A GC-MS Metabolic Study on Lipophilic Compounds in the Leaves of Common Wheat Triticum aestivum L.

Common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is one of the most valuable cereal crops worldwide. This study examined leaf extracts of 30 accessions of T. aestivum and its subspecies using 48 h maceration with methanol by GC-MS and GCxGC-MS. The plants were grown from seeds of the wheat genetics collection of the Wheat Genetics Sector of the Institute of Cytology and Genetics, SB RAS. The analysis revealed 263 components of epicuticular waxes, including linear and branched alkanes, aliphatic alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, ß-diketones, carboxylic acids and their derivatives, mono- and diterpenes, phytosterols, and tocopherols. Hierarchical cluster analysis and principal component analysis were used to identify and visualize the differences between the leaf extracts of different wheat cultivars. Three clusters were identified, with the leading components being (1) octacosan-1-ol, (2) esters of saturated and unsaturated alcohols, and (3) fatty acid alkylamides, which were found for the first time in plant extracts. The results highlight the importance of metabolic studies in understanding the adaptive mechanisms and increasing wheat resistance to stress factors. These are crucial for breeding new-generation cultivars with improved traits.

Linking proteomic function and structure to electroactive biofilms development across electrode orientations.

The functionality of electroactive biofilms (EABs) is profoundly influenced by the proteomic dynamics within microbial communities, particularly through the participation of proteins in electron transfer. This study explored the impact of electrode surface orientation, measured by varying oblique angles, on the performance of EABs in bioelectrochemical systems (BES). Utilizing quantitative proteomics, results indicated that a slightly oblique angle (45°) optimized the spatial arrangement of microbial cells, enhancing electron transport efficiency compared to other angles tested. Specifically, the 45° orientation resulted in a 2.36-fold increase in the abundance of c-type cytochromes compared to the 90°. Additionally, Geobacter, showed a relative abundance of 83.25 % at 45°, correlating with a peak current density of 1.87 ± 0.04 A/m2. These microbial and proteomic adaptations highlighted the intricate balance between microbial behavior and the physical environment, which could be tuned to optimize operations. The findings provided new insights into the design and enhancement of BES.

[High-temperature adaptation mechanisms and biotechnological potentials of thermophilic cyanobacteria].

Thermophilic cyanobacteria are prokaryotic organisms that possess exceptional heat-resistant characteristics. This group serves as an excellent model for investigating the heat tolerance of higher photosynthetic organisms, including higher plants, some protists (such as algae and euglena), and bacteria. Analyzing the mechanisms of high-temperature adaptation in thermophilic cyanobacteria can enhance our understanding of how photosynthetic organisms and microorganisms tolerate high temperatures at the molecular level. Additionally, these thermotolerant cyanobacteria have the potential to contribute to breeding heat-tolerant plants and developing microbial cell factories. This review summarizes current research on thermophilic cyanobacteria, focusing on their ecology, morphology, omics studies, and mechanisms of high-temperature tolerance. It offers insight into the potential biotechnological applications of thermophilic cyanobacteria and highlights future research opportunities. Specifically, attention is given to the photosynthetic physiology and metabolism of cyanobacteria, and the molecular basis of heat-tolerance mechanisms in thermophilic cyanobacteria is explored.

Leaf ecological stoichiometry and anatomical structural adaptation mechanisms of Quercus sect. Heterobalanus in southeastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

BACKGROUND: With the dramatic uplift of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP) and the increase in altitude in the Pliocene, the environment became dry and cold, thermophilous plants that originally inhabited ancient subtropical forest essentially disappeared. However, Quercus sect. Heterobalanus (QSH) have gradually become dominant or constructive species distributed on harsh sites in the Hengduan Mountains range in southeastern QTP, Southwest China. Ecological stoichiometry reveals the survival strategies plants adopt to adapt to changing environment by quantifying the proportions and relationships of elements in plants. Simultaneously, as the most sensitive organs of plants to their environment, the structure of leaves reflects of the long-term adaptability of plants to their surrounding environments. Therefore, ecological adaptation mechanisms related to ecological stoichiometry and leaf anatomical structure of QSH were explored. In this study, stoichiometric characteristics were determined by measuring leaf carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) contents, and morphological adaptations were determined by examining leaf anatomical traits with microscopy. RESULTS: Different QSH life forms and species had different nutrient allocation strategies. Leaves of QSH plants had higher C and P and lower N contents and higher N and lower P utilization efficiencies. According to an N: P ratio threshold, the growth of QSH species was limited by N, except that of Q. aquifolioides and Q. longispica, which was limited by both N and P. Although stoichiometric homeostasis of C, N, and P and C: N, C: P, and N: P ratios differed slightly across life forms and species, the overall degree of homeostasis was strong, with strictly homeostatic, homeostatic, and weakly homeostatic regulation. In addition, QSH leaves had compound epidermis, thick cuticle, developed palisade tissue and spongy tissue. However, leaves were relatively thin overall, possibly due to leaf leathering and lignification, which is strategy to resist stress from UV radiation, drought, and frost. Furthermore, contents of C, N, and P and stoichiometric ratios were significantly correlated with leaf anatomical traits. CONCLUSIONS: QSH adapt to the plateau environment by adjusting the content and utilization efficiencies of C, N, and P elements. Strong stoichiometric homeostasis of QSH was likely a strategy to mitigate nutrient limitation. The unique leaf structure of the compound epidermis, thick cuticle, well-developed palisade tissue and spongy tissue is another adaptive mechanism for QSH to survive in the plateau environment. The anatomical adaptations and nutrient utilization strategies of QSH may have coevolved during long-term succession over millions of years.

Stress response and adaptation mechanisms in Kluyveromyces marxianus.

Kluyveromyces marxianus is a non-Saccharomyces yeast that has gained importance due to its great potential to be used in the food and biotechnology industries. In general, K. marxianus is a known yeast for its ability to assimilate hexoses and pentoses; even this yeast can grow in disaccharides such as sucrose and lactose and polysaccharides such as agave fructans. Otherwise, K. marxianus is an excellent microorganism to produce metabolites of biotechnological interest, such as enzymes, ethanol, aroma compounds, organic acids, and single-cell proteins. However, several studies highlighted the metabolic trait variations among the K. marxianus strains, suggesting genetic diversity within the species that determines its metabolic functions; this diversity can be attributed to its high adaptation capacity against stressful environments. The outstanding metabolic characteristics of K. marxianus have motivated this yeast to be a study model to evaluate its easy adaptability to several environments. This chapter will discuss overview characteristics and applications of K. marxianus and recent insights into the stress response and adaptation mechanisms used by this non-Saccharomyces yeast.

Advanced wastewater treatment with microalgae-indigenous bacterial interactions.

Microalgal-indigenous bacterial wastewater treatment (MBWT) emerges as a promising approach for the concurrent removal of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P). Despite its potential, the prevalent use of MBWT in batch systems limits its broader application. Furthermore, the success of MBWT critically depends on the stable self-adaptation and synergistic interactions between microalgae and indigenous bacteria, yet the underlying biological mechanisms are not fully understood. Here we explore the viability and microbial dynamics of a continuous flow microalgae-indigenous bacteria advanced wastewater treatment system (CFMBAWTS) in processing actual secondary effluent, with a focus on varying hydraulic retention times (HRTs). The research highlights a stable, mutually beneficial relationship between indigenous bacteria and microalgae. Microalgae and indigenous bacteria can create an optimal environment for each other by providing essential cofactors (like iron, vitamins, and indole-3-acetic acid), oxygen, dissolved organic matter, and tryptophan. This collaboration leads to effective microbial growth, enhanced N and P removal, and energy generation. The study also uncovers crucial metabolic pathways, functional genes, and patterns of microbial succession. Significantly, the effluent NH4+-N and P levels complied with the Chinese national Class-II, Class-V, Class-IA, and Class-IB wastewater discharge standards when the HRT was reduced from 15 to 6 h. Optimal results, including the highest rates of CO2 fixation (1.23 g L-1), total energy yield (32.35 kJ L-1), and the maximal lipid (33.91%) and carbohydrate (41.91%) content, were observed at an HRT of 15 h. Overall, this study not only confirms the feasibility of CFMBAWTS but also lays a crucial foundation for enhancing our understanding of this technology and propelling its practical application in wastewater treatment plants.

Comparison of the functions of plasma membrane and vacuolar membrane lipids in plant cell protection against hyperosmotic stress.

MAIN CONCLUSION: The comparison of the changes of the lipid content in plant cell boundary membranes demonstrates a substantial role of the vacuolar membrane in response to hyperosmotic stress. Comparison of variations in the lipid content of plant cell boundary membranes (vacuolar and plasma membranes) isolated from beet root tissues (Beta vulgaris L.) was conducted after the effect of hyperosmotic stress. Both types of membranes participate in the formation of protective mechanisms, but the role of the vacuolar membrane was considered as more essential. This conclusion was connected with more significant adaptive variations in the content and composition of sterols and fatty acids in the vacuolar membrane (although some of the adaptive variations, especially, in the composition of phospholipids and glycoglycerolipids were similar for both types of membranes). In the plasma membrane under hyperosmotic stress, the increase in the content of sphingolipids was noted that was not observed in the tonoplast.

Soil Fungal Community Structure and Its Effect on CO2 Emissions in the Yellow River Delta.

Soil salinization is one of the most compelling environmental problems on a global scale. Fungi play a crucial role in promoting plant growth, enhancing salt tolerance, and inducing disease resistance. Moreover, microorganisms decompose organic matter to release carbon dioxide, and soil fungi also use plant carbon as a nutrient and participate in the soil carbon cycle. Therefore, we used high-throughput sequencing technology to explore the characteristics of the structures of soil fungal communities under different salinity gradients and whether the fungal communities influence CO2 emissions in the Yellow River Delta; we then combined this with molecular ecological networks to reveal the mechanisms by which fungi adapt to salt stress. In the Yellow River Delta, a total of 192 fungal genera belonging to eight phyla were identified, with Ascomycota dominating the fungal community. Soil salinity was the dominant factor affecting the number of OTUs, Chao1 index, and ACE index of the fungal communities, with correlation coefficients of -0.66, 0.61, and -0.60, respectively (p < 0.05). Moreover, the fungal richness indices (Chao1 and ACE) and OTUs increased with the increase in soil salinity. Chaetomium, Fusarium, Mortierella, Alternaria, and Malassezia were the dominant fungal groups, leading to the differences in the structures of fungal communities under different salinity gradients. Electrical conductivity, temperature, available phosphorus, available nitrogen, total nitrogen, and clay had a significant impact on the fungal community structure (p < 0.05). Electrical conductivity had the greatest influence and was the dominant factor that led to the difference in the distribution patterns of fungal communities under different salinity gradients (p < 0.05). The node quantity, edge quantity, and modularity coefficients of the networks increased with the salinity gradient. The Ascomycota occupied an important position in the saline soil environment and played a key role in maintaining the stability of the fungal community. Soil salinity decreases soil fungal diversity (estimate: -0.58, p < 0.05), and soil environmental factors also affect CO2 emissions by influencing fungal communities. These results highlight soil salinity as a key environmental factor influencing fungal communities. Furthermore, the significant role of fungi in influencing CO2 cycling in the Yellow River Delta, especially in the environmental context of salinization, should be further investigated in the future.

The microdomains (rafts) of plasmalemma in the protection of the plant cell under oxidative stress.

The investigation of the lipid-protein microdomains of the plasmalemma isolated with the aid of the non-detergent technique in the zones of the sucrose density gradient after high-speed centrifugation from the tissue pieces of beet roots, which underwent oxidative stress, was conducted. The microdomains, whose lipid composition - according to the definition - allowed us to classify them as rafts, were studied. After the exposure to oxidative stress (100 mM hydrogen peroxide), the variations in the composition of membrane lipids bound up mainly with the elevations of the content of raft-forming lipids (sterols, sterol esters). Oxidative stress provoked redistribution in the composition of sterols, which led to an elevation in the content of campesterol and in the ratio of stigmasterol/sitosterol. Furthermore, the variations were registered in the content of phospholipids and phosphoglycerolipids, which are capable of stabilizing the lamellar structure of membranes. The results obtained allow one to assume that under the oxidative stress, variations in the composition of lipids in microdomains of the plasma membrane can take place. These variations may influence the functioning of the membranes, and the membranes may participate in the protection of the plant cell.

Transcriptome and molecular regulatory mechanisms analysis of gills in the black tiger shrimp Penaeus monodon under chronic low-salinity stress.

Background: Salinity is one of the main influencing factors in the culture environment and is extremely important for the survival, growth, development and reproduction of aquatic animals. Methods: In this study, a comparative transcriptome analysis (maintained for 45 days in three different salinities, 30 psu (HC group), 18 psu (MC group) and 3 psu (LC group)) was performed by high-throughput sequencing of economically cultured Penaeus monodon. P. monodon gill tissues from each treatment were collected for RNA-seq analysis to identify potential genes and pathways in response to low salinity stress. Results: A total of 64,475 unigenes were annotated in this study. There were 1,140 upregulated genes and 1,531 downregulated genes observed in the LC vs. HC group and 1,000 upregulated genes and 1,062 downregulated genes observed in the MC vs. HC group. In the LC vs. HC group, 583 DEGs significantly mapped to 37 signaling pathways, such as the NOD-like receptor signaling pathway, Toll-like receptor signaling pathway, and PI3K-Akt signaling pathway; in the MC vs. HC group, 444 DEGs significantly mapped to 28 signaling pathways, such as the MAPK signaling pathway, Hippo signaling pathway and calcium signaling pathway. These pathways were significantly associated mainly with signal transduction, immunity and metabolism. Conclusions: These results suggest that low salinity stress may affect regulatory mechanisms such as metabolism, immunity, and signal transduction in addition to osmolarity in P. monodon. The greater the difference in salinity, the more significant the difference in genes. This study provides some guidance for understanding the low-salt domestication culture of P. monodon.

Response mechanism of microbial community during anaerobic biotransformation of marine toxin domoic acid.

Domoic acid (DA) is a potent neurotoxin produced by toxigenic Pseudo-nitzschia blooms and quickly transfers to the benthic anaerobic environment by marine snow particles. DA anaerobic biotransformation is driven by microbial interactions, in which trace amounts of DA can cause physiological stress in marine microorganisms. However, the underlying response mechanisms of microbial community to DA stress remain unclear. In this study, we utilized an anaerobic marine DA-degrading consortium GLY (using glycine as co-substrate) to systematically investigate the global response mechanisms of microbial community during DA anaerobic biotransformation.16S rRNA gene sequencing and metatranscriptomic analyses were applied to measure microbial community structure, function and metabolic responses. Results showed that DA stress markedly changed the composition of main species, with increased levels of Firmicutes and decreased levels of Proteobacteria, Cyanobacteria, Bacteroidetes and Actinobacteria. Several genera of tolerated bacteria (Bacillus and Solibacillus) were increased, while, Stenotrophomonas, Sphingomonas and Acinetobacter were decreased. Metatranscriptomic analyses indicated that DA stimulated the expression of quorum sensing, extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) production, sporulation, membrane transporters, bacterial chemotaxis, flagellar assembly and ribosome protection in community, promoting bacterial adaptation ability under DA stress. Moreover, amino acid metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism and lipid metabolism were modulated during DA anaerobic biotransformation to reduce metabolic burden, increase metabolic demands for EPS production and DA degradation. This study provides the new insights into response of microbial community to DA stress and its potential impact on benthic microorganisms in marine environments.

Saline-alkali stress tolerance is enhanced by MhPR1 in Malus halliana leaves as shown by transcriptomic analyses.

MAIN CONCLUSION: qRT-PCR analysis showed that MhPR1 was strongly induced by saline-alkali stress. Overexpression of MhPR1 enhanced tolerance to saline-alkali stress in transgenic tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) and apple calli. Abstract: Soil salinization seriously threaten apple growth in Northwest loess plateau of China. Malus halliana has developed special system to adapt to saline-alkali environmental stress. To obtain a more detailed understanding of the adaptation mechanisms involved in M. halliana, a transcriptomic approach was used to analyze the leaves' pathways in the stress and its regulatory mechanisms. RNA-Seq showed that among the 16,246 investigated unigenes under saline-alkali stress, 7268 genes were up-regulated and 8978 genes were down-regulated. KEGG analysis indicated that most of the enriched saline-alkali-responsive genes were mainly involved in plant hormone, calcium signal transduction, amino acids, carotenoid and flavonoids biosynthesis, carbon and phenylalanine metabolism, and other secondary metabolites. Expression profile analysis by quantitative real-time PCR confirmed that the maximum up-regulation of MhPR1 under saline-alkali stress was 7.1 folds in leaves. Overexpression of MhPR1 enhanced tolerance to saline-alkali stress in transgenic tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) and apple calli. Taken together, our results demonstrate that MhPR1 encodes a saline-alkali-responsive transcriptional activator and provide valuable information for further study of PR1 functions in apple.

Fishing during the "new normality": social and economic changes in Galapagos small-scale fisheries due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The crisis caused by COVID-19 has profoundly affected human activities around the globe, and the Galapagos Islands are no exception. The impacts on this archipelago include the impairment of tourism and the loss of linkages with the Ecuadorian mainland, which has greatly impacted the local economy. The collapse of the local economy jeopardized livelihoods and food security, given that many impacts affected the food supply chain. During the crisis, the artisanal fishers of the Galapagos showed a high capacity to adapt to the diminishing demand for fish caused by the drastic drop in tourism. We observed that fishers developed strategies and initiatives by shifting roles, from being mainly tourism-oriented providers to becoming local-household food suppliers. This new role of fishers has triggered an important shift in the perception of fishers and fisheries in Galapagos by the local community. The community shifted from perceiving fisheries as a sector opposed to conservation and in conflict with the tourism sector to perceiving fisheries as the protagonist sector, which was securing fresh, high-quality protein for the human community. This study explores the socio-economic impacts and adaptations of COVID-19 on Galapagos' artisanal fisheries based on a mixed methods approach, including the analysis of fisheries datasets, interviews, surveys, and participant observation conducted during and after the lockdown. We illustrate the adaptive mechanisms developed by the sector and explore the changes, including societal perceptions regarding small-scale fisheries in the Galapagos. The research proposes strategies to enhance the Galapagos' economic recovery based on behaviors and traits shown by fishers which are considered potential assets to build-up resilience. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40152-022-00268-z.

Role of tonoplast microdomains in plant cell protection against osmotic stress.

MAIN CONCLUSION: Variations in the content of tonoplast microdomains, isolated with the aid of a non-detergent technique, are induced by osmotic stress and may take part in plant cell adaptive mechanisms. Investigation of tonoplast microdomain lipids isolated with the aid of the non-detergent technique from beetroots (Beta vulgaris L.) subjected to either hyperosmotic or hypoosmotic stress was conducted. Earlier, an important role of tonoplast lipids in the protection of plant cells from stress was demonstrated (Ozolina et al. 2020a). In the present paper, we have put forward a hypothesis that lipids of microdomains of raft nature present in the tonoplast are responsible for this protective function. The variations in the content of lipids of the studied nondetergent-isolated microdomains (NIMs) under hyperosmotic and hypoosmotic stresses were different. Under hyperosmotic stress, in the scrutinized microdomains, some variations in the content of lipids were registered, which were characteristic of the already known protective anti-stress mechanisms. These variations were represented by an increase in sterols and polar lipids capable of stabilizing the bilayer structure of the membranes. The found variations in the content of sterols may be bound up with some intensification of the autophagy process under stress because sterols foster the formation of new membrane contacts necessary for this process. Under hypoosmotic stress, the pattern of redistribution of the lipids in the scrutinized membrane structures was different: the largest part of the lipids appeared to be represented by hydrocarbons, which fulfilled mainly a protective function in plants and could prevent the excess water influx into the vacuole. The results obtained not only demonstrate the possible functions of the vacuolar membrane microdomains but also put forward an assumption on the role of any membrane microdomain in the protection mechanisms of the plant cell.

Towards understanding the link between the deterioration of building materials and the nature of aerophytic green algae.

The gradual degradation of technical materials by bacteria, cyanobacteria and fungi, is of great economic and social significance. In temperate climates, microbial colonization is associated with phototrophic eukaryotes, predominantly aerial green algae. However, these phototrophs are able to colonize most substrates in all terrestrial environments, regardless he geographical area. As little is known of the life processes of green algae, it is widely believed that their impact on materials is purely aesthetic. Most studies on the deterioration of building materials examine both algae and cyanobacteria and propose various methods, mainly conservation practices, to halt the causes and effects of algal colonization. However, to fully comprehend the phenomenon of biodeterioration by green algae, it is essential to understand both the causes and effects of their activities, as their life processes have considerable influence on changes of technical state of building materials. Aerophytic green algae possess various cellular adaptations and life mechanisms to survive and successfully develop in the harsh terrestrial environment. In response to desiccation, UV radiation and high/low temperature fluctuation they form endo- and epilithic biofilms, produce various protective biomolecules and extracellular matrices, and change the volume of cells. Due to their adaptation mechanisms and wide ecological tolerance, green algae undoubtedly have a high potential to accelerate the degradation of building materials. This article reviews the current state of knowledge regarding the mechanisms of biodeterioration, examines the role played by green algae as a result of their adaptation to a terrestrial environment, presents methods that can be used to prevent the development of green algal biofilms and indicate future prospects in the assessment of algal deterioration studies.

Casting Light on the Adaptation Mechanisms and Evolutionary History of the Widespread Sumerlaeota.

Sumerlaeota is a mysterious, putative phylum-level lineage distributed globally but rarely reported. As such, their physiology, ecology, and evolutionary history remain unknown. The 16S rRNA gene survey reveals that Sumerlaeota is frequently detected in diverse environments globally, especially cold arid desert soils and deep-sea basin surface sediments, where it is one dominant microbial group. Here, we retrieved four Sumerlaeota metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) from two hot springs and one saline lake. Including another 12 publicly available MAGs, they represent six of the nine putative Sumerlaeota subgroups/orders, as indicated by 16S rRNA gene-based phylogeny. These elusive organisms likely obtain carbon mainly through utilization of refractory organics (e.g., chitin and cellulose) and proteinaceous compounds, suggesting that Sumerlaeota act as scavengers in nature. The presence of key bidirectional enzymes involved in acetate and hydrogen metabolisms in these MAGs suggests that they are acetogenic bacteria capable of both the production and consumption of hydrogen. The capabilities of dissimilatory nitrate and sulfate reduction, nitrogen fixation, phosphate solubilization, and organic phosphorus mineralization may confer these heterotrophs great advantages to thrive under diverse harsh conditions. Ancestral state reconstruction indicated that Sumerlaeota originated from chemotrophic and facultatively anaerobic ancestors, and their smaller and variably sized genomes evolved along dynamic pathways from a sizeable common ancestor (2,342 genes), leading to their physiological divergence. Notably, large gene gain and larger loss events occurred at the branch to the last common ancestor of the order subgroup 1, likely due to niche expansion and population size effects.IMPORTANCE In recent years, the tree of life has expanded substantially. Despite this, many abundant yet uncultivated microbial groups remain to be explored. The candidate phylum Sumerlaeota is widely distributed in various harsh environments. However, their physiology, adaptation mechanisms, and evolution remain elusive due to a lack of pure cultures and limited available genomes. Here, we used genomes from uncultivated members of Sumerlaeota to disclose why these taxa can thrive under diverse harsh conditions and how they evolved from a chemotrophic and facultatively anaerobic common ancestor. This study deeply explored the biology of Sumerlaeota and provided novel insights into their possible roles in global biogeochemical cycles, adaptation mechanisms, ecological significance, and evolutionary history.

Ocean acidification causes variable trait-shifts in a coral species.

High pCO2 habitats and their populations provide an unparalleled opportunity to assess how species may survive under future ocean acidification conditions, and help to reveal the traits that confer tolerance. Here we utilize a unique CO2 vent system to study the effects of exposure to elevated pCO2 on trait-shifts observed throughout natural populations of Astroides calycularis, an azooxanthellate scleractinian coral endemic to the Mediterranean. Unexpected shifts in skeletal and growth patterns were found. Colonies shifted to a skeletal phenotype characterized by encrusting morphology, smaller size, reduced coenosarc tissue, fewer polyps, and less porous and denser skeletons at low pH. Interestingly, while individual polyps calcified more and extended faster at low pH, whole colonies found at low pH site calcified and extended their skeleton at the same rate as did those at ambient pH sites. Transcriptomic data revealed strong genetic differentiation among local populations of this warm water species whose distribution range is currently expanding northward. We found excess differentiation in the CO2 vent population for genes central to calcification, including genes for calcium management (calmodulin, calcium-binding proteins), pH regulation (V-type proton ATPase), and inorganic carbon regulation (carbonic anhydrase). Combined, our results demonstrate how coral populations can persist in high pCO2 environments, making this system a powerful candidate for investigating acclimatization and local adaptation of organisms to global environmental change.