Research Projects
Michael DeSalvo
The functional genomics of bleaching in the Caribbean corals, Montastraea faveolata and Acropora palmata
University of California, Merced
mdesalvo@ucmerced.edu
My research goal is to elucidate molecular pathways and biological processes involved in coral bleaching through the use of gene expression microarrays. Coral bleaching occurs when coral hosts expel their algal symbionts in response to higher-than-normal sea temperatures. The bleaching event of 2005 was widespread across the Caribbean and one of the worst on record. Episodes of coral bleaching may increase in occurrence in the face of a warming global climate. By understanding the molecular and genetic mechanisms that underlie bleaching, we will have a better understanding of how coral species and populations will respond to future climate change.
At the Bocas del Toro field station, I perform bleaching experiments by heating aquaria to 3-4OC above normal. Bleached coral fragments and unbleached control fragments are flash-frozen in liquid nitrogen to preserve RNA quality for molecular analysis at UC Merced. By comparing the transcriptome of bleached and unbleached coral fragments, I will discern molecular pathways and higher-order biological processes involved in the thermal bleaching response.