetic diversity and has played a significant role in the evolution of corals in the genus Acropora. In vitro fertilisation can be used to increase the frequency of hybridisation among corals, potentially enhancing their ability to adapt to climate change. Here, we assessed the field performance of hybrids derived from the highly cross-fertile coral species Acropora sarmentosa and Acropora florida from the Great Barrier Reef. Following outplanting to an inshore reef environment, the 10-month survivorship of the hybrid offspring groups was intermediate between that of the purebred groups, although not all pairwise comparisons were statistically significant. The A. florida purebreds, which had the lowest survivorship, were significantly larger at 10 months post-deployment compared to the other three groups. The four offspring groups harboured the same intracellular photosymbiont communities (Symbiodiniaceae), indicating that observed performance differences were due to the coral host and not photosymbiont communities. The limited differences in the performance of the groups and the lack of outbreeding depression of the F1 hybrids in the field suggest that interspecific hybridisation may be a useful method to boost the genetic diversity, and as such increase the adaptive capacity, of coral stock for restoration of degraded and potentially genetically eroded populations.

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Title: Interspecific hybridisation provides a low-risk option for increasing genetic diversity of reef-building corals
Creators: Annika M Lamb - Australian Institute of Marine Science
Lesa M Peplow - Australian Institute of Marine Science
Ashley M Dungan - University of Melbourne
Sophie N Ferguson - Australian Institute of Marine Science
Peter L Harrison - Southern Cross University
Craig A Humphrey - Australian Institute of Marine Science
Guy A McCutchan - Australian Institute of Marine Science
Matthew R Nitschke - Australian Institute of Marine Science
Madeleine J H van Oppen - University of Melbourne
Publication Details: Biology open, Vol.13(9)
Publisher: The Company of Biologists Ltd.; CAMBRIDGE
Grant note: Australian Research Council Laureate Fellowship: FL180100036
This study was supported by the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, the Australian Institute of Marine Science, and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority. A.M.L. acknowledges an Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarship and M.J.H.v.O. acknowledges Australian Research Council Laureate Fellowship FL180100036. Open Access funding provided by Australian Institute of Marine Science. Deposited in PMC for immediate release.
Identifiers: 991013219802802368
Copyright: © 2024. Published by The Company of Biologists Ltd. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0).
Academic Unit: Faculty of Science and Engineering; Science
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article

Interspecific hybridisation provides a low-risk option for increasing genetic diversity of reef-building corals

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