Todd LaJeunesse

Professor of Biology

Todd LaJeunesse

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

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

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

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.

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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

May 20, 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