Todd LaJeunesse
Professor of Biology
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327 Mueller Lab
University Park, PA - tcl3@psu.edu
- 814-863-2038
Research Summary
Microbial Ecology and Evolution
Huck Graduate Students
Huck Affiliations
Links
Most Recent Publications
Limited persistence of the heat-tolerant zooxanthella, Durusdinium trenchii, in corals transplanted to a barrier reef where it is rare among natal colonies
Kira E. Turnham, Allison M. Lewis, Dustin W. Kemp, Mark E. Warner, Drew F. Wham, Robin T. Smith, Kenneth Hoadley, Patrick L. Colin, Yimnang Golbuu, Todd C. LaJeunesse, 2025, Coral Reefs on p. 555-570
Morphological and genetic characterization of Stylophora madagascarensis, Pocillopora acuta, and Pocillopora verrucosa in Mauritius and their thermal photophysiological stress responses
Sruti Jeetun, Melanie Ricot, Shakeel Yavan Jogee, Deepeeka Kaullysing, Nawsheen Taleb-Hossenkhan, Todd Christopher LaJeunesse, Grégory Philippart, Olivier Collard, Jean François Flot, Diah Permata Wijayanti, Mathinee Yucharoen, Bernardo Nascimento, Yoshimi Suzuki, Beatriz Estela Casareto, Ranjeet Bhagooli, 2025, Bulletin of Marine Science on p. 247-269
The genome of a giant clam zooxanthella (Cladocopium infistulum) offers few clues to adaptation as an extracellular symbiont with high thermotolerance
Todd Lajeunesse, Raúl A. González-Pech, Jihanne Shepherd, Zachary L. Fuller, John Everett Parkinson, 2024, BMC Genomics
The diversity, distribution, and temporal stability of coral ‘zooxanthellae’ on a pacific reef: from the scale of individual colonies to across the host community
Todd Lajeunesse, Allison M. Lewis, Caleb C. Butler, Kira E. Turnham, Drew F. Wham, Kenneth D. Hoadley, Robin T. Smith, Dustin W. Kemp, Mark E. Warner, 2024, Coral Reefs on p. 841-856
Host–symbiont plasticity in the upside-down jellyfish Cassiopea xamachana: strobilation across symbiont genera
Victoria Sharp, Allison H. Kerwin, Marta Mammone, Viridiana Avila-Magana, Kira Turnham, Aki Ohdera, Todd LaJeunesse, Monica Medina, 2024, Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution
Influence of reef habitat on coral microbial associations
Todd Lajeunesse, Shelby E. Gantt, Keri M. Kemp, Patrick L. Colin, Kenneth D. Hoadley, Mark E. Warner, Dustin W. Kemp, 2024, Environmental Microbiology Reports
Acclimatization of a coral-dinoflagellate mutualism at a CO<sub>2</sub> vent
Fiorella Prada, Silvia Franzellitti, Erik Caroselli, Itay Cohen, Mauro Marini, Alessandra Campanelli, Lorenzo Sana, Arianna Mancuso, Chiara Marchini, Alessia Puglisi, Marco Candela, Tali Mass, Franco Tassi, Todd C. LaJeunesse, Zvy Dubinsky, Giuseppe Falini, Stefano Goffredo, 2023, Communications Biology
Scott Ross Santos (1972–2024): A Force of Good in the Exploration of Ecology and Evolution
Todd C. Lajeunesse, Daniel Thornhill, Justin C. Havird, Kenneth M. Halanych, Mary Alice Coffroth, 2023, Biological Bulletin on p. 117-119
Similarities in biomass and energy reserves among coral colonies from contrasting reef environments
Elise F. Keister, Shelby E. Gantt, Hannah G. Reich, Kira E. Turnham, Timothy G. Bateman, Todd C. LaJeunesse, Mark E. Warner, Dustin W. Kemp, 2023, Scientific Reports
Thermotolerant coral-algal mutualisms maintain high rates of nutrient transfer while exposed to heat stress
Dustin W. Kemp, Kenneth D. Hoadley, Allison M. Lewis, Drew C. Wham, Robin T. Smith, Mark E. Warner, Todd C. Lajeunesse, 2023, Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
Most-Cited Papers
Systematic Revision of Symbiodiniaceae Highlights the Antiquity and Diversity of Coral Endosymbionts
Todd C. LaJeunesse, John Everett Parkinson, Paul W. Gabrielson, Hae Jin Jeong, James Davis Reimer, Christian R. Voolstra, Scott R. Santos, 2018, Current Biology on p. 2570-2580.e6
Genomes of coral dinoflagellate symbionts highlight evolutionary adaptations conducive to a symbiotic lifestyle
M. Aranda, Y. Li, Y. J. Liew, S. Baumgarten, O. Simakov, M. C. Wilson, J. Piel, H. Ashoor, S. Bougouffa, V. B. Bajic, T. Ryu, T. Ravasi, T. Bayer, G. Micklem, H. Kim, J. Bhak, T. C. LaJeunesse, C. R. Voolstra, 2016, Scientific Reports
SymPortal: A novel analytical framework and platform for coral algal symbiont next-generation sequencing ITS2 profiling
Benjamin C.C. Hume, Edward G. Smith, Maren Ziegler, Hugh J.M. Warrington, John A. Burt, Todd C. LaJeunesse, Joerg Wiedenmann, Christian R. Voolstra, 2019, Molecular Ecology Notes on p. 1063-1080
Considerations for maximizing the adaptive potential of restored coral populations in the western Atlantic
Iliana B. Baums, Andrew C. Baker, Sarah W. Davies, Andréa G. Grottoli, Carly D. Kenkel, Sheila A. Kitchen, Ilsa B. Kuffner, Todd C. LaJeunesse, Mikhail V. Matz, Margaret W. Miller, John E. Parkinson, Andrew A. Shantz, 2019, Ecological Applications
Microbial invasion of the Caribbean by an Indo-Pacific coral zooxanthella
D. Tye Pettaya, Drew C. Whama, Robin T. Smith, Roberto Iglesias-Prietoc, Todd C. LaJeunessea, 2015, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America on p. 7513-7518
Biogeography and molecular diversity of coral symbionts in the genus Symbiodinium around the Arabian Peninsula
Maren Ziegler, Chatchanit Arif, John A. Burt, Sergey Dobretsov, Cornelia Roder, Todd C. LaJeunesse, Christian R. Voolstra, 2017, Journal of Biogeography on p. 674-686
Gene expression variation resolves species and individual strains among coral-associated dinoflagellates within the genus symbiodinium
John E. Parkinson, Sebastian Baumgarten, Craig T. Michell, Iliana B. Baums, Todd C. LaJeunesse, Christian R. Voolstra, 2016, Genome Biology and Evolution on p. 665-680
Most Low-Abundance “Background” Symbiodinium spp. Are Transitory and Have Minimal Functional Significance for Symbiotic Corals
Moo Joon Lee, Hae Jin Jeong, Se Hyeon Jang, Sung Yeon Lee, Nam Seon Kang, Kyung Ha Lee, Hyung Seop Kim, Drew C. Wham, Todd C. LaJeunesse, 2016, Microbial Ecology on p. 771-783
Intraspecific diversity among partners drives functional variation in coral symbioses
John Everett Parkinson, Anastazia T. Banaszak, Naomi S. Altman, Todd C. LaJeunesse, Iliana B. Baums, 2015, Scientific Reports
Host–symbiont combinations dictate the photo-physiological response of reef-building corals to thermal stress
Kenneth D. Hoadley, Allison M. Lewis, Drew C. Wham, D. Tye Pettay, Chris Grasso, Robin Smith, Dustin W. Kemp, Todd C. LaJeunesse, Mark E. Warner, 2019, Scientific Reports
News Articles Featuring Todd LaJeunesse
Aug 09, 2024
Ecology Student Wins Award from Phycological Society of America
Caleb Butler, an Ecology graduate student working in Todd LaJeunesse's lab, won an award for their presentation at a Seattle-based meeting of the Phycological Society of America.
Full Article
Jul 23, 2023
There is still hope for coral reefs amid record-warm sea surface temperatures, studies show
Warming ocean water threatens Florida's coral reefs.
Full Article
Jul 19, 2023
Corals and symbiotic algae thrive despite heating, offering hope for reef survival
In the face of climate change and rising ocean temperatures, coral reefs face unprecedented challenges.
Full Article
Jul 18, 2023
This Pacific Coral Can Withstand Warming Waters With the Help of Algae
The heat-resistant organism in antler coral may help it adapt as ocean temperatures increase.
Full Article
Jul 18, 2023
Some corals may survive climate change without paying a metabolic price
If, as the saying goes, "nothing in life is free," then corals might pay a price for being resilient to climate change.
Full Article
May 02, 2023
Indo-Pacific corals more resilient to climate change than Atlantic corals
In the face of global warming and other environmental changes, corals in the Atlantic Ocean have declined precipitously in recent years, while corals in the Pacific and Indian Oceans are faring better.
Full Article
Nov 08, 2022
Professor of biology awarded Maskalick Biodiversity Seed Grant
Todd LaJeunesse, professor of biology at Penn State, was recently awarded the David G. Maskalick and Kathleen A. Maskalick Biodiversity Healthcare Seed Grant by the Eberly College of Science Office for Innovation.
Full Article
Jul 01, 2021
Scientists resurrect 'forgotten' genus of algae living in marine animals
In the late 1800s, scientists were stumped by the “yellow cells” they were observing within the tissues of certain temperate marine animals, including sea anemones, corals, and jellyfish. Were these cells part of the animal or separate organisms? If separate, were they parasites, or did they confer a benefit to the host?
Full Article
May 24, 2021
Widespread coral-algae symbioses endured historical climate changes
One of the most important and widespread reef-building corals, known as cauliflower coral, exhibits strong partnerships with certain species of symbiotic algae, and these relationships have persisted through periods of intense climate fluctuations over the last 1.5 million years, according to a new study led by researchers at Penn State.
Full Article
Sep 30, 2020
Coral’s resilience to warming may depend on iron
How well corals respond to climate change could depend in part on the already scarce amount of iron available in their environment, according to a new study led by Penn State researchers.
Full Article
Apr 22, 2020
Iron deficiency in corals?
When iron is limited, the tiny algae that live within coral cells — which can provide the majority of a coral’s nutritional needs — change how they take in other trace metals, which could have cascading effects on vital biological functions.
Full Article
Aug 20, 2019
Biology graduate student receives three awards for outstanding presentation
Penn State biology graduate student Hannah Reich has been honored with three awards for a presentation she gave at three scientific conferences during summer 2019.
Full Article
Jul 23, 2019
How to restore a coral reef
New guidelines drafted by a consortium of concerned experts could enable corals to adapt to changing environments and help restore declining coral populations in the Caribbean.
Full Article
Jun 30, 2019
Bleached Corals Compensate For Stress By Eating More Plankton
In healthy corals, symbiotic algae housed within the coral photosynthesize during the day while the coral itself feeds on zooplankton, tiny shrimp and bug-like organisms, during the night.
Full Article
Aug 13, 2018
Algae and Coral Have Been BFFs Since the Dinosaur Age
A new study shows that the relationship between coral polyps and zooxanthellae that produces colorful coral reefs began 160 million years ago.
Full Article
Aug 10, 2018
Coral reefs 'weathered dinosaur extinction'
Corals may have teamed up with the microscopic algae which live inside them as much as 160 million years ago, according to new research.
Full Article
Jul 06, 2025
Symbiosis will help some corals survive in a warming world
With oceans warming at an unprecedented pace, the delicate symbiotic relationship between corals and their resident algae is disrupted, which often leads to mortality.
Full Article