What Is Currently Known About the Effects of Climate Change on the Coral Immune Response

Abstract

It is well documented that climate change has a negative effect on coral reefs worldwide. Recurrent warming events, ocean acidification, and nutrient pollution are some of the hallmarks of climate change; each affects the health of coral, and together, their effects are multiplied. It is hypothesized that a healthy coral will have a strong, highly active immune system when confronted with different stressors. However, there is very little that we understand about how the coral immune system reacts to different climate change stressors. In this review, we will examine what is known about the effects of heat stress, ocean acidification, and nutrient pollution on the coral immune system. We will identify gaps in our knowledge and briefly discuss a path forward to address these gaps.