Development and validation of an experimental life support system to study coral reef microbial communities

Scientific Reports, vol. 14, pp. 21260

Abstract

In the present study, we developed and validated an experimental life support system (ELSS) designed to investigate coral reef associated bacterial communities. The microcosms in the ELSS consisted of coral reef sediment, synthetic seawater, and specimens of five benthic reef species. These included two hard corals Montipora digitata and Montipora capricornis, a soft coral Sarcophyton glaucum, a zoanthid Zoanthus sp., and a sponge Chondrilla sp.. Physicochemical parameters and bacterial communities in the ELSS were similar to those observed at shallow coral reef sites. Sediment bacterial evenness and higher taxonomic composition were more similar to natural-type communities at days 29 and 34 than at day 8 after transfer to the microcosms, suggesting microbial stabilization after an initial recovery period. Biotopes were compositionally distinct but shared a number of ASVs. At day 34, sediment specific ASVs were found in hosts and visa versa. Transplantation significantly altered the bacterial community composition of M. digitata and Chondrilla sp., suggesting microbial adaptation to altered environmental conditions. Altogether, our results support the suitability of the ELSS developed in this study as a model system to investigate coral reef associated bacterial communities using multi-factorial experiments.

Authors 9

1. T.M. Stuij corresponding

   Centro de Estudos do Ambiente e do Mar · University of Aveiro

   Affiliation as printed

   Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM) and Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário Santiago, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal. tamarastuij@ua.pt

2. Daniel F. R. Cleary

   Centro de Estudos do Ambiente e do Mar · University of Aveiro

   Affiliation as printed

   Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM) and Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário Santiago, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal

3. Rui J. M. Rocha

   Centro de Estudos do Ambiente e do Mar · University of Aveiro

   Affiliation as printed

   Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM) and Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário Santiago, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal

4. Ana R. M. Polónia

   Centro de Estudos do Ambiente e do Mar · University of Aveiro

   Affiliation as printed

   Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM) and Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário Santiago, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal

5. Davide Silva

   Centro de Estudos do Ambiente e do Mar · University of Aveiro

   Affiliation as printed

   Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM) and Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário Santiago, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal

6. Jörg C. Frommlet

   Centro de Estudos do Ambiente e do Mar · University of Aveiro

   Affiliation as printed

   Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM) and Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário Santiago, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal

7. António Louvado

   Centro de Estudos do Ambiente e do Mar · University of Aveiro

   Affiliation as printed

   Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM) and Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário Santiago, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal

8. Nicole Joy de Voogd Aachen Institute of Biology Naturalis Biodiversity Center

   Leiden University · Naturalis Biodiversity Center

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Biology (IBL), Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands

   Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Leiden, the Netherlands

9. Newton C. M. Gomes corresponding

   Centro de Estudos do Ambiente e do Mar · University of Aveiro

   Affiliation as printed

   Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM) and Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário Santiago, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal. gomesncm@ua.pt