Population Structure and Gene Expression of the Coral Montastraea cavernosa in the Northern Florida Reef Tract

Coral reefs on Florida’s Reef Tract (FRT) are susceptible to many anthropogenic
influences including controlled freshwater discharges and agricultural runoff as well as
high natural environmental variability from seasonal rainfall, runoff and upwelling. To
better understand coral population structure and responses to sublethal stressors,
populations of the scleractinian coral Montastraea cavernosa in the northern FRT were
examined using a combination of genomic and transcriptomic techniques. Microsatellite
genetic markers identified high local retention among sites and a slight southward gene
flow. An in-situ temporal gene expression analysis utilizing a tag-based sequencing
transcriptomic approach was used to analyze baseline coral health at St. Lucie Reef
(SLR), off Stuart, FL. Temporal variation had the greatest influence of differential gene
expression among M. cavernosa at SLR. Results will be shared with local resource
managers and coupled with a complementary ex-situ experimental trial.