Selective Uptake of Pelagic Microbial Community Members by Caribbean Reef Corals.

ABSTRACT: Coral reefs are possible sinks for microbes; however, the removal mechanisms at play are not well understood. Here, we characterize pelagic microbial groups at the CARMABI reef (Curaçao) and examine microbial consumption by three coral species: Madracis mirabilis, Porites astreoides, and Stephanocoenia intersepta Flow cytometry analyses of water samples collected from a depth of 10 m identified 6 microbial groups: Prochlorococcus, three groups of Synechococcus, photosynthetic eukaryotes, and heterotrophic bacteria. Minimum growth rates (μ) for Prochlorococcus, all Synechococcus groups, and photosynthetic eukaryotes were 0.55, 0.29, and 0.45 μ day^-1, respectively, and suggest relatively high rates of productivity despite low nutrie

SUBMITTER: Hoadley KD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8091028 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature