Achi news desk-
However, a researcher from the University of Stirling has identified a micro-organism that could be vital to the survival of coral reefs around the world.
Dr Lauren Messer is the person behind the research team that has analyzed the coral Acropora kenti which can be found in the Great Barrier Reef off the coast of Australia.
The five mass coral bleaching events that have occurred over the past decade have triggered a process that sees vital microscopic algae called zooxanthellae expelled from the coral.
Dr Messer said that removing the algae puts the ‘vital’ ecosystem at risk of dying and losing coral reefs all together.
Her study has now brought new information to light that could save the rest of the world’s coral reefs.
He said: “Events such as coral bleaching as a result of climate change mean we are at increasing risk of losing coral reefs and the vital ecosystem services they support, in some cases before we even get a full grasp on coral health and biology.
“Our study provides new information about the healthy functioning of A. kenti, shedding light on the complex interactions between the coral animal and the microbiome, which underpin its ecological success.
“Our findings suggest that the microbiome’s ability to adapt to warmer and more nitrogen-rich waters could boost A. kenti’s ability to withstand stressful environmental conditions.
“Ultimately, the study contributes to a better understanding of the ecology and evolution of A. kenti and provides insight into how its community of microorganisms can support its health in a changing world.”
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Dr Messer’s research provides new insights into the ecological roles of 82 specific microbial symbionts across 22 individual A. kenti colonies.
It has been discovered that certain microorganisms can supply essential amino acids and B vitamins to the coral host, much like the human microbiome. The research team also identified specific microbes that contribute to carbon and nitrogen cycling within A. kenti, which are essential nutrients required for all life.
Dr Messer added: “Interestingly, we also found that many different microbes encode many of the same metabolic pathways, referred to as functional redundancies, which can ensure that the microbial community continues to perform in a healthy way, even if some members of the community are missing.
“We were also able to identify how different microbes could detect and establish a relationship with their coral host, and we saw a number of mechanisms that the A. kenti microbiome could use to essentially hide from the coral’s immune system to maintain their relationship .
“Our findings revealed that A. kenti-microbiome relationships are shaped by changes in the surrounding seawater, including temperature and concentrations of dissolved inorganic nitrogen as two of the most important environmental factors.
“This information is important because corals are being forced to adapt to changes in their environment at faster rates, or face mass mortality, due to anthropogenic climate change and pollution.”
The study, titled Genome-centric view of the role of the Acropora kenti microbiome in coral health and resilience, was published in the journal Springer Nature.
