Aura-biomes are present in the water layer above coral reef benthic macro-organisms

PeerJ

article

Kevin Walsh¹  J. Matthew Haggerty¹  Michael P. Doane¹  John J. Hansen¹  Megan M. Morris¹  Ana Paula B. Moreira²  Louisi de Oliveira²  Luciana Leomil³  Gizele D. Garcia³  Fabiano Thompson²  Elizabeth A. Dinsdale¹ 

[1] Department of Biology, San Diego State University;Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro;Macae campus, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro;Laboratory of Microbiology, Institute of Biology, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro

关键词: Corals;    Coral reefs;    Metagenomics;    Aura-biome;    Microbial ecology;   

DOI  :  10.7717/peerj.3666

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: Inra

【 摘 要 】

As coral reef habitats decline worldwide, some reefs are transitioning from coral- to algal-dominated benthos with the exact cause for this shift remaining elusive. Increases in the abundance of microbes in the water column has been correlated with an increase in coral disease and reduction in coral cover. Here we investigated how multiple reef organisms influence microbial communities in the surrounding water column. Our study consisted of a field assessment of microbial communities above replicate patches dominated by a single macro-organism. Metagenomes were constructed from 20 L of water above distinct macro-organisms, including (1) the coral Mussismilia braziliensis, (2) fleshy macroalgae (Stypopodium, Dictota and Canistrocarpus), (3) turf algae, and (4) the zoanthid Palythoa caribaeorum and were compared to the water microbes collected 3 m above the reef. Microbial genera and functional potential were annotated using MG-RAST and showed that the dominant benthic macro-organisms influence the taxa and functions of microbes in the water column surrounding them, developing a specific “aura-biome”. The coral aura-biome reflected the open water column, and was associated with Synechococcus and functions suggesting oligotrophic growth, while the fleshy macroalgae aura-biome was associated with Ruegeria, Pseudomonas, and microbial functions suggesting low oxygen conditions. The turf algae aura-biome was associated with Vibrio, Flavobacterium, and functions suggesting pathogenic activity, while zoanthids were associated with Alteromonas and functions suggesting a stressful environment. Because each benthic organism has a distinct aura-biome, a change in benthic cover will change the microbial community of the water, which may lead to either the stimulation or suppression of the recruitment of benthic organisms.

【 授权许可】

CC BY