Functions of coral fluorescence: an integrative approach

造礁珊瑚的多色荧光是海洋中最引人注目的视觉现象之一。许多观察表明，荧光蛋白在珊瑚与环境的相互作用中起着重要作用，包括对应激和共生微藻的反应。然而，不同颜色的作用机制和作用尚不清楚。因此，珊瑚荧光代表了珊瑚生态生理学基础知识的重大空白，与了解导致全球珊瑚礁持续下降的因素直接相关。该项目将研究与荧光相关的形态、生理和分子特征，并将测试有关印度太平洋主要珊瑚礁建造者——桌珊瑚Acropora hyacinthus生命早期个体颜色功能的特定假设。预期结果包括提高珊瑚生物学的基础知识，阐明荧光蛋白的分子功能，以及基于非侵入性光学方法的生物标志物在珊瑚礁管理中的应用。项目成果将发表在开放获取期刊上；所有数据和材料将迅速提供给广大科学界。该项目的主题（为什么珊瑚礁是彩色的）具有相当大的公众吸引力，并提供了丰富的推广机会，包括讲座和新闻稿，以提高公众对全球气候变化的认识，以及在学校进行演讲，以提高代表性不足群体的儿童将科学作为学术或职业目标的兴趣。

Multi-colored fluorescence of reef-building corals is one of the most striking visual phenomena in the ocean. A number of observations indicate that fluorescent proteins play a major role in the interaction of corals with the environment, including responses to stress and symbiotic microalgae. However, the mechanism of action and the role of different colors remains obscure. Coral fluorescence thus represents a substantial gap in the basic knowledge of coral eco-physiology, directly relevant to understanding the factors contributing to the ongoing decline of coral reefs worldwide. This project will investigate morphological, physiological and molecular traits correlating with fluorescence, and will test specific hypotheses concerning functions of individual colors, in early life stages of the table coral Acropora hyacinthus, a major reef-builder of the Indo-Pacific. The expected results include advancement of the basic knowledge of coral biology, clarification of the molecular function of fluorescent proteins, and possible biomarker applications for reef management based on non-invasive optical methods. The results of the project will be published in open-access journals; all the data and materials will be made available promptly to the broad scientific community. The main subject of the project (why coral reefs are colorful) has considerable public appeal and represents a rich opportunity for outreach, which will include lectures and press releases to increase public awareness of global climate change, and presentations in schools to raise the interest of children from underrepresented groups to pursue science as an academic or professional goal.