Coral adaptation to the impacts of climate change – including increasing average water temperatures and more frequent and extreme heatwaves – will be critical to sustaining functional reefs into the future. It is not known how fast coral populations can naturally evolve and thus whether they can keep pace with the changing environment.
Research has found corals have substantial capacity to increase their growth rates and heat tolerance through methods such as selective breeding, manipulating their microbiomes or hardening treatments. Further research is required to determine the full scope for enhancement and any associated trade-offs.
The Enhanced Corals and Treatments R&D Subprogram aimed to undertake research on:
This project provided essential data and information on where and how to identify temperature tolerant corals within and among reefs. This project applied whole-genome sequencing, outlier and association analyses to uncover links between specific host genome regions, symbiont community characteristics and heat tolerance phenotypes from corals across the Reef.
This project progressed ideas designed to enhance heat tolerance of corals, which could be operationalised via aquaculture processes, including crossbreeding of warm-adapted corals, genome sequencing of cross-bred corals, development of algal symbionts that enhance heat tolerance.
This project assessed the feasibility of using probiotics to enhance desired traits such as growth and survival in corals. Additionally, the project developed treatments comprising a reliable suite of probiotics to enhance coral health and microbial inducers to promote settlement of a diversity of coral species, required to underpin aquaculture based coral propagation at scale.
Howells, E.J., Bay, L.K., Bay, R.A. (2022). Identifying, Monitoring, and Managing Adaptive Genetic Variation in Reef-Building Corals under Rapid Climate Warming. In: van Oppen, M.J.H., Aranda Lastra, M. (eds) Coral Reef Conservation and Restoration in the Omics Age. Coral Reefs of the World, vol 15. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-07055-6_4
Randall, C.J., Speaks, J.E., Lager, C. et al. Rapid counting and spectral sorting of live coral larvae using large-particle flow cytometry. Sci Rep 10, 12919 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-69491-0
Randall CJ, Negri AP, Quigley KM, Foster T, Ricardo GF, Webster NS, Bay LK, Harrison PL, Babcock RC, Heyward AJ (2020) Sexual production of corals for reef restoration in the Anthropocene. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 635:203-232 https://doi.org/10.3354/meps13206
Macadam, A., Nowell, C. J., & Quigley, K. (2021). Machine Learning for the Fast and Accurate Assessment of Fitness in Coral Early Life History. Remote Sensing, 13(16), 3173. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs13163173
Roepke, L. K., Brefeld, D., Soltmann, U., Randall, C. J., Negri, A. P., & Kunzmann, A. (2022). Applying behavioral studies to the ecotoxicology of corals: A case study on Acropora millepora. Frontiers in Marine Science, 9, 1002924. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2022.1002924
Maire, J., Buerger, P., Chan, W. Y., Deore, P., Dungan, A. M., Nitschke, M. R., & van Oppen, M. J. H. (2022). Effects of ocean warming on the underexplored members of the coral microbiome. Integrative and Comparative Biology, 62(6), 1700–1709. https://doi.org/10.1093/icb/icac005
“Scharfenstein, H. J., Chan, W. Y., Buerger, P., Humphrey, C., & van Oppen, M. J. H. (2022). Evidence for de novo acquisition of microalgal symbionts by bleached adult corals. The ISME Journal, 16(6), 1676–1679. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41396-022-01203-0
Howells, E.J., Bay, L.K., Bay, R.A. (2022). Identifying, Monitoring, and Managing Adaptive Genetic Variation in Reef-Building Corals under Rapid Climate Warming. In: van Oppen, M.J.H., Aranda Lastra, M. (eds) Coral Reef Conservation and Restoration in the Omics Age. Coral Reefs of the World, vol 15. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-07055-6_4
van Oppen, M.J.H., Nitschke, M.R. (2022). Increasing Coral Thermal Bleaching Tolerance via the Manipulation of Associated Microbes. In: van Oppen, M.J.H., Aranda Lastra, M. (eds) Coral Reef Conservation and Restoration in the Omics Age. Coral Reefs of the World, vol 15. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-07055-6_8
“Thatcher, C., Høj, L., & Bourne, D. G. (2022). Probiotics for coral aquaculture: Challenges and considerations. Current Opinion in Biotechnology, 73, 380–386. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copbio.2021.09.009
Scharfenstein, H., Alvarez‐Roa, C., Peplow, L. M., Buerger, P., Chan, W. Y., & Oppen, M. J. H. v. (2023). Chemical mutagenesis and thermal selection of coral photosymbionts induce adaptation to heat stress with trait trade‐offs. Evolutionary Applications, 16(9), 1549-1567. https://doi.org/10.1111/eva.13586
Matias, A. M. A., Popovic, I., Thia, J. A., Cooke, I., Torda, G., Lukoschek, V., … & Riginos, C. (2022). Cryptic diversity and spatial genetic variation in the coral acropora tenuis and its endosymbionts across the great barrier reef. Evolutionary Applications, 16(2), 293-310. https://doi.org/10.1111/eva.13435
Chan, W. Y., Meyers, L., Rudd, D., Topa, S. H., & Oppen, M. J. H. v. (2023). Heat‐evolved algal symbionts enhance bleaching tolerance of adult corals without trade‐off against growth. Global Change Biology, 29(24), 6945-6968. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.16987
Quigley, K.M., Alvarez-Roa, C., Raina, JB. et al. Heat-evolved microalgal symbionts increase thermal bleaching tolerance of coral juveniles without a trade-off against growth. Coral Reefs 42, 1227–1232 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-023-02426-z
Turnlund, A. C., Vanwonterghem, I., Botté, E. S., Randall, C. J., Giuliano, C., Kam, L., Bell, S., O’Brien, P., Negri, A. P., Webster, N. S., & Lurgi, M. (2023). Linking differences in microbial network structure with changes in coral larval settlement. ISME Communications, 3(1), 114. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43705-023-00320-x
Madin, J. S., McWilliam, M., Quigley, K., Bay, L. K., Bellwood, D., Doropoulos, C., Fernandes, L., Harrison, P., Hoey, A. S., Mumby, P. J., Ortiz, J. C., Richards, Z. T., Riginos, C., Schiettekatte, N. M. D., Suggett, D. J., & van Oppen, M. J. H. (2023). Selecting coral species for reef restoration. Journal of Applied Ecology, 60(8), 1537–1544. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.14447
Chan, W. Y., Rudd, D., & van Oppen, M. J. H. (2023). Spatial metabolomics for symbiotic marine invertebrates. Life Science Alliance, 6(8), e202301900. https://doi.org/10.26508/lsa.202301900
Riginos, C.; Popovic, I.; Meziere, Z.; Garcia, V.; Byrne, I.; Howitt, S. M.; Ishida, H.; Bairos-Novak, K.; Humanes, A.; Scharfenstein, H.; Richards, T.; Briggs, E.; Clark, V.; Lei, C.; Khan, M.; Prata, K. E. Cryptic species and hybridisation in corals: challenges and opportunities for conservation and restoration. Peer Community Journal, Volume 4 (2024), article no. e106. https://doi.org/10.24072/pcjournal.492
Briggs, N.D., Page, C.A., Giuliano, C. et al. Dissecting coral recovery: bleaching reduces reproductive output in Acropora millepora. Coral Reefs 43, 557–569 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-024-02483-y
Meziere, Z., Popovic, I., Prata, K. E., Ryan, I., Pandolfi, J. M., & Riginos, C. (2024). Exploring coral speciation: multiple sympatric stylophora pistillata taxa along a divergence continuum on the great barrier reef. Evolutionary Applications, 17(1). https://doi.org/10.1111/eva.13644
Selmoni, O., Bay, L. K., Exposito-Alonso, M., & Cleves, P. A. (2024). Finding genes and pathways that underlie coral adaptation. Trends in Genetics, 40(3), 213–227. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tig.2024.01.003
Naugle, M.S., Denis, H., Mocellin, V.J.L. et al. Heat tolerance varies considerably within a reef-building coral species on the Great Barrier Reef. Commun Earth Environ 5, 525 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-024-01649-4
Scharfenstein, H., Peplow, L. M., Alvarez‐Roa, C., Nitschke, M. R., Chan, W. Y., Buerger, P., … & Oppen, M. J. H. v. (2024). Pushing the limits: expanding the temperature tolerance of a coral photosymbiont through differing selection regimes. New Phytologist, 243(6), 2130-2145. https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.19996
