Impact of excess and harmful radiation on energy budgets in scleractinian corals

► Excess or short wave radiation affects the integrity of coral symbiosis. ► The impact of this radiation is analyzed with Dynamic Energy Budget theory. ► Photoinhibition affects the host more than the symbiont. ► Photodamage affects the symbiont more than the host and may cause bleaching. ► Both impacts make corals more vulnerable to other forms of environmental stress.