Bacterial Communities Vary from Different Scleractinian Coral Species and between Bleached and Non-Bleached Corals
ABSTRACT Bleaching is one of the most relevant factors implicated in the integrity of coral reef ecosystems, with the increasing frequency and intensity of damaging events representing a serious threat to reef biodiversity. Here, we analyzed changes in coral-associated bacteria from three types of n...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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American Society for Microbiology
2023-06-01
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| Series: | Microbiology Spectrum |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/spectrum.04910-22 |
| _version_ | 1827925116200157184 |
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| author | Meiting Xu Keke Cheng Baohua Xiao Mengmeng Tong Zhonghua Cai Mui-Choo Jong Guofu Chen Jin Zhou |
| author_facet | Meiting Xu Keke Cheng Baohua Xiao Mengmeng Tong Zhonghua Cai Mui-Choo Jong Guofu Chen Jin Zhou |
| author_sort | Meiting Xu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ABSTRACT Bleaching is one of the most relevant factors implicated in the integrity of coral reef ecosystems, with the increasing frequency and intensity of damaging events representing a serious threat to reef biodiversity. Here, we analyzed changes in coral-associated bacteria from three types of non-bleached and bleached scleractinian corals (Acropora digitifera, Galaxea fascicularis, and Porites pukoensis) in Hainan Luhuitou peninsula coastal areas. The community structure of symbiotic bacteria differed significantly among the three apparently healthy corals. The bleached corals had higher bacterial alpha diversity and some specific bacteria genera, including Ruegeria, Methyloceanibacter, Filomicrobium, Halioglobus, Rubripirellula, Rhodopirellula, Silicimonas, Blastopirellula, Sva0996 marine group, Woeseia, and unclassified_c_Gammaproteobacteria, were consistently increased in bleached groups. Network analysis revealed significantly different degrees of modularity between bleached and non-bleached groups at the bacterial genus level, and a higher proportion of links was dominated by positive co-occurrences. Functional prediction analysis illustrated that coral-associated bacteria remained relatively consistent in the bleached and non-bleached groups. Structure equation modeling revealed that the bacterial community diversity and function were directly influenced by host and environment factors. These findings suggested that coral-associated bacterial responses to bleaching occur in a host-dependent manner, informing novel strategies for restoring coral and aiding adaption to bleaching stress. IMPORTANCE Accumulating evidence indicates that coral-associated bacteria play an important role in the health of holobionts. However, the variability of the symbiotic bacterial community structure among coral species with different coral health statuses remains largely unknown. Here, we investigated three apparent non-bleached (healthy) and bleached coral species (sampled in situ), involving related symbiotic bacterial profiles, including composition, alpha diversity, network relationship, and potential function. Structural equation modeling analysis was used to analyze the relationship between coral status and abiotic and biotic factors. The bacterial community structure of different groups was shown to exhibit host-specific traits. Both host and environmental impacts had primary effects on coral-associated microbial communities. Future studies are needed to identify the mechanisms that mediate divergent microbial consortia. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T05:21:42Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d1ecc8f063b6495d81ebfce3bedf83bd |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2165-0497 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T05:21:42Z |
| publishDate | 2023-06-01 |
| publisher | American Society for Microbiology |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Microbiology Spectrum |
| spelling | doaj.art-d1ecc8f063b6495d81ebfce3bedf83bd2023-06-15T13:18:31ZengAmerican Society for MicrobiologyMicrobiology Spectrum2165-04972023-06-0111310.1128/spectrum.04910-22Bacterial Communities Vary from Different Scleractinian Coral Species and between Bleached and Non-Bleached CoralsMeiting Xu0Keke Cheng1Baohua Xiao2Mengmeng Tong3Zhonghua Cai4Mui-Choo Jong5Guofu Chen6Jin Zhou7School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, People’s Republic of ChinaShenzhen Public Platform for Screening and Application of Marine Microbial Resources, Institute for Ocean Engineering, Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen, People’s Republic of ChinaShenzhen Institute of Guangdong Ocean University, Shenzhen, People’s Republic of ChinaOcean College, Zhejiang University, Zhoushan, People’s Republic of ChinaShenzhen Public Platform for Screening and Application of Marine Microbial Resources, Institute for Ocean Engineering, Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen, People’s Republic of ChinaInstitute of Environment and Ecology, Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen, People’s Republic of ChinaSchool of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, People’s Republic of ChinaShenzhen Public Platform for Screening and Application of Marine Microbial Resources, Institute for Ocean Engineering, Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen, People’s Republic of ChinaABSTRACT Bleaching is one of the most relevant factors implicated in the integrity of coral reef ecosystems, with the increasing frequency and intensity of damaging events representing a serious threat to reef biodiversity. Here, we analyzed changes in coral-associated bacteria from three types of non-bleached and bleached scleractinian corals (Acropora digitifera, Galaxea fascicularis, and Porites pukoensis) in Hainan Luhuitou peninsula coastal areas. The community structure of symbiotic bacteria differed significantly among the three apparently healthy corals. The bleached corals had higher bacterial alpha diversity and some specific bacteria genera, including Ruegeria, Methyloceanibacter, Filomicrobium, Halioglobus, Rubripirellula, Rhodopirellula, Silicimonas, Blastopirellula, Sva0996 marine group, Woeseia, and unclassified_c_Gammaproteobacteria, were consistently increased in bleached groups. Network analysis revealed significantly different degrees of modularity between bleached and non-bleached groups at the bacterial genus level, and a higher proportion of links was dominated by positive co-occurrences. Functional prediction analysis illustrated that coral-associated bacteria remained relatively consistent in the bleached and non-bleached groups. Structure equation modeling revealed that the bacterial community diversity and function were directly influenced by host and environment factors. These findings suggested that coral-associated bacterial responses to bleaching occur in a host-dependent manner, informing novel strategies for restoring coral and aiding adaption to bleaching stress. IMPORTANCE Accumulating evidence indicates that coral-associated bacteria play an important role in the health of holobionts. However, the variability of the symbiotic bacterial community structure among coral species with different coral health statuses remains largely unknown. Here, we investigated three apparent non-bleached (healthy) and bleached coral species (sampled in situ), involving related symbiotic bacterial profiles, including composition, alpha diversity, network relationship, and potential function. Structural equation modeling analysis was used to analyze the relationship between coral status and abiotic and biotic factors. The bacterial community structure of different groups was shown to exhibit host-specific traits. Both host and environmental impacts had primary effects on coral-associated microbial communities. Future studies are needed to identify the mechanisms that mediate divergent microbial consortia.https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/spectrum.04910-22coral health statusbleachingbacterial communitiesnetwork relationshiphost-dependent profile |
| spellingShingle | Meiting Xu Keke Cheng Baohua Xiao Mengmeng Tong Zhonghua Cai Mui-Choo Jong Guofu Chen Jin Zhou Bacterial Communities Vary from Different Scleractinian Coral Species and between Bleached and Non-Bleached Corals Microbiology Spectrum coral health status bleaching bacterial communities network relationship host-dependent profile |
| title | Bacterial Communities Vary from Different Scleractinian Coral Species and between Bleached and Non-Bleached Corals |
| title_full | Bacterial Communities Vary from Different Scleractinian Coral Species and between Bleached and Non-Bleached Corals |
| title_fullStr | Bacterial Communities Vary from Different Scleractinian Coral Species and between Bleached and Non-Bleached Corals |
| title_full_unstemmed | Bacterial Communities Vary from Different Scleractinian Coral Species and between Bleached and Non-Bleached Corals |
| title_short | Bacterial Communities Vary from Different Scleractinian Coral Species and between Bleached and Non-Bleached Corals |
| title_sort | bacterial communities vary from different scleractinian coral species and between bleached and non bleached corals |
| topic | coral health status bleaching bacterial communities network relationship host-dependent profile |
| url | https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/spectrum.04910-22 |
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