Rapid Evolution in a Coral Population Following a Mass Mortality Event

Globally, corals face an increased frequency of mass mortality events (MMEs) as populations experience repeated marine heatwaves which disrupt their obligate algal symbiosis. Despite greater occurrences of MMEs, the relative roles of the environment, host, and symbiont genetic variation in survival, subsequent recovery, and carry-over effects to the next generation remain unresolved. High-resolution temporal and spatial whole genome sequencing of corals before, after, and several years following an MME reveal that host genetics have an impact on bleaching and mortality and that selected alleles important for adaptation persist through the next generation, demonstrating rapid evolution in this coral population. Bleaching resistance and survival following the bleaching event were highly polygenic, and allele frequency shifts show reef habitat specificity, emphasizing the spatial complexity of environmental selection and how it shapes population recovery following an MME. This study reveals how MMEs reshape the genomic landscape and the spatial and temporal distribution of genomic diversity within coral populations facing severe threats from global change.