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Predators consume prey for energy. Predators that acquire prey and prey that avoid predation both increase their chances of survival and reproduction (i.e., fitness). Routine predator-prey interactions elicit mutual adaptations that improve predator offenses, such as claws, teeth, and speed, as well as prey defenses, including crypsis, aposematism, and mimicry. Thus, predator-prey interactions resemble an evolutionary arms race.Although predation is commonly associated with carnivory, for...
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Interactions between morphological and physiological plasticity optimize energy acquisition in corals.

Mia O Hoogenboom1, Sean R Connolly, Kenneth R N Anthony

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Area of Science:

  • Marine Biology
  • Ecology
  • Evolutionary Biology

Background:

  • Environmental changes can drive morphological plasticity in organisms.
  • It remains unclear if this plasticity enhances organismal performance in new environments.
  • Reef-building corals offer a model system to study this phenomenon.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if morphological plasticity in corals optimizes photosynthetic energy acquisition.
  • To assess if changes in coral colony shape along an environmental gradient align with predicted optimal morphologies.
  • To differentiate between performance enhancement and intrinsic developmental instability.

Main Methods:

  • Development of a three-dimensional geometric model for coral colonies.
  • Creation of a comprehensive photosynthesis dataset with calibrated models.
  • Prediction of energy acquisition based on colony shape and environmental gradients.

Main Results:

  • Phenotypic plasticity in foliose corals significantly optimizes photosynthetic energy acquisition.
  • Optimal coral morphology is constrained at environmental gradient boundaries, reducing energy acquisition for non-optimal shapes.
  • Physiological flexibility, rather than just morphology, is key in intermediate habitats for rapid responses.

Conclusions:

  • Morphological plasticity in corals actively optimizes energy acquisition, demonstrating adaptive performance enhancement.
  • Morphological variation is critical at niche boundaries, while physiological flexibility is vital in fluctuating habitats.
  • Phenotypic plasticity operates at multiple scales, influencing coral survival and adaptation across diverse environments.