Water depth outweighs reef condition in shaping non-geniculate coralline algae-associated microbial communities in coral reefs: A case study from Thailand.

ABSTRACT: Red calcified non-geniculate coralline algae (NGCA) provide habitat structures, stabilize reef structures, and foster coral larval settlement and metamorphosis. Moreover, the microbes associated with NGCA are dependent on the NGCA host species and are affected by environmental factors; however, little is known about the influence of reef conditions and depth gradients on the associated microbial communities and NGCA. In this study, we collected NGCA under different reef conditions and depth gradients and characterized the microbial communities using the V3-V4 hypervariable regions of the 16S rRNA gene. Metagenomic analysis revealed 2 domains, 51 phyla, 123 classes, and 210 genera. The NGCA-associated bacterial communities were dominated by Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Chloroflexi, Actino

SUBMITTER: Pattarach K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10864967 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature