About this Research Topic

Background

Emerging technologies, and the integration of their methods, are leading towards an improved understanding of marine ecosystems. Recognizing innovative contributions is particularly important in boosting the profile of coral reef scientific research. This collection aims to showcase and acknowledge high-quality work from internationally outstanding researchers in the early stages of their careers, particularly of those who obtained their Masters or PhD within the last 10 years. We will highlight research by leading scientists of the future across coral reef research, including the implementation of novel methodologies and interdisciplinary studies (i.e., genomics, evolution, physiology, ecology, taxonomy), focused on understanding reef biodiversity and its interactions, and providing solutions to the anthropogenic-driven changes that these ecosystems are facing.



The goal of this Research Topic will be to foster, promote, and recognize high-quality coral reef research led by early career scientists around the world. Coral reefs are facing many challenges at both global and local scales. Addressing these challenges increasingly requires integration across multiple levels of biological organization, scientific disciplines, and diverse stakeholder communities; early career researchers are often at the forefront of bridging these divides. We aim to highlight the novel, integrative, and transformative work being conducted by early career scientists from institutions across the globe and provide a forum for the development of new research avenues to address outstanding questions in coral reef ecosystems. We encourage early career researchers to submit manuscripts, even in the absence of a formal invitation, accompanied by a letter to the Editor explaining the main contribution or advances of the study in context of the current knowledge of the research topic. Corresponding authors should indicate whether the study represents part of the thesis or project of the lead author (Masters, PhD or postdoc). We particularly welcome submissions from scientists from developing nations and historically underrepresented backgrounds in coral reef research.



This Research Topic will highlight empirical studies encompassing both discovery and applied research in a wide range of fields in marine science and biological levels of organization, ranging from insights into the diversity and function of microorganisms to understanding ecosystem level patterns and processes. We especially welcome research focused on, but not limited to, integrating research fields to advance our understanding of the processes shaping biodiversity coral-reef associated marine taxa or communities, with a special emphasis on the implementation of cutting-edge technologies and innovative solutions to the impacts that these ecosystems are facing. We also welcome review papers (i.e., meta-analytic, systematic reviews) that provide comprehensive information on a topic, explain the current state of knowledge, and draw attention to gaps in existing studies for potential future research.



Authors are invited to submit original research articles or reviews related (but not limited) to the following topics:

1. Omics and evolutionary approaches characterizing diversity at multiple biological scales within reef ecosystems

2. Responses to single or multiple stressors across biological hierarchies from molecules to ecosystems

3. Modeling of metabolic networks at the scale of organisms and communities

4. Novel computational approaches, including supervised and unsupervised machine learning

5. Epigenetic mechanisms underpinning acclimation

Studies on all types of coral-reef associated taxa are welcome.

Image credit: Brett Lewis and David Paz-García

Keywords: Coral Reef Research, Rising Stars, Early Career Researchers, Early Career Scientists

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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