Meeting Abstract

83-3   14:00 - 14:15  Evolutionary implications of intraspecific variation in plasticity in a reef-building coral Million, WC*; Ruggeri, M; O'Donnell, S; Bartels, E; Krediet, C; Kenkel, CD; University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA; University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA; University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA; Elizabeth Moore International Center for Coral Reef Research & Restoration, Mote Marine Lab, Summerland Key, FL; Eckert College, St. Petersburg, FL; University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA wmillion@usc.edu

The evolutionary potential of phenotypic plasticity, i.e. the ability of a genotype to alter its phenotype in response to the environment, can be appreciated when considering plasticity itself as a trait. If genetic variation for plasticity exists and the ability to be plastic yields a fitness advantage, phenotypic plasticity may evolve. Despite our theoretical understanding of plasticity, empirical evidence supporting its evolution is scarce. Long lived, sessile organisms are promising systems to explore the evolution of phenotypic plasticity because acclimation, rather than avoidance/migration, stands to benefit individuals as environments change over a single generation. Plasticity in reef-building corals is particularly interesting considering the strong selective force of climate change. The 3D structure of a coral represents an important environmental interface and while numerous studies have identified phenotypic plasticity in coral, the amount of intraspecific variation in plasticity and its adaptive benefits are still unclear. We address this by quantifying morphological plasticity and its effects on fitness within genotypes of Acropora cervicornis, a critically endangered Caribbean coral. By transplanting clonal genotype replicates among reefs in the lower Florida Keys, we uncovered extensive variation in morphological plasticity and survival, providing an initial estimate of intraspecific variation in environmental responsiveness. We further investigated correlations between plasticity, survival, and growth to identify potential costs and benefits associated with modulating phenotype. This study provides insight into the capacity for plasticity in A. cervicornis that can be applied in restoration settings in addition to contributing empirical evidence supporting the potential for the evolution of phenotypic plasticity.