Nitschke, M. R., Abrego, D., Allen, C. E., Alvarez-Roa, C., Boulotte, N. M., Buerger, P., Chan, W. Y., Fae Neto, W. A., Ivory, E., Johnston, B., Meyers, L., Parra, C., Peplow, L., Perez, T., Scharfenstein, H. J., & van Oppen, M. J. H. (2024). The use of experimentally evolved coral photosymbionts for reef restoration. Trends in Microbiology, 32(8), 708–719. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tim.2024.05.008
Denis, H., Bay, L. K., Mocellin, V. J. L., Naugle, M. S., Lecellier, G., Purcell, S. W., Berteaux-Lecellier, V., & Howells, E. J. (2024). Thermal tolerance traits of individual corals are widely distributed across the Great Barrier Reef. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 291(2030), 20240587. https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2024.0587
Macadam, A., Morgans, C., Cheok, J., Damjanovic, K., Ciampaglia, M., Toor, M., Laffy, P., Cooke, I. R., Strugnell, J. M., & Quigley, K. M. (2025). Assessing the potential for “assisted gene flow” to enhance heat tolerance of multiple coral genera over three key phenotypic traits. Biological Conservation, 306, 111155. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2025.111155
Turnlund, A.C., O’Brien, P.A., Rix, L. et al. Understanding the role of micro-organisms in the settlement of coral larvae through community ecology. Mar Biol 172, 43 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-025-04607-6
Ivory, E.A., Mieog, J.C., Nitschke, M.R. et al. Interactions among wildtype and heat-evolved photosymbionts shape performance of coral recruits. Coral Reefs 44, 643–655 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-025-02632-x
O’Brien, P.A., Bell, S.C., Rix, L. et al. Light and dark biofilm adaptation impacts larval settlement in diverse coral species. Environmental Microbiome 20, 11 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40793-025-00670-0
Saper, J., Raina, JB., Humphrey, C., Høj, L., Bourne, D.G. (2025). Microbial Processes and Nutrient Uptake in the Coral Holobiont and Reef Ecosystems. In: Peixoto, R.S., Voolstra, C.R. (eds) Coral Reef Microbiome. Coral Reefs of the World, vol 20. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-76692-3_9
Thatcher, C., Damjanovic, K., Kuek, F., Laffy, P. W., Bourne, D. G., & Høj, L. (2025). Bacterial dynamics in newly settled Acropora kenti: Insights from inoculations with individual probiotic candidates. Environmental Microbiology, 27(7). https://doi.org/10.1111/1462-2920.70143
Johnston, B. G., Nitschke, M. R., Chan, W. Y., & van Oppen, M. J. H. (2025). Horizontal transmission of heat-evolved microalgal symbionts in adult corals. The ISME Journal, 19(1), wraf157. https://doi.org/10.1093/ismejo/wraf157
Roper, C. D., Suggett, D. J., Songsomboon, K., Edmondson, J., England, H., Haydon, T. D., Goyen, S., Duijser, C. M., Alderdice, R., Voolstra, C. R., & Camp, E. F. (2025). Coral thermotolerance retained following year-long exposure to a novel environment. Science Advances, 11(32), eadu3858. https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adu3858
Goyen, S., Chille, E.E., Stephens, T.G. et al. Green fluorescent proteins show divergent patterns among species and strains of Porites from the Great Barrier Reef. Coral Reefs (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-025-02781-z
Marquardt, B., Elder, H., Yeoh, Y. K., Heyward, A., Randall, C. J., Harrison, P. L., Logan, M., & Howells, E. (2025). Determining the diversity and relative abundance of coral taxa in wild spawning slicks for effective restoration. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, 13, 1602543. https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2025.1602543
Lamb, A. M., Morgans, C. A., McCutchan, G. A., Mocellin, V. J. L., Denis, H., Naugle, M. S., Lemonius, A. J., Edmunds, R. C., Wooster, M. K., Bay, L. K., Howells, E. J., & van Oppen, M. J. H. (2026). A selective breeding design based on parental rapid heat stress thresholds did not produce more heat-tolerant coral larvae. Ecological Solutions and Evidence, 7, e70178. https://doi.org/10.1002/2688-8319.70178
Dallmeyer-Drennen, G., Y.Sato, C. A.Page, D. G.Bourne, and H. A.Smith. 2026. “Genetic Diversity of Sexually Propagated Corals Is Maintained From the Aquarium to the Reef.” Molecular Ecology35, no. 5: e70289. https://doi.org/10.1111/mec.70289.
Turnlund, Abigail Camilla (2024). Interactions between coral larval settlement, marine biofilms and crustose coralline algae microbiomes. PhD Thesis, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland.https://doi.org/10.14264/30e05cf
Saper, Julia (2022) Augmented coral health: linking heterotrophic diets to the
acquisition of probiotics in symbiotic scleractinia. Masters (Research) Thesis,
James Cook University. https://doi.org/10.25903/mda8%2Ds320
Altice, M. S. (2024). Cultured, heat-evolved symbionts can increase the fitness of coral juveniles (Master of Environmental Science and Management thesis, Southern Cross University). https://doi.org/10.25918/thesis.392
Nandi, S., T. G.Stephens, E. E.Chille, S.Goyen, L. K.Bay, and D.Bhattacharya. 2026. “Metaproteome Analysis of Short-Term Thermal Stress in Three Sympatric Coral Species Reveals Divergent Host Responses.” Ecology and Evolution 16, no. 3: e73275. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.73275.
Denis, H., Prata, K., Ishida, H., et al. (2026). Contrasting population structures of reef-building corals and their algal symbionts inform adaptive potential across the western Pacific. Current Biology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2026.04.057
Johnston, B.G., Garing, M.R., Klein, A.R., Chan, W.Y., Nitschke, M.R. and van Oppen, M.J.H. (2026), Heat-evolved coral photosymbionts exhibit dampened stress responses across distinct physiological contexts. New Phytol. https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.71177
Nitschke, MR., Ivory E, van Oppen MJH. (21/11/2024) Reef Restoration and Adaptation Program – Stability of Heat-Evolved Coral Photosymbionts in a Mesocosm System.
Rix, L., Mock, T., Damjanovic, K., Varkey, D., O’Brien, P., Vanwonterghem, I., Yeoh, Y.K., Thatcher, C.,
Bourne, D., Kuek, F., Bell, S, Godinez, S., Laffy, P., Marangon, E., Somasundaram, T., Hoj, L. (2024) Reef
Restoration and Adaptation Program – Prokaryote treatments and coral nutrition: Feasibility of research and recommendations (pp).
Godinez-Espinosa, S., Høj, L. (2 June 2025) Reef Restoration and Adaptation Program – Feeding of coral spat produced in aquaculture – Standard Operating Procedure. (15 pp)
Chan, W.Y., Nitschke, M. (20/11/2024) Reef Restoration and Adaptation Program – Final report – metabolomic data on adult coral x Symbiodiniaceae pairings analysed and interpreted. (pp24).
Riginos, C., Howells, EJ., Elder, H., Howlett, L. and Molinaro, G. (2025) Reef Restoration and Adaptation Program – Genetic Basis of Key Traits (ECT-01) Final Report 2025. (17 pp).
van Oppen, M.J.H., Lamb, A., Nitschke, M., Chan, W., Molinaro, G. and Howlett, L. (2025) Reef Restoration and Adaptation Program – Assisted Evolution (ECT-02) Final Report 2025. (21 pp).
