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The possibility that scleractinian corals and octocorals could change their symbiotic zooxanthellae in response to global warming is alluring. In Goulet (2006; Mar Ecol Prog Ser 321:1-7) I concluded that corals capable of hosting multiple zooxanthella (Symbiodinium) clades may change zooxanthellae, while those hosting one clade may not. Since the majority of corals (77%) host a single Symbiodinium clade, their survival will depend on whether or not the existing symbioses withstand the changing environment. Baker & Romanski (2007; Mar Ecol Prog Ser 335:237-242, this volume) question whether these conclusions apply to scleractinian corals. They subscribe to the null hypo- thesis that most corals host multiple clades and argue that if sampling does not reveal multiple clades in a coral species, this is due to insufficient sample sizes, sampling sites and/or detection techniques. In this Reply Comment, I demonstrate that sample sizes are adequate: of the scleractinian corals capable of hosting multiple clades, 87.5% have been detected with sample sizes ≤5, and 97.7% with sample sizes ≤10. Within scleractinian coral families only a minority (29%) of species host multiple clades, concurring with the overall finding at the species level. The conclusions in Goulet (2006) are valid, and the message that coral reefs may undergo a reduction in biodiversity should be heeded.

Most scleractinian corals and octocorals host a single symbiotic zooxanthella clade