Nutrient pollution alters the gut microbiome of a territorial reef fish

Human-induced nutrient pollution threatens coral reefs worldwide. Although eutrophication disrupts coral microbiomes, often leading to coral mortality, it is unknown whether eutrophication impacts the microbiomes of other coral reef organisms. Of particular interest are herbivorous fishes, whose algae consumption is critical in maintaining healthy corals. To examine the effects of eutrophication on fish gut microbiomes, we experimentally enriched territories of Stegastes nigricans, a predominantly herbivorous damselfish that farms turf algae. Using 16S RNA sequencing, we demonstrate that hindgut and foregut microbiomes have significantly higher alpha diversity in nutrient-enriched territories as compared to unenriched controls. S. nigricans gut microbiomes also exhibited significantly different compositions across treatments. In contrast, these changes were not observed in the microbiomes of the turf algae consumed by S. nigricans, indicating that the gut microbiome changes were autochthonous. Combined, our results provide a novel example of endogenous microbial shifts in wild vertebrates caused by simulated anthropogenic stress.

Automated summary

Human-induced nutrient pollution poses a threat to coral reefs globally. A study investigated the effects of eutrophication on the gut microbiomes of herbivorous fishes, particularly the black damselfish, revealing significant changes in alpha diversity and composition in nutrient-enriched territories. Interestingly, these changes were not observed in the algae consumed by the fish, highlighting the autochthonous nature of gut microbiome shifts in response to simulated anthropogenic stress.