The Xiamen Symposium on Marine Environmental Sciences

2027 Xiamen Symposium on Marine Environmental Sciences

January 12-15, 2027

Ocean warming dominates heritable adaptation of harmful algae under global change
ID:1488 Poster Presentation

2027-01-15 16:15 (China Standard Time)

Session:Session 29 - Marine Algae: Genetics, evolution and synthetic biology

Abstract
Global oceans face concurrent warming, acidification, and eutrophication‑driven nitrogen‑phosphorus (N/P) imbalance, threatening coastal ecosystems and amplifying harmful algal blooms (HABs). While short-term physiological plasticity is well documented, whether prolonged warming drives heritable adaptive evolution in dinoflagellates under combined climate stressors remains unresolved, limiting predictive capacity for future HABs. we report a 300-day multigenerational selection experiment on the HAB-forming dinoflagellate Karenia mikimotoi t under warming, elevated CO₂ and high nitrogen‑phosphorus ratios. We demonstrate that warming triggers stage‑dependent physiological reprogramming: initial growth inhibition reverses over successive generations, accompanied by progressive recovery of photosynthetic efficiency and reduced oxidative stress. Time‑series transcriptomics reveal a clear temporal shift from acute stress defense toward stable metabolic homeostasis, with persistent rewiring of carbon, nitrogen, and energy metabolism. Reciprocal transplant and thermal gradient experiments confirm genetically fixed thermal adaptation, with evolved lines exhibiting an upward shift in thermal optima (22 °C to 26 °C) and enhanced heat tolerance. Temperature explains most of transcriptomic variation, acting as the dominant selective force, while elevated CO₂ and high N/P function as synergistic modulators of thermal adaptation. Our findings establish that prolonged warming drives rapid heritable adaptation in marine dinoflagellates, with profound implications for harmful algal bloom dynamics and coastal ecosystem resilience under global climate change.
Speaker
Cai Canjun Xiamen University

Author
Cai Canjun Xiamen University

    Important Dates

    • Jan 30

      2026

      Session / Event proposals open

    • Mar 31

      2026

      Session / Event proposals close
      (Extended to April 7)

    • Apr 30

      2026

      Session acceptance notifications

    • Apr 30

      2026

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    • Jun 30

      2026

      Abstract submissions close
      (Extended to July 21)

    • Aug 31

      2026

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    • Sep 15

      2026

      Scientific program released

    • Oct 15

      2026

      Early bird registration closes

    • Jan 12–15

      2027

      XMAS 2027