Seasonal and developmental stage changes in mucilage carbohydrate content shape the kelp microbiome.

ABSTRACT: A large amount of a photoautotroph's fixed carbon is released as dissolved organic matter, from both exudation and solubilized detritus. This dissolved material contributes to a surface mucilage layer that shapes their immediate environment, including the composition of their microbiome. Here we evaluated the microbiome and mucilage carbohydrate composition of Macrocystis pyrifera (giant kelp), a globally distributed foundation species, in response to seasonal nutrient availability and developmental stage. We combine 16S rRNA amplicon analysis of the giant kelp microbiome with carbohydrate monomer analysis of kelp mucilage to examine microbe-mucilage relationships. We found significant differences in the microbiome and mucilage composition between seasons and developmental stages of

SUBMITTER: English CJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12642873 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature