Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Joerg Wiedenmann, Cecilia D'Angelo, M. Loreto Mardones, Shona Moore, Cassandra E. Benkwitt, Nicholas A. J. Graham, Bastian Hambach, Paul A. Wilson, James Vanstone, Gal Eyal, Or Ben-Zvi, Yossi Loya, Amatzia Genin
Summary: Research shows that corals acquire dissolved inorganic nitrogen and phosphorus by feeding on symbiont cells, which are essential nutrients for their success in nutrient-poor waters.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Clarissa Raguso, Francesco Saliu, Marina Lasagni, Paolo Galli, Massimiliano Clemenza, Simone Montano
Summary: This study investigated the presence of microplastics in Maldivian reef-building corals for the first time. The results showed that a high percentage of the surveyed corals were contaminated with microplastic particles, and there were no significant differences in microplastic concentration based on depth, exposure, location, or species.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jessica Reichert, Vanessa Tirpitz, Rajshree Anand, Katharina Bach, Jonas Knopp, Patrick Schubert, Thomas Wilke, Maren Ziegler
Summary: The study found that, at ambient temperatures, microplastic particles have minor effects on the physiology and health of coral species compared to heat stress. Heat stress had more severe impacts on corals, including decreased photosynthetic efficiency, bleaching, tissue necrosis, and mortality. Therefore, while efforts to reduce plastic pollution are important, more urgent action to address global warming is needed to protect coral reef ecosystems.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2021)
Article
Biology
Yunchi Zhu, Xin Liao, Tingyu Han, J. -Y. Chen, Chunpeng He, Zuhong Lu
Summary: This study integrates mass spectrometry with ColabFold technology to obtain digital structural proteomes of dominant reef-building corals, providing valuable predictions for coral research.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Na'ama-Rose Kochman-Gino, Maoz Fine
Summary: Coral reefs are facing rapid deterioration due to rising seawater temperature, and the frequency and intensity of marine heatwaves are increasing. The Gulf of Aqaba in the Red Sea is home to resilient corals, but concerns have been raised about the potential risks of marine heatwaves. A recent study found that the hottest marine heatwave in the Gulf of Aqaba did not cause coral bleaching or mortality, but different physiological responses were observed in different coral species.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Jessica Reichert, Angelina L. Arnold, Nils Hammer, Ingo B. Miller, Marvin Rades, Patrick Schubert, Maren Ziegler, Thomas Wilke
Summary: Microplastic pollution in the marine environment is widespread, with plastic particles accumulating in environmental sinks; Coral reefs may serve as unique, long-term sinks for microplastics; A study shows that microplastic particles accumulate permanently in coral skeletons, indicating the importance of coral reefs as a long-term sink for microplastic.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Studies
Hiroya Abe, Yuko F. Kitano, Tomohiro Fujita, Hiroya Yamano
Summary: This study organized coral occurrence records and assessed the use and management status based on administrative documents in each prefecture in Japan. It also examined how laws regulate coral harvesting and extracted concerns for future changes. The analysis revealed significant gaps between coral distribution and use, management, and regulation in different prefectures. The study highlights the importance of establishing utilization and management systems that reflect the characteristics of each area, especially in areas where significant environmental changes are expected.
Article
Physiology
Zhuojun Guo, Xin Liao, J. -Y. Chen, Chunpeng He, Zuhong Lu
Summary: This study sequenced the full-length transcriptomes of four common reef-building corals and identified the budding-related FGF and FGFR genes. The 3D models and binding models of FGF and FGFR proteins were reconstructed, revealing similarities between some corals and hydra in terms of the FGF8-FGFR3 binding model. This research provides background information for the potential budding propagation signaling pathway and aids in the future restoration of coral reefs.
