Communication arising. Is coral bleaching really adaptive?

Nature. 2002 Feb 7;415(6872):601-2. doi: 10.1038/415601a.

Abstract

From an experiment in which corals are transplanted between two depths on a Panamanian coral reef, Baker infers that bleaching may sometimes help reef corals to survive environmental change. Although Baker's results hint at further mechanisms by which reef-building corals may acclimatize to changing light conditions, we do not consider that the evidence supports his inference.

MeSH terms

  • Adaptation, Physiological
  • Animals
  • Cnidaria / physiology*
  • Cnidaria / radiation effects
  • Dinoflagellida / physiology
  • Light
  • Symbiosis