Coral-algal partnerships have endured numerous climate change events in their long history and at least some are likely to survive modern day global warming as well, suggests an international team of scientists.

    The team's conclusion is based on the finding that the relationship between corals and the mutualistic microalgae that enable them to build reefs is considerably older and more diverse than previously assumed.

    "Past estimates placed the initiation of these symbiotic relationships at 50 to 65 million years ago," said Todd LaJeunesse, associate professor of biology, Penn State. "Our research indicates that modern corals and their algal partners have been entwined with each other for much longer since the time of the dinosaurs, approximately 160 million years ago. During their long existence, they have faced severe episodes of environmental change, but have managed to bounce back after each one."

Fig: Corals, like the branching Acropora featured here, are animals that construct massive reef frameworks and are the basis of coral reef ecosystems. These corals ultimately depend on micro-algal symbionts that capture light from the sun and covert it to nutrients for the host coral's growth and survival.

Source: www.sciencedaily.com