The human gut is teeming with a diverse array of microbes, some of which can cause illness, while others play a crucial role in maintaining gut health. However, it’s not just humans who rely on these microorganisms for their well-being. Coral reef ecosystems also depend on these tiny organisms to recycle organic matter and essential nutrients, as well as to sustain the diverse life forms that rely on the reefs for survival.
“The decline of coral reefs over the years has been attributed to a variety of factors, including climate change, hurricanes, disease, and other stressors,” explained Cynthia Becker, the lead author of the study and a recent graduate of the MIT-WHOI Joint Program.
“Coral reefs not only provide a habitat for approximately 25% of all marine species, but they also contribute significantly to the tourism and fishing industries. It’s crucial for us to closely monitor changes in coral reefs as they occur, and the microbes in their environment can provide valuable insights into these changes,” she added.
The study, titled ”Microorganisms uniquely capture and predict stony coral tissue loss disease and hurricane disturbance impacts on US Virgin Islands reefs,” which was published in Environmental Microbiology, delves into the effects of coral reef disturbances on microbial communities.
During the two major events examined in the study – hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017 and the stony coral tissue loss disease outbreak that began in 2020 – there was a notable increase in ammonium concentration in the water, resulting in a 34% decline in Prochlorococcus bacteria. Prochlorococcus, a small photosynthetic bacteria, plays a vital role in introducing new carbon into the coral’s ecosystem, thereby supporting its health and producing oxygen for the atmosphere.
2024-04-05 19:51:02
Original from phys.org