Drivers of bacterial diversity dynamics in permeable carbonate and silicate coral reef sands from the Red Sea.

ABSTRACT: Permeable sediments and associated microbial communities play a fundamental role in nutrient recycling within coral reef ecosystems by ensuring high levels of primary production in oligotrophic environments. A previous study on organic matter degradation within biogenic carbonate and terrigenous silicate reef sands in the Red Sea suggested that observed sand-specific differences in microbial activity could be caused by variations in microbial biomass and diversity. Here, we tested this hypothesis by comparing bacterial abundance and community structure in both sand types, and by further exploring the structuring effects of time (season) and space (sediment depth, in/out-reef). Changes in bacterial community structure, as determined via automated ribosomal intergenic spacer analysis (ARISA)

SUBMITTER: Schottner S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3207121 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature