Figure 1

Experimental design and methods to assess the relevance of molecular markers identified through seascape genomics for Acropora millepora heat tolerance. A small sample (< 1cm3) was taken from each colony at the time of collection and stored in ethanol 80% for further ITS2/psbAncr profiling and DART sequencing. Colonies were fragmented in ~ 40 nubbins and randomly split between control and stress treatments (2 tanks/treatment) Visual scores and Fv/Fm were monitored throughout the experiment (2–3 days interval). At the end of the experiment 3 nubbins/colony/treatment were frozen to measure symbiont density and total chlorophyll content.