Pocillopora coral host and holobiont in varying nutrient environments, Mo'orea, French Polynesia
Excess nutrient enrichment can make corals more vulnerable to climate change by suppressing calcification and reducing photosynthetic performance. Yet, nutrient-enriched responses can be variable where some reef environments with nutrient inputs have exhibited higher coral growth rates and coral thermal performance. To inform management in coastal coral reef ecosystems, a better understanding of the ecological ramifications of nutrient loading on the response of corals to seawater temperature is necessary. To investigate the effects of nutrient enrichment on coral holobionts, we sampled Pocillopora spp. colonies next to and ~ 20m away from a nutrient-enriched reef environment in Mo'orea, French Polynesia.