Høj, L., Rix, L., O’Brien, P., Varkey, D., Damjanovic, K., Mock, T., Somasundaram, T., Howlett, L. and Molinaro, G. (2025) Reef Restoration and Adaptation Program – Prokaryotes Treatments and Coral Nutrition (ECT-03) Final Report 2025. (23 pp).
| Title | Conference | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Designer corals and the future of coral reefs | 14th International Coral Reef Symposium (ICRS), Bremen, Germany | 2021 |
| Enhancement of coral climate resilience via microbiome manipulation | iFAST-Marine Symposium, Oklahoma, United States of America | 2021 |
| The active spread of adaptive variation for reef resilience | 14th International Coral Reef Symposium (ICRS), Bremen, Germany | 2021 |
| A changing climate for coral reef management and adaptive restoration | Climate Change Genomics workshop: Vulnerability, adaptations & applications, online, United Kingdom | 2022 |
| Advancing algal symbiont experimental evolution efforts to improve coral bleaching resilience. | Australian Marine Sciences Association (AMSA) Conference, Cairns, Australia | 2022 |
| Corals acclimatise to future climates without fitness trade-offs | Australian Coral Reef Society (ACRS) Conference, Brisbane, Australia | 2022 |
| Developing diets for aquaculture production of corals | Australian Marine Sciences Association (AMSA) Conference, Cairns, Australia | 2022 |
| Differential response to acute heat stress between isolated coral reefs in the Coral Sea Marine Park | Adaptive seascapes workshop, Magnetic Island, Australia | 2022 |
| Drivers of symbiont communities for multiple coral host species vary across isolated reefs | Australian Coral Reef Society (ACRS) Conference, Brisbane, Australia | 2022 |
| Effects of symbiont community and environmental history on acute heat tolerance in two common coral species across the Great Barrier Reef | 14th International Coral Reef Symposium (ICRS), Bremen, Germany | 2022 |
| Enhancement of coral climate resilience via experimental evolution of microalgal endosymbionts | ‘Photosynthesis and Carbohydrates’ symposium at ComBio2022, Melbourne, Australia | 2022 |
| Enhancing the thermal tolerance of adult corals with heat-evolved photosymbionts (Symbiodiniaceae) | Australian Marine Sciences Association (AMSA) Conference, Cairns, Australia | 2022 |
| Estimating colony level variation in bleaching tolerance of Acropora millepora from a natural bleaching event and rapid heat stress experiments. | Australian Marine Sciences Association (AMSA) Conference, Cairns, Australia | 2022 |
| Expanding the suite of heat-evolved Symbiodiniaceae through experimental evolution | 14th International Coral Reef Symposium (ICRS), Bremen, Germany | 2022 |
| Experimental evolution of microalgal symbionts improves adult coral bleaching tolerance | Australian Marine Sciences Association (AMSA) Conference, Cairns, Australia | 2022 |
| Exploring evolution under past, present, and changing environments | Australian Marine Sciences Association (AMSA) Conference, Cairns, Australia | 2022 |
| Identifying genomic markers of coral heat tolerance using whole genome sequencing | Australian Coral Reef Society (ACRS) Conference, Brisbane, Australia | 2022 |
| Identifying genomic markers of coral heat tolerance using whole genome sequencing | SCU RISE student conference, online, Coffs Harbour and Lismore, Australia | 2022 |
| Interspecific hybridisation as a tool for reef restoration | Australian Marine Sciences Association (AMSA) Conference, Cairns, Australia | 2022 |
| Mild heatwaves increase acute heat tolerance in corals | 14th International Coral Reef Symposium (ICRS), Bremen, Germany | 2022 |
| Mild heatwaves increase acute heat tolerance in corals | Adaptive seascapes workshop, Magnetic Island, Australia | 2022 |
| Mild heatwaves increase acute heat tolerance in corals | Climate Change Genomics workshop: Vulnerability, adaptations & applications, online, United Kingdom | 2022 |
| Phenotypic signatures of temperature tolerance in corals on the Great Barrier Reef | SCU RISE student conference, online, Coffs Harbour and Lismore, Australia | 2022 |
| Phenotypic signatures of temperature tolerance in corals on the Great Barrier Reef | Australian Marine Sciences Association (AMSA) Conference, Cairns, Australia | 2022 |
