Overview
- Published in Royal Society Open Science, the QUT-led study identified an immune and tissue transition, soft-tissue anchoring, and skeleton-building via a specialized appendage as the conserved attachment sequence.
- Advanced microscopy captured cellular-scale activity as fragments of Montipora mollis, Pocillopora verrucosa and Acropora millepora established stable contact with reef substrates.
- Structural variation in the attachment appendage shaped attachment speed and strength, with Montipora mollis forming faster, stronger bonds than Pocillopora verrucosa.
- Mesenterial filaments were found to help prepare fragments for attachment by digesting unneeded tissues, indicating a larger role in recovery and resilience.
- Authors say the findings support targeted selection and prediction of corals likely to establish in specific environments, informing programs backed by RRAP and Australian Government funding.