Season, but not symbiont state, drives microbiome structure in the temperate coral Astrangia poculata.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Understanding the associations among corals, their photosynthetic zooxanthella symbionts (Symbiodinium), and coral-associated prokaryotic microbiomes is critical for predicting the fidelity and strength of coral symbioses in the face of growing environmental threats. Most coral-microbiome associations are beneficial, yet the mechanisms that determine the composition of the coral microbiome remain largely unknown. Here, we characterized microbiome diversity in the temperate, facultatively symbiotic coral Astrangia poculata at four seasonal time points near the northernmost limit of the species range. The facultative nature of this system allowed us to test seasonal influence and symbiotic state (Symbiodinium density in the coral) on microbiome community composition.

Re

SUBMITTER: Sharp KH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5603060 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature