Caribbean reefs have undergone large-scale losses in coral cover in past decades, sparking a search for species that are resilient under stress. Porites astreoides has been considered a “winner” and a key player in sustaining coral cover in the Caribbean as more sensitive species struggle. However, P. astreoides has recently declined in abundance, raising concern about its status as a winner. Here, we reviewed the ecophysiology of P. astreoides in response to environmental stress to elucidate whether this species could thrive in the future of Caribbean reefs. We examined ecophysiological variables of P. astreoides related to photosynthesis, growth, recruitment, tissue condition, and microbiome in response to temperature, pH, macroalgal competition, depth, and sedimentation. Overall, P. astreoides was sensitive to environmental stress and each physiological feature showed varying levels of sensitivity. Coral-algal photosynthesis and coral tissue condition could withstand single events of thermal stress but reflected a metabolic imbalance that hinders recovery from repeated bleaching events, compromising long-term success. Colony growth was particularly vulnerable to low pH and macroalgal competition. Recruitment was unaffected, or even favored, by depth and could tolerate high temperatures, but it was sensitive to exposure to macroalgae, especially in combination with abiotic stressors. The response of the microbiome of P. astreoides to stressors is still poorly understood. In relation to other corals, P. astreoides was frequently reported as the most sensitive species in the reviewed literature. The success of P. astreoides is tightly integrated into the future of Caribbean reefs, which could be losing an old winner.

在过去的几十年里，加勒比珊瑚礁经历了大规模的珊瑚覆盖损失，引发了人们寻找在压力下具有复原力的物种。小孔雀随着更敏感的物种的挣扎，被认为是加勒比地区维持珊瑚覆盖的“赢家”和关键角色。然而，P. astreoides最近大幅下跌，引发对其作为赢家的地位的担忧。在这里，我们回顾了P. astreoides为了应对环境压力，以阐明该物种是否可以在加勒比珊瑚礁的未来茁壮成长。我们检查了生态生理变量P. astreoides与光合作用、生长、募集、组织状况和微生物组相关，以响应温度、pH、大型藻类竞争、深度和沉降。全面的，P. astreoides对环境压力很敏感，每个生理特征都表现出不同程度的敏感性。珊瑚藻光合作用和珊瑚组织状况可以承受单一的热应激事件，但反映了代谢失衡，阻碍了从反复的漂白事件中恢复，损害了长期的成功。菌落生长特别容易受到低 pH 值和大型藻类竞争的影响。招募不受深度的影响，甚至受到青睐，并且可以耐受高温，但它对暴露于大型藻类很敏感，尤其是与非生物压力源相结合。微生物组的反应P. astreoides压力源仍然知之甚少。相对于其他珊瑚，P. astreoides在所审查的文献中经常被报道为最敏感的物种。的成功P. astreoides与加勒比珊瑚礁的未来紧密结合，这可能会失去一个老赢家。