| Phenotyping corals using Sea-Sim in a box | Climate Change Genomics workshop: Vulnerability, adaptations & applications, online, United Kingdom | 2022 |
| Spatial distribution of Symbiodiniaceae communities across the Great Barrier Reef in two species of Pocilloporids | Australian Marine Sciences Association (AMSA) Conference, Cairns, Australia | 2022 |
| The role of microbes in safeguarding the future of coral reefs | New Zealand Microbiological Society Conference, Wellington, New Zealand | 2022 |
| Vectoring microbes into coral: optimisation of delivery strategies | 14th International Coral Reef Symposium (ICRS), Bremen, Germany | 2022 |
| Characterising the viability, life stage, and taxonomic identity of artificially selected photosymbionts expelled by adult corals | Gordon Research Conference: Animal-Microbe Symbioses, Italy | 2023 |
| Comparing the effects of periodic and continuous thermal selection on the fitness of a coral microalgal symbiont | European Phycological Congress, Brest, Brittany (France) | 2023 |
| Corals acclimatise to future climates without fitness trade-offs | Asia Pacific Coral Reef Symposium (APCRS), Nus, Singapore | 2023 |
| Do coral populations harbor genetic variation to adapt to climate change? | Asia Pacific Coral Reef Symposium (APCRS), Nus, Singapore | 2023 |
| Experimental evolution of microalgal symbionts improves adult coral bleaching tolerance | Asia Pacific Coral Reef Symposium (APCRS), Nus, Singapore | 2023 |
| Finding a Future for Corals plenary pannelist – distribution of heat tolerance across the GBR and RRAP interventions being tested to enhance heat tolerance and protect corals from heat stress | International EcoSummit Congress | 2023 |
| Harnessing microbial inducers of coral settlement for reef restoration | Australian Marine Sciences Association (AMSA) Conference, Gold Coast, Australia | 2023 |
| Keynote: Can we harness biology to save coral reefs? | Coral Festival, Seenu, Hithadhoo, Maldives | 2023 |
| Manipulating coral symbiosis: balancing symbiont community disruption, inoculum stability, and coral health while enhancing thermal tolerance | Australian Marine Sciences Association (AMSA) Conference, Gold Coast, Australia | 2023 |
| Microbial inducers for Acropora tenuis coral settlement | Gordon Research Conference: Animal-Microbe Symbioses, Italy | 2023 |
| Optimizing uptake of heat evolved and wild type symbionts in early life stage corals | Asia Pacific Coral Reef Symposium (APCRS), Nus, Singapore | 2023 |
| Out of the box thinking – Ethics of controversial conservation approaches | Victorian Biodiversity Conference, Melbourne 2023 | 2023 |
| Phenotypic signatures of temperature tolerance in corals on the Great Barrier Reef | Asia Pacific Coral Reef Symposium (APCRS), Nus, Singapore | 2023 |
| Prokaryote Treatments to Support Coral Aquaculture | 10th World Conference on Ecological Restoration (SER2023), Darwin, Australia | 2023 |
| Prokaryote treatments to support coral aquaculture for reef restoration. Invited keynote presentation | 13th Asia-Pacific Marine Biotechnology Conference (APMBC), Adelaide, Australia | 2023 |
| Prokaryote treatments to support coral aquaculture for reef restoration. Invited keynote presentation | 5th Australian New Zealand Marine Biotechnology Society Conference (ANZMBS), Adelaide, Australia | 2023 |
| Towards predictive coral phenomics—Evaluating the potential of hyperspectral imaging | Asia Pacific Coral Reef Symposium (APCRS), Nus, Singapore | 2023 |
| Bridging the gap to using heat-tolerant coral photosymbionts in reef restoration | Reef Resilience Symposium, Cairns, Australia | 2024 |
| Designing genetic management of ecological communities: a case study of coral communities of the Great Barrier Reef | Ecological Society of Australia Conference, Melbourne, Australia | 2024 |
| Developing Probiotics for Aquaculture Production of Coral | AusME 2024, Parramatta, Australia | 2024 |
| Distribution and Drivers of Heat Tolerance in Acropora hyacinthus across the Great Barrier Reef | SCU RISE Conference, Lismore | 2024 |
| Drivers of heat tolerance variation in Acropora hyacinthus | Reef Futures, Mexico | 2024 |
| Environmental, host, and symbiont drivers of heat tolerance in a species complex of reef-building corals | Australian Coral Reef Society (ACRS) Conference, Perth, Australia | 2024 |
