cultured from the m.digitata eggs and were subsequently used to transiently colonise acropora coral larvae. chromera's known host range therefore includes the corals m. digitata, p. versipora (type host) and l. purpurea (alternate host), and extends through tropical and temperate waters. the symbiont may obtain metabolites from the host, and it has been proposed this may potentially increase its growth rate inside the host. analysis of environmental metagenomic datasets has revealed that there are other species related to c. velia and v. brassicaformis associated with corals, but yet to be described. these associations are globally distributed. among these is the uncultured undescribed "apicomplexan-related lineage-v" which was inferred by the authors to be potentially photosynthetic, and appears to be a symbiosis specialist. cultured chromerids by comparison can be hypothesized to move between the free-living and coral-associated states, as they are found in m. digitata eggs but are also associated with seaweed, judging from correlations in macroalgal metagenomic datasets. the range of life strategies and niches adopted by apicomplexan-related algae therefore resembles the spectrum of niches occupied by the coral symbiont symbiodinium. research community the first chromera conference and workshop was held at the heron island research station, queensland, australia from november 21–25, 2011. highlights included diving and culturing. presentations included the announcement of a formal description of the second isolated chromerid, vitrella brassicaformis. professors and students alike participated in the conference and workshop, and a broad range of topics was covered. it was agreed that further meetings would follow. the second conference was held in south bohemia, czech republic, from june 22–25, 2014, arranged by the oborník lab, via open email list.