FRONTIERS IN PHYSIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Chengyue Liu, Yuyang Zhang, Lintao Huang, Xiaolei Yu, Yong Luo, Lei Jiang, Youfang Sun, Sheng Liu, Hui Huang
Summary: The colony morphology of corals is significantly correlated with the corallite area, but not with the symbiodiniaceae density. Massive corals with large corallite area can ingest more food, leading to higher levels of total lipid content and unsaturated fatty acids. Branching corals are predominantly autotrophic and their total lipid content is positively correlated with the Symbiodiniaceae density. Bleached corals consume larger amounts of stored energy to maintain normal physiological functions.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Yixin Li, Xin Liao, Kun Bi, Tingyu Han, Junyuan Chen, Jing Lu, Chunpeng He, Zuhong Lu
Summary: This study investigates the growth patterns and parameters of different coral species through high-resolution reconstructions, providing insights into the growth directions and skeletal characteristics of corals. The research enhances understanding of how reef-building corals grow their colonies and sheds light on reef-forming regulations, with data that can be utilized in further research on reef-forming patterns under different conditions.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Paige Strudwick, Justin Seymour, Emma F. Camp, Christine Roper, John Edmondson, Lorna Howlett, David J. Suggett
Summary: Coral propagation and out-planting play a vital role in reef stewardship, but their impact on the coral microbiome and long-term survival is still unclear. A study in three reef sites found significant changes in bacterial communities of transplanted corals within 7 days to 1.5 months. However, after 1.5 months, bacterial communities became similar across sites, suggesting the influence of other factors on long-term survival.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Alexander B. Modys, Anton Oleinik, Richard A. Mortlock, Lauren T. Toth, William F. Precht
Summary: This study establishes a new high-resolution record of coral community development off southeast Florida during a period of variable climate in the late Holocene. The findings indicate that cold-sensitive reef-building coral communities expanded to the high-latitude reefs off southeast Florida during a period of regional warming, suggesting a link between regional oceanographic climate and the expansion of these coral communities. This has important implications for future range expansions of reef-building coral communities in response to modern climate change.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sultan M. Alsharif, Moayad S. Waznah, Mohamed Ismaeil, Wael S. El-Sayed
Summary: The coral reefs in the Red Sea are one of the largest living reefs in the world, known for their ability to withstand high temperatures and salinity. The microbiota associated with soft corals in the Red Sea were investigated using Illumina sequencing, revealing high bacterial diversity. Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Firmicutes were the dominant phyla, and different soft corals had distinct microbial compositions at the family level.
JOURNAL OF TAIBAH UNIVERSITY FOR SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Denis Grouzdev, Vasil Gaisin, Olga Lunina, Maria Krutkina, Elena Krasnova, Dmitry Voronov, Roman Baslerov, Pavel Sigalevich, Alexander Savvichev, Vladimir Gorlenko
Summary: This study investigates the evolution of green- and brown-colored morphotypes in the Chlorobiota phylum through comparative genome analysis of brown and green Chlorobiaceae. The results suggest that the last common ancestor of Chlorobiaceae belonged to the brown form, but the genes responsible for synthesizing the pigments of the brown form undergo active horizontal transfer in modern Chlorobiaceae populations.
FEMS MICROBIOLOGY ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Simon Felix Zoppe, Michael Deveaux, Eberhard Gischler
Summary: This study investigates the skeletal density fluctuations of the massive coral Orbicella faveolata using two-dimensional grid-scanning gamma densitometry. The research finds a long-term decline in skeletal density combined with reduced calcification rates, indicating limitations in skeletal formation in this coral species within the studied reef environment.
GEO-MARINE LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Raquel S. Peixoto, Michael Sweet, Helena D. M. Villela, Pedro Cardoso, Torsten Thomas, Christian R. Voolstra, Lone Hoj, David G. Bourne
Summary: The use of Beneficial Microorganisms for Corals (BMCs) has shown promise in improving coral health through various mechanisms such as promoting growth, enhancing stress resistance, and deterring pathogens. Current research has demonstrated the potential of BMCs in increasing coral resilience to stress. However, there are challenges and limitations that need to be addressed in order to facilitate the larger-scale application of BMCs for the benefit of corals and reefs globally.
ANNUAL REVIEW OF ANIMAL BIOSCIENCES, VOL 9, 2021
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Maha J. Cziesielski, Carlos M. Duarte, Nojood Aalismail, Yousef Al-Hafedh, Andrea Anton, Faiyah Baalkhuyur, Andrew C. Baker, Thorsten Balke, Iliana B. Baums, Michael Berumen, Vasiliki I. Chalastani, Brendan Cornwell, Daniele Daffonchio, Karen Diele, Ehtesaam Farooq, Jean-Pierre Gattuso, Song He, Catherine E. Lovelock, Elizabeth McLeod, Peter I. Macreadie, Nuria Marba, Cecilia Martin, Marcelle Muniz-Barreto, Kirshnakumar P. Kadinijappali, Perdana Prihartato, Lotfi Rabaoui, Vincent Saderne, Sebastian Schmidt-Roach, David J. Suggett, Michael Sweet, John Statton, Sam Teicher, Stacey M. Trevathan-Tackett, Thadickal V. Joydas, Razan Yahya, Manuel Aranda
Summary: The coastal and marine ecosystems in the unique environment of the Red Sea have adapted and flourished for millennia, providing socio-economic and environmental benefits to the bordering coastlines and countries. While the coral reef ecosystems in the Red Sea appear to be relatively healthier compared to global trends, they are still vulnerable to stressors such as increasing ocean temperature, acidification, and pollution. Degradation of marine habitats in many regions, coupled with increasing population pressure and coastal development projects, poses environmental costs and significant economic losses. Investment in blue natural capital and strategic development model focusing on the health of natural ecosystems can safeguard the sustainable development of the Red Sea.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Zoology
Michael Sweet, Alfred Burian, Mark Bulling
Summary: The concept of 'One World - One Health' aims to incorporate linkages between the environment and human society into wildlife and human health care. Marine environments, particularly coral reefs, are considered crucial components of this framework due to their significant contributions to ecosystem services and direct links to human well-being. They also provide ideal study systems to assess links, impacts, and feedback mechanisms affecting human and ecosystem health, given their sensitivity to climate change and the emergence of diseases.
JOURNAL OF INVERTEBRATE PATHOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
James Fifer, Bastian Bentlage, Sarah Lemer, Atsushi G. Fujimura, Michael Sweet, Laurie J. Raymundo
Summary: The health of coral reefs globally is deteriorating due to factors like increasing sea surface temperature, with conspecific colonies showing varying responses based on factors such as water flow. High flow provides corals with health benefits and resilience to heat stress, resulting in better survival and recovery rates during bleaching events.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Alfred Burian, Quentin Mauvisseau, Mark Bulling, Sami Domisch, Song Qian, Michael Sweet
Summary: Global declines in biodiversity have led to a growing need to monitor threatened species effectively. Molecular survey methods such as eDNA detection have provided new tools for conservation, but are not without errors. Recent advances in data processing tools, occupancy models, and integration of metabarcoding data aim to improve the reliability of eDNA assessments and decision-making processes in conservation planning.
MOLECULAR ECOLOGY RESOURCES
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Alfred Burian, Daisy Pinn, Ignacio Peralta-Maraver, Michael Sweet, Quentin Mauvisseau, Ozge Eyice, Mark Bulling, Till Roethig, Pavel Kratina
Summary: Experimental manipulation of protozoan predation pressure in activated sludge communities had strong and positive effects on bacterial diversity components, with responses leveling off at higher predation pressure levels. While predator intensity positively impacted taxa richness, predator diversity had mixed effects on bacterial diversity. Reduction in top-down control by predators negatively affected taxa associated with treatment efficiency, particularly nitrogen removal. The study highlights distinct mechanisms linking protozoan predation with bacterial diversity and community composition in activated sludge communities.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Thibault Bouderlique, Julian Petersen, Louis Faure, Daniel Abed-Navandi, Anass Bouchnita, Benjamin Mueller, Murtazo Nazarov, Lukas Englmaier, Marketa Tesarova, Pedro R. Frade, Tomas Zikmund, Till Koehne, Jozef Kaiser, Kaj Fried, Christian Wild, Olga Pantos, Andreas Hellander, John Bythell, Igor Adameyko
Summary: Research has revealed that corals can connect individual polyps and form a coral colony through complex liquid flow networks on the surface and branching flow systems inside the colony. These networks and systems play important roles in the growth, nutrient supply, and symbiont transfer of corals.
Review
Microbiology
Raquel S. Peixoto, Christian R. Voolstra, Michael Sweet, Carlos M. Duarte, Susana Carvalhol, Helena Villela, Jeantine E. Lunshof, Lone Gram, Douglas C. Woodhams, Jens Walter, Anna Roik, Ute Hentschel, Rebecca Vega Thurber, Brendan Daisley, Blake Ushijima, Daniele Daffonchio, Rodrigo Costa, Tina Keller-Costa, Jeff S. Bowman, Alexandre S. Rosado, Gregor Reid, Christopher E. Mason, Jenifer B. Walker, Torsten Thomas, Gabriele Berg
Summary: Global biodiversity loss and mass extinction of species have become crucial environmental issues, leading to disruptions in various ecosystems and human health. Microbiome-targeted interventions, such as probiotics and microbiome transplants, are emerging as potential options to reverse biodiversity deterioration and enhance wildlife and ecosystem resilience. However, implementation of these interventions is urgently needed. This article summarizes concepts, challenges, and ethical aspects of microbiome stewardship, which involves managing ecosystem resources responsibly to restore organisms and ecosystem functions. A framework guiding the application of environmental and wildlife probiotics is proposed, with consideration of risks versus the consequences of inaction. Careful and responsible microbiome management is critical to counteract biodiversity loss, but practical and regulatory obstacles must be addressed to maximize its effectiveness.
NATURE MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Jie Li, Yiyang Zou, Jian Yang, Qiqi Li, David G. Bourne, Michael Sweet, Cong Liu, Anjie Guo, Si Zhang
Summary: Improving the availability of representative isolates from the coral microbiome is essential for investigating symbiotic mechanisms and applying beneficial microorganisms to improve coral health. In this study, a total of 395 bacterial strains were isolated from the coral Pocillopora damicornis, with most of them representing potential novel species or genera. Genomic information derived from the isolates identified putative metabolic functions and various genes associated with establishing association with the coral host. This work expands on the existing culture collection of coral-associated bacteria and provides important information on the metabolic potential of these isolates.
Review
Microbiology
Giulia Puntin, Michael Sweet, Sebastian Fraune, Monica Medina, Koty Sharp, Virginia M. Weis, Maren Ziegler
Summary: Stony corals form the foundation of coral reefs, which are significant ecosystems in both ecological and economic aspects. However, climate change and other human-induced stressors pose threats to the existence of these ecosystems, leading to coral bleaching, disease, and ultimately coral mortality. Despite extensive research, the underlying mechanisms and potential solutions to these destructive phenomena are still not fully understood.
MICROBIOLOGY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY REVIEWS
(2022)
Article
Biology
Adriana Humanes, Liam Lachs, Elizabeth A. Beauchamp, John C. Bythell, Alasdair J. Edwards, Yimnang Golbuu, Helios M. Martinez, Pawel Palmowski, Achim Treumann, Eveline van der Steeg, Ruben van Hooidonk, James R. Guest
Summary: Coral reefs are facing unprecedented mass bleaching and mortality events due to marine heatwaves and climate change. Individual variation in heat tolerance suggests potential for coral adaptation. By exposing corals to experimental heatwaves, researchers found that the most-tolerant corals required double the heat stress dosage compared to the least-tolerant corals to induce bleaching. Under an ambitious emissions scenario, these differences in coral heat tolerance thresholds may delay the onset of annual bleaching and mortality conditions by up to 17 years. However, this delay is limited to only 10 years under a high emissions scenario. The results highlight the substantial variability in coral heat tolerance and the need for coral adaptation and ambitious emissions reductions.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Giulia Puntin, Jamie Craggs, Roisin Hayden, Kara E. E. Engelhardt, Shelby McIlroy, Michael Sweet, David M. M. Baker, Maren Ziegler
Summary: Reef-building corals rely on symbiosis with unicellular algae for their evolutionary success, but frequent heat waves cause coral mass-bleaching events, posing a serious threat to reef ecosystems. Understanding the functioning, breakdown, and prevention of coral-algal symbiosis remains incomplete due to difficulties in experimental handling and manipulating the association. The study identifies the stony coral species Galaxea fascicularis as a novel candidate coral model system, which allows for genotype studies and experimental investigation of the symbiosis.
Review
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Anthony M. M. Bonacolta, Bradley A. A. Weiler, Teresa Porta-Fito, Michael Sweet, Patrick Keeling, Javier del Campo
Summary: Many corals have a symbiotic relationship with photosynthetic dinoflagellates, but the role of microeukaryotes like protists and fungi in the coral holobiont and reef ecosystems is not well understood. Recent advances in metabarcoding have highlighted the importance of microeukaryotes in corals, and it is necessary to present the current knowledge before further studies are conducted.
Article
Biology
Liam Lachs, Adriana Humanes, Daniel R. Pygas, John C. Bythell, Peter J. Mumby, Renata Ferrari, Will F. Figueira, Elizabeth Beauchamp, Holly K. East, Alasdair J. Edwards, Yimnang Golbuu, Helios M. Martinez, Brigitte Sommer, Eveline van der Steeg, James R. Guest
Summary: As marine species adapt to climate change, their heat tolerance will be under strong selection, but trade-offs between heat tolerance and other traits may compromise adaptation. The study focused on reef-building corals and found no trade-offs between heat tolerance and fecundity or growth. Surprisingly, faster-growing corals tended to bleach and die at higher levels of heat stress. Overall, this suggests that some high-performing corals excel across multiple traits and trade-offs may not be major barriers to adaptation or evolution interventions.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Liam Lachs, Simon D. D. Donner, Peter J. J. Mumby, John C. C. Bythell, Adriana Humanes, Holly K. K. East, James R. R. Guest
Summary: Recurrent mass bleaching events pose a threat to coral reefs and their future. However, this study suggests that the thermal tolerance of coral assemblages in a remote Pacific coral reef system has been increasing, leading to less severe bleaching impacts. Future climate projections indicate that further increases in thermal tolerance could substantially reduce bleaching trajectories, highlighting the importance of reducing carbon emissions.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
