Coral and Algal Symbiont Genomic Data: Restoration Team Trials Project
This research is part of a large collaboration known as the Restoration Team Trials (RTT) project led by Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission which was created to develop, coordinate, and conduct an experimental coral outplanting effort with the goal of determining the efficacy of using coral restoration under the persistence of SCTLD and evaluate the roles of coral genetic lineages and algal symbiont assemblages in outplant survival and disease susceptibility. Many studies and restoration efforts identify coral genotypes through phenotypic characteristics, however, genetic sequence data generated from outplanted corals could be a vital resource to identify corals susceptible or resistant to SCTLD. To determine the potential coral genomic and/or algal endosymbiont factors that may contribute to the relative success or failure of the outplanted fragments, the holobiont genetics of the outplanted coral fragments were characterized through complimentary sequencing. Genotypic and Symbiodiniaceae community variability was compared to coral colony health assessment data across six study regions to assess potential relationships with restoration performance traits. Results from this study will aid in determining the feasibility of coral restoration as an active response to SCTLD specifically by identifying which genotypes and algal symbiont communities should be targeted as ideal outplanting candidate(s).