Macroalgae decrease growth and alter microbial community structure of the reef-building coral, Porites astreoides.

ABSTRACT: With the continued and unprecedented decline of coral reefs worldwide, evaluating the factors that contribute to coral demise is of critical importance. As coral cover declines, macroalgae are becoming more common on tropical reefs. Interactions between these macroalgae and corals may alter the coral microbiome, which is thought to play an important role in colony health and survival. Together, such changes in benthic macroalgae and in the coral microbiome may result in a feedback mechanism that contributes to additional coral cover loss. To determine if macroalgae alter the coral microbiome, we conducted a field-based experiment in which the coral Porites astreoides was placed in competition with five species of macroalgae. Macroalgal contact increased variance in the coral-associated mic

SUBMITTER: Vega Thurber R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3434190 | biostudies-literature | 2012

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature