Microbial community composition of deep-sea corals from the Red Sea provides insight into functional adaption to a unique environment
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Type
ArticleKAUST Department
Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering (BESE) DivisionMarine Science Program
Red Sea Research Center (RSRC)
KAUST Grant Number
FCC/1/1973-18-01Date
2017-03-17Online Publication Date
2017-03-17Print Publication Date
2017-12Permanent link to this record
http://hdl.handle.net/10754/623038
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Show full item recordAbstract
Microbes associated with deep-sea corals remain poorly studied. The lack of symbiotic algae suggests that associated microbes may play a fundamental role in maintaining a viable coral host via acquisition and recycling of nutrients. Here we employed 16 S rRNA gene sequencing to study bacterial communities of three deep-sea scleractinian corals from the Red Sea, Dendrophyllia sp., Eguchipsammia fistula, and Rhizotrochus typus. We found diverse, species-specific microbiomes, distinct from the surrounding seawater. Microbiomes were comprised of few abundant bacteria, which constituted the majority of sequences (up to 58% depending on the coral species). In addition, we found a high diversity of rare bacteria (taxa at <1% abundance comprised >90% of all bacteria). Interestingly, we identified anaerobic bacteria, potentially providing metabolic functions at low oxygen conditions, as well as bacteria harboring the potential to degrade crude oil components. Considering the presence of oil and gas fields in the Red Sea, these bacteria may unlock this carbon source for the coral host. In conclusion, the prevailing environmental conditions of the deep Red Sea (>20 °C, <2 mg oxygen L−1) may require distinct functional adaptations, and our data suggest that bacterial communities may contribute to coral functioning in this challenging environment.Citation
Röthig T, Yum LK, Kremb SG, Roik A, Voolstra CR (2017) Microbial community composition of deep-sea corals from the Red Sea provides insight into functional adaption to a unique environment. Scientific Reports 7: 44714. Available: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/srep44714.Sponsors
We thank the crew of the R/V Aegaeo, especially the ROV and submersible team, and all participating scientists (P. Schmitt-Kopplin, N. Hertkorn, C. Roder). We would like to thank CMOR for assistance and support in field operations. This work was supported from baseline funds to CRV and under the Center Competitive Funding (CCF) Program FCC/1/1973-18-01 by the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST).Publisher
Springer NatureJournal
Scientific ReportsAdditional Links
http://www.nature.com/articles/srep44714ae974a485f413a2113503eed53cd6c53
10.1038/srep44714
Scopus Count
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