Metagenomic shifts in mucus, tissue and skeleton of the coral Balanophyllia europaea living along a natural CO₂ gradient.

ABSTRACT: Using the Mediterranean coral Balanophyllia europaea naturally growing along a pH gradient close to Panarea island (Italy) as a model, we explored the role of host-associated microbiomes in coral acclimatization to ocean acidification (OA). Coral samples were collected at three sites along the gradient, mimicking seawater conditions projected for 2100 under different IPCC (The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) scenarios, and mucus, soft tissue and skeleton associated microbiomes were characterized by shotgun metagenomics. According to our findings, OA induced functional changes in the microbiomes genetic potential that could mitigate the sub-optimal environmental conditions at three levels: i. selection of bacteria genetically equipped with functions related to stress resistance;

SUBMITTER: Palladino G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9723718 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature