Deep-sea corals: The future architects of reefs

PUBLICATION — Vaga, C.F., Quattrini, A.M., Seiblitz, I.G.L., Huang, D., Quek, Z.B.R., Stolarski, J., Cairns, S.D. & Kitahara, M. V. 2025. A global coral phylogeny reveals resilience and vulnerability through deep time. Nature, doi: 10.1038/s41586-025-09615-6.

Figure: Scleractinian corals originated in the early Palaeozoic (~460 Ma) with solitary, likely heterotrophic forms such as Kilbuchophyllia. Many extant heterotrophic genera (e.g., Caryophyllia, Madrepora) arose in the Mesozoic, whereas photosymbiotic corals appeared in the Triassic (~240 Ma) and have repeatedly suffered environmental crises. Today, photosymbiotic reef builders such as Mussismilia again face extinction. Photo credits: Jarosław Stolarski (three images on the left-hand side); Marcelo V. Kitahara (Caryophyllia, Mussismilia); NOAA National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (Expedition to the Deep Slope 2007).

How corals survived 460 million years of change

Though coral reefs cover only a small part of Earth’s surface, they support over a quarter of marine species and nearly a billion people. A new global phylogeny of stony corals (Scleractinia) shows their ancestor (ca. 460 Ma) was non-symbiotic (heterotrophic). The later rise of mutualism with autotrophic organisms (ca. 300 Ma) spurred diversification but heightened environmental vulnerability. As modern reefs decline, deep-sea, non-symbiotic corals may safeguard the long-term recovery of reef ecosystems.

Press release:
Polska Agencja Prasowa "Koralowce głębokowodne nadzieją dla przyszłości raf koralowych"