High tolerance of symbiotic larvae of Pocillopora damicornis to thermal stress

Abstract

Symbiotic larvae of <i>P. damicornis</i> survived well under high-temperature conditions, although their <i>Symbiodinium</i> cell density decreased. This suggests that <i>P. damicornis</i> larvae have the capacity to reduce the symbiont cell density without a harmful effect on their survivorship under thermal stress. Further studies on antioxidant systems and possible suppression of apoptotic pathways are necessary to elucidate the mechanism underlying the high thermal tolerance of symbiotic larvae of <i>P.damicornis</i>.