C. D. Kenkel

Resilience in a time of stress: revealing the molecular underpinnings of coral survival following thermal bleaching events

This study identifies molecular biomarkers of coral resilience to thermal bleaching by comparing proteomic, microbiome, and physiological traits of surviving and dying corals.

Bio-optical signatures of insitu photosymbionts predict bleaching severity prior to thermal stress in the Caribbean coral species Acropora palmata

The paper uses machine learning to predict coral bleaching severity using bio-optical metrics from Acropora palmata, showing significant correlation between fluorescence-based phenotypes and bleaching outcomes.

Performance of Orbicella faveolata larval cohorts does not align with previously observed thermal tolerance of adult source populations

The study finds that larval thermal tolerance of Orbicella faveolata does not match the thermal tolerance of their adult source populations, challenging the assumption that tolerant parents produce tolerant offspring.

Microhabitat acclimatization shifts physiological baselines and thermal tolerance of the symbiotic anemone, Anthopleura elegantissima

This study shows that high intertidal anemones and their symbionts have greater thermal tolerance under heat stress, driven by environmental history rather than tidal height alone.

Abundance of Oligoflexales bacteria is associated with algal symbiont density independent of thermal stress in Aiptasia anemones

The paper investigates the relationship between Oligoflexales bacteria abundance and algal symbiont density in Aiptasia anemones, finding a correlation independent of thermal stress.

Cross-generational heritability analysis of physiological traits in Porites astreoides across an inshore-offshore gradient in the Lower Florida Keys

This study estimates heritability of physiological traits in Porites astreoides across life stages, finding high genetic influence on larval chlorophyll a concentration and variable heritability across traits and stages.

Long term maintenance of heterologous symbiont association in Acropora palmata on natural reefs

This study shows that Acropora palmata can maintain a novel symbiosis with Durusdinium spp. for two years in natural reefs, but some corals switch to native symbionts over time.

Evidence for adaptive morphological plasticity in the Caribbean coral, Acropora cervicornis.

This study shows that genotype-by-environment interactions affect coral morphology and survival, with plasticity linked to faster growth and higher survival in the endangered coral A. cervicornis.

Host-specific epibiomes of distinct Acropora cervicornis genotypes persist after field transplantation

The paper examines how host genotype influences the epibiome of Acropora cervicornis across environments, finding that distinct genotypes maintain unique microbial signatures despite field transplantation.

Novel reference transcriptomes for the sponges Carteriospongia foliascens and Cliona orientalis and associated algal symbiont Gerakladium endoclionum

The paper generates reference transcriptomes for two sponge species and their algal symbiont, providing resources for studying stress responses and evolutionary biology.

Global gene expression patterns in response to white patch syndrome: Disentangling symbiont loss from the thermal stress response in reef-building coral

This study investigates gene expression changes in coral with white patch syndrome, distinguishing symbiont loss from thermal stress, and finds that expression patterns correlate with stress responses rather than symbiotic state.

Symbiont community diversity is more constrained in holobionts that tolerate diverse stressors

The paper examines how symbiont community diversity relates to stress tolerance in coral genets, finding that best performers host more Cladocopium 3k and worst performers show higher symbiont diversity.

Positive genetic associations among fitness traits support evolvability of a reef-building coral under multiple stressors

This study shows that positive genetic correlations among fitness traits in corals suggest they can adapt to multiple stressors simultaneously.

Molecular convergence and positive selection associated with the evolution of symbiont transmission mode in stony corals

The paper identifies genes under positive selection and molecular convergence in stony corals with vertical symbiont transmission, highlighting their role in symbiosis evolution.

Recruit symbiosis establishment and Symbiodiniceae composition influenced by adult corals and reef sediment

This study shows that coral recruits acquire Symbiodiniaceae symbionts from both sediment and adult corals, with the combination of sediment and adult coral fragments leading to the highest uptake and diversity.