| Harnessing microbial inducers of coral larval settlement for reef restoration | European Coral Reef Symposium (ECRS) 2024 Naples, Italy | 2024 |
| Harnessing microbial inducers of coral larval settlement for reef restoration | International Symposium on Microbial Ecology (ISME), Cape Town, South Africa | 2024 |
| Interactions Among Wildtype and Heat-Evolved Photosymbionts Shape Performance of Coral Recruits | Australian Marine Sciences Association (AMSA) Conference, Hobart, Australia | 2024 |
| Introgression shapes adaptive diversity in Acropora cryptic corals on the Great Barrier Reef | 3rd Joint Congress on Evolutionary Biology (ESEB), Montreal, Canada | 2024 |
| Light and dark biofilm adaptation impacts larval settlement in diverse coral species | Australian Coral Reef Society (ACRS) Conference, Perth, Australia | 2024 |
| Spatial resolution matters: finding the right topographic surrogate to predict coral species distributions | Ecological Society of Australia Conference, Melbourne, Australia | 2024 |
| Stability and fitness of bio-engineered coral-Symbiodiniaceae symbioses | ISME19, Cape Town, South Africa | 2024 |
| The distribution and drivers of phenotypic variation in the heat tolerance of GBR corals | European Coral Reef Symposium (ECRS) 2024 Naples, Italy | 2024 |
| The role of natural and assisted evolution of corals on the Great Barrier Reef. | Reef Futures Symposium, Quintana Roo, Mexico | 2024 |
| Unifying metrics of coral heat tolerance | Reef Futures Symposium, Quintana Roo, Mexico | 2024 |
| Bacterial probiotics: potential disease prevention in coral aquaculture | 2025 Australian Coral Reef Society conference, Townsville | 2025 |
| Can acute heat stress assays identify heat tolerant corals for conservation and restoration purposes? | 32nd International Congress for Conservation Biology | 2025 |
| Differing responses of aquaculture-produced Acropora millepora and Platygyra daedalea juveniles to dietary treatment and feeding strategy | 2025 Australian Coral Reef Society conference, Townsville | 2025 |
| Enhancing coral climate resilience by photosymbiont manipulation | Microbial Solutions for a Changing World | 2025 |
| How effective are assisted evolution interventions in conferring climate change resilience to corals? | 32nd International Congress for Conservation Biology | 2025 |
| Identifying genetic drivers of coral adaptation to global warming | 32nd International Congress for Conservation Biology | 2025 |
| Inoculation of coral juveniles with single-strain probiotic candidates: variable persistence and host responses | Trends in Marine Host-Microbe Symbiosis Symposium, Padua, Italy | 2025 |
| Inoculation of coral juveniles with single-strain probiotic candidates: variable persistence and host responses | 2025 Australian Coral Reef Society conference, Townsville | 2025 |
| Microbial manipulation may help safeguard the future of coral reefs | Microbiome Symposium, Monash University | 2025 |
| Probiotics for aquaculture production of corals for reef restoration | 2025 Australian Coral Reef Society conference, Townsville | 2025 |
| Selective breeding of corals for reef restoration using rapid thermal stress testing | 32nd International Congress for Conservation Biology | 2025 |
| Spatial resolution matters: finding the right topographic surrogate to predict coral species distributions | Australian Coral Reef Society (ACRS), Townsville, Australia | 2025 |
| Understanding the genomic basis of Heat Tolerance in Acropora kenti | Australian Coral Reef Symposium, Townsville, Australia | 2025 |
Dr Emily Howells
Project Lead
SCU
Dr Lone Hoj
Project Lead
AIMS
Assoc. Professor David Bourne
Project Lead
AIMS/JCU
Dr Cheong Xin Chan
UQ
Dr David Abrego
SCU
Dr Inke Vanwonterghem
UQ
Assoc. Professor David Francis
Deakin University
Craig Humphrey
AIMS
Dr Patrick Laffy
AIMS
Dr Paul O'Brien
Postdoc
UQ
Dr Owain Edwards
CSIRO
Dr Samantha Goyen
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
AIMS
Dr Wing Chan
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
University of Melbourne
Dr Patrick Buerger
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Macquarie University
Dr Matthew Nitschke
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
AIMS
