Cyanobacterial and microeukaryotic profiles of healthy, diseased, and dead Millepora alcicornis from the South Atlantic

Santos, Henrique F.; Martirez, Nicolau; Duarte, Gabriela; Calderón, Emiliano Nicolas; Castro, Clovis B.; Pires, Débora O.; Rosado, Alexandre Soares; Peixoto, Raquel S.

doi:10.3354/dao02972

Cited by 5 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 50 publications

(62 reference statements)

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“…Mortality reports in the SA are in most cases associated with hydrocoral species (Millepora spp. ), which are typically branching and inhabit very shallow depths (Amaral et al, 2006;Santos et al, 2016;Teixeira et al, 2019). Only a single mass coral mortality episode has been recorded for the South Atlantic reefs (also mostly associated with Millepora spp., despite occurring in turbid conditions Duarte et al, 2020) and none of the three major global mass bleaching events that affected the Indo-Pacific and Caribbean had comparable effects in the South Atlantic (Kelmo et al, 2003;Teixeira et al, 2019).…”

Section: Mortality Associated With Bleaching Episodesmentioning

confidence: 99%

South Atlantic Coral Reefs Are Major Global Warming Refugia and Less Susceptible to Bleaching

et al. 2020

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Mass coral bleaching has increased in intensity and frequency and has severely impacted shallow tropical reefs worldwide. Although extensive investigation has been conducted on the resistance and resilience of coral reefs in the Indo-Pacific and Caribbean, the unique reefs of the South Atlantic remain largely unassessed. Here we compiled primary and literature data for reefs from three biogeographical regions: Indo-Pacific, Caribbean and South Atlantic and performed comparative analyses to investigate whether the latter may be more resistant to bleaching. Our findings show that South Atlantic corals display critical features that make them less susceptible to mass coral bleaching: (i) deeper bathymetric distribution, as species have a mean maximum depth of occurrence of 70 m; (ii) higher tolerance to turbidity, as nearly 60% of species are found in turbid conditions; (iii) higher tolerance to nutrient enrichment, as nitrate concentration in the South Atlantic is naturally elevated; (iv) higher morphological resistance, as massive growth forms are dominant and comprise two thirds of species; and (v) more flexible symbiotic associations, as 75% of corals and 60% of symbiont phylotypes are generalists. Such features were associated with occurrence of fewer bleaching episodes with coral mortality in the South Atlantic, approximately 60% less than the Indo-Pacific and 50% less than the Caribbean. In addition, no mass coral mortality episodes associated with the three global mass bleaching events have been reported for the South Atlantic, which suffered considerably less bleaching. These results show that South Atlantic reefs display several remarkable features for withstanding thermal stress. Together with a historic experience of lower heat stress, our findings may explain why climate change impacts in this region have been less intense. Given the large extension and latitudinal distribution of South Atlantic coral reefs and communities, the region may be recognized as a major refugium and likely to resist climate change impacts more effectively than Indo-Pacific and Caribbean reefs.

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Section: Mortality Associated With Bleaching Episodesmentioning

confidence: 99%

South Atlantic Coral Reefs Are Major Global Warming Refugia and Less Susceptible to Bleaching

et al. 2020

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“…However, corals may revert to the original clade (i.e., sensitive clade) over the long-term when the stress is removed (Thornhill et al, 2006). The coral bacterial communities are also sensitive to environmental changes and may also be involved in coral resilience (Reshef et al, 2006; Santos et al, 2014, 2015, 2016; Thompson et al, 2014). However, little is understood about the permanence of these shifts in the coral microbiome in the face of changing environmental conditions (Rowan et al, 1997; Thornhill et al, 2006; Thompson et al, 2014) and whether shifting microbial baselines can provide the resilience needed for corals facing mounting environmental stresses.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Beneficial Microorganisms for Corals (BMC): Proposed Mechanisms for Coral Health and Resilience

et al. 2017

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The symbiotic association between the coral animal and its endosymbiotic dinoflagellate partner Symbiodinium is central to the success of corals. However, an array of other microorganisms associated with coral (i.e., Bacteria, Archaea, Fungi, and viruses) have a complex and intricate role in maintaining homeostasis between corals and Symbiodinium. Corals are sensitive to shifts in the surrounding environmental conditions. One of the most widely reported responses of coral to stressful environmental conditions is bleaching. During this event, corals expel Symbiodinium cells from their gastrodermal tissues upon experiencing extended seawater temperatures above their thermal threshold. An array of other environmental stressors can also destabilize the coral microbiome, resulting in compromised health of the host, which may include disease and mortality in the worst scenario. However, the exact mechanisms by which the coral microbiome supports coral health and increases resilience are poorly understood. Earlier studies of coral microbiology proposed a coral probiotic hypothesis, wherein a dynamic relationship exists between corals and their symbiotic microorganisms, selecting for the coral holobiont that is best suited for the prevailing environmental conditions. Here, we discuss the microbial-host relationships within the coral holobiont, along with their potential roles in maintaining coral health. We propose the term BMC (Beneficial Microorganisms for Corals) to define (specific) symbionts that promote coral health. This term and concept are analogous to the term Plant Growth Promoting Rhizosphere (PGPR), which has been widely explored and manipulated in the agricultural industry for microorganisms that inhabit the rhizosphere and directly or indirectly promote plant growth and development through the production of regulatory signals, antibiotics and nutrients. Additionally, we propose and discuss the potential mechanisms of the effects of BMC on corals, suggesting strategies for the use of this knowledge to manipulate the microbiome, reversing dysbiosis to restore and protect coral reefs. This may include developing and using BMC consortia as environmental “probiotics” to improve coral resistance after bleaching events and/or the use of BMC with other strategies such as human-assisted acclimation/adaption to shifting environmental conditions.

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Multi-omic Approaches for Mapping Interactions Among Marine Microbiomes

Ghosh

Tiwari

Hemamalini

et al. 2017

Understanding Host-Microbiome Interactions - An Omics Approach

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Cyanobacterial and microeukaryotic profiles of healthy, diseased, and dead Millepora alcicornis from the South Atlantic

Cited by 5 publications

References 50 publications

South Atlantic Coral Reefs Are Major Global Warming Refugia and Less Susceptible to Bleaching

South Atlantic Coral Reefs Are Major Global Warming Refugia and Less Susceptible to Bleaching

Beneficial Microorganisms for Corals (BMC): Proposed Mechanisms for Coral Health and Resilience

Multi-omic Approaches for Mapping Interactions Among Marine Microbiomes

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