Significant Changes in Bacterial Communities Associated with Pocillopora Corals Ingestion by Crown-of-Thorns Starfish: An Important Factor Affecting the Coral's Health.

ABSTRACT: Coral ingestion by crown-of-thorns starfish (COTS) is an important cause of coral reef degradation, although the impacts of COTS feeding on coral-associated microbial communities are not well understood. Therefore, in this study, we analyzed the coral tissue-weight, Symbiodiniaceae density (SD), bacterial community composition, and the predicted functions of bacterial genes associated with Pocillopora corals in healthy portions and feeding scars, following COTS feeding. Coral tissue-weight loss rate in the feeding scars was 71.3-94.95%. The SDs were significantly lower in the feeding scars, and the SD-loss rate was 92.05% ± 2.12%. The relative abundances of bacterial communities associated with Pocillopora corals after COTS feeding changed significantly and were almost comple

SUBMITTER: Qin Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8879049 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature