Title: STABILITY AND FUNCTIONALITY OF THE MICROBIAL COMMUNITIES ASSOCIATED WITH TEMPERATE GORGONIANS AND THE PRECIOUS RED CORAL CORALLIUM RUBRUM

Abstract: Gorgonians are key habitat-forming species of temperate benthic communities. However, local human impacts and mass mortality events caused by elevated seawater temperatures related to climate change and microbial disease outbreaks are responsible for significant declines in gorgonian populations. Despite these threats, relatively little is known about the symbioses between gorgonian hosts and their microbial associates. While Endozoicomonas from the order Oceanospirillales are commonly associated with most anthozoans (up to 95%), we report that the microbiome of Corallium rubrum is dominated by Spirochaetes (70%) and to a lesser extent Oceanospirillales of the ME2 family (25%). This core microbiome, consisting of 12 bacterial species, was found to be highly stable on both spatial and temporal scales, suggesting that these bacteria are important symbionts of the red coral. In contrast, the Endozoicomonas-dominated microbiomes of other temperate gorgonians were found to undergo significant changes depending on local conditions. To elucidate the function of these divergent gorgonian-associated microbial communities and the effects elevated seawater temperatures, ocean acidification and eutrophication may have on their functionality, we conducted meta-transcriptomic analyses on gorgonians and the red coral impacted by these stressors in experimental settings. We will present results from these studies showing a novel microbial symbiotic association within Anthozoans and how stress may impact the health of the coral holobiont through the disruptions of host-microbial symbioses.

Authors: van de Water J, Voolstra CR, Junca H, Allemand D, Ferrier-Pages C

Presentation: Oral

Session: 12

Date: 06/20/16

Time: 17:45

Location: 313 A

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