Development of the coral nervous system and its role in metamorphosis

The availability of transcriptome data allows us to take new approaches in our studies of the structure and function of the coral nervous system.

In this project, most recently driven by Honours student Rosalind Attenborough, we are combining our transcriptome data with antibody and in situ studies to learn what neurotransmitters the Acropora nervous system uses and how it changes during the dramatic transition from planktonic larva to settled polyp that occurs at settlement and  metamorphosis.