Probiotics prevent mortality of thermal-sensitive corals exposed to short-term heat stress.

ABSTRACT: The use of coral probiotics, i.e. beneficial microorganisms for corals (BMCs), is a novel approach to enhancing coral health under heat stress. While BMCs mitigate coral bleaching and mortality during prolonged heat stress conditions, their effectiveness in mitigating short-term acute heat stress remains understudied. This study investigates the effects of BMCs on two Red Sea hard coral species, Acropora cf. hemprichii and Pocillopora verrucosa, during short-term heat stress. Twelve coral fragments per species were allocated to each treatment across two temperature regimes (26°C and 32°C) for 48 hours, with half receiving BMC inoculation and half serving as controls. Results show BMC supplementation significantly prevented mortality in Acropora cf. hemprichii

SUBMITTER: de Breuyn M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11948994 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature