Bleaching-Associated Changes in the Microbiome of Large Benthic Foraminifera of the Great Barrier Reef, Australia.

ABSTRACT: Ocean warming is known to cause detrimental effects in coral reef fauna that rely on photo-symbiosis for survival. Microbial associations can facilitate the success of species across a range of environmental conditions, and play a role in the capacity of organisms to respond to climate change. In 2016, the Great Barrier Reef experienced its third mass bleaching event, with sea surface temperature rising to 1.3°C above long-term monthly summer averages. Here, I investigate the effects of ocean warming on the chlorophyll a (chl a) content and microbiome of the large benthic Foraminifera Amphistegina radiata. Samples were collected in January and April 2016, before and after the mass bleaching event. In total, 71 specimens were collected from two different depths (6- and

SUBMITTER: Prazeres M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6189564 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature