This project uses amplicon sequencing, and functional microarrays to examine the microbiomes of several deep-sea coral species, with priority given to species that are also of interest to the population genetics group: Desmophyllum dianthus, Lophelia pertusa, Enallopsammia sp., and Acanthogorgia sp. The project also uses metagenomics to survey benthic habitats including coral mounds, cold seeps, and sediment.
Microbial Ecology of Deep-Sea Coral Ecosystems
Microbial ecology is the study of microbes (bacteria, archaea, fungi, viruses), how they interact with each other, their host if they are living on/in a plant or animal, and their environment. Microbes are responsible for important ecosystem services, including biogeochemical cycling, nutrient availability, and structuring ecosystems by providing settlement cues to some invertebrates.
Deep-sea Coral Microbiomes
Microbial associates have been shown to be key players in coral biology, serving functions such as fixing nitrogen, chelating iron, cycling waste products, and producing antibiotics to keep unwanted microbes from infecting the coral. There is evidence that many corals maintain conserved bacterial communities, distinct from the water column, sediments, and nearby corals of other species. The coral’s microbiome is also the most genetically adaptable part of the coral; faced with changing environmental conditions, the coral animal may take several generations to adapt, whereas the entire coral-associated microbial community (and all of its associated metabolic capabilities) can be changed on the order of hours to days.
Shifts in the coral-associated microbial community can also be used as diagnostics of coral stress, so it is critical to determine baselines prior to impacts (e.g., oil spill, environmental change) in order to determine the magnitude and effects of the changes. Characterizing the microbial communities associated with deep-sea corals in these environments will increase our knowledge of the biodiversity in these ecosystems and provide insight into the variability or uniqueness of the corals between different canyons, or between canyon and slope communities.
Benthic Metagenomes
Recently, researchers have begun using metagenomics to characterize the functional capabilities of an ecosystem, particularly in shallow coral reef systems. Water is sampled from just above the benthos and examined for all the microbial genes present, which can provide a picture of both which microbes are there and also the biogeochemical cycles these microbes are carrying out. This method will be used to examine and compare the microbial community functional abilities of deep-sea coral gardens, cold seeps, and soft sediments.
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
DISCOVRE: Diversity, Systematics and Connectivity of Vulnerable Reef Ecosystems
Coral Microbial Ecology
USGS DISCOVRE: Benthic Ecology, Trophodynamics, Ecosystem Connectivity of Mid-Atlantic Deepwater Hard Bottom Habitats with Emphasis on Canyon and Coral Communities
USGS DISCOVRE: Benthic Ecology, Trophodynamics, and Ecosystem Connectivity – Lophelia II: Continuing Ecological Research on Deep-Sea Corals and Deep Reef Habitats in the Gulf of Mexico
- Overview
This project uses amplicon sequencing, and functional microarrays to examine the microbiomes of several deep-sea coral species, with priority given to species that are also of interest to the population genetics group: Desmophyllum dianthus, Lophelia pertusa, Enallopsammia sp., and Acanthogorgia sp. The project also uses metagenomics to survey benthic habitats including coral mounds, cold seeps, and sediment.
Microbial Ecology of Deep-Sea Coral Ecosystems
Research Coordinator Dr. Christina Kellogg. Microbial ecology is the study of microbes (bacteria, archaea, fungi, viruses), how they interact with each other, their host if they are living on/in a plant or animal, and their environment. Microbes are responsible for important ecosystem services, including biogeochemical cycling, nutrient availability, and structuring ecosystems by providing settlement cues to some invertebrates.
Deep-sea Coral Microbiomes
Microbial associates have been shown to be key players in coral biology, serving functions such as fixing nitrogen, chelating iron, cycling waste products, and producing antibiotics to keep unwanted microbes from infecting the coral. There is evidence that many corals maintain conserved bacterial communities, distinct from the water column, sediments, and nearby corals of other species. The coral’s microbiome is also the most genetically adaptable part of the coral; faced with changing environmental conditions, the coral animal may take several generations to adapt, whereas the entire coral-associated microbial community (and all of its associated metabolic capabilities) can be changed on the order of hours to days.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. Visit Media to see details.A wall of Desmophyllum dianthus cup corals with bonus octopus neighbor.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.Lophelia pertusa in Norfolk Canyons. Shifts in the coral-associated microbial community can also be used as diagnostics of coral stress, so it is critical to determine baselines prior to impacts (e.g., oil spill, environmental change) in order to determine the magnitude and effects of the changes. Characterizing the microbial communities associated with deep-sea corals in these environments will increase our knowledge of the biodiversity in these ecosystems and provide insight into the variability or uniqueness of the corals between different canyons, or between canyon and slope communities.
Benthic Metagenomes
Recently, researchers have begun using metagenomics to characterize the functional capabilities of an ecosystem, particularly in shallow coral reef systems. Water is sampled from just above the benthos and examined for all the microbial genes present, which can provide a picture of both which microbes are there and also the biogeochemical cycles these microbes are carrying out. This method will be used to examine and compare the microbial community functional abilities of deep-sea coral gardens, cold seeps, and soft sediments.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.A community of deep-sea corals including both hard and soft species.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.A squid jets over a bed of chemosynthetic mussels living on a cold seep.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.A nondescript soft sediment bottom like this is still teeming with microbial life as well as tiny worms, crustaceans, and molluscs. - Science
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
DISCOVRE: Diversity, Systematics and Connectivity of Vulnerable Reef Ecosystems
DISCOVRE (DIversity, Systematics and COnnectivity of Vulnerable Reef Ecosystems) is an integrated, multidisciplinary, international effort investigating the unique and fragile deep-sea coral environments from the microscopic level to the ecosystem level.Coral Microbial Ecology
The coral microbial ecology group has an active research program identifying and characterizing the microbial associates of both tropical and cold-water (deep-sea) corals and their surrounding habitat. Current projects focus on coral disease dynamics, bacterial diversity, and using metagenomics to elucidate the functional roles of coral microbes.USGS DISCOVRE: Benthic Ecology, Trophodynamics, Ecosystem Connectivity of Mid-Atlantic Deepwater Hard Bottom Habitats with Emphasis on Canyon and Coral Communities
Deep-sea canyons are complex environments encompassing a range of benthic habitats, including soft sediments along the axis of the canyon, and hard substrates along the canyon walls.USGS DISCOVRE: Benthic Ecology, Trophodynamics, and Ecosystem Connectivity – Lophelia II: Continuing Ecological Research on Deep-Sea Corals and Deep Reef Habitats in the Gulf of Mexico
Deep-sea coral habitats are complex ecosystems at the landscape and local level. While these systems may harbor substantial levels of biodiversity, they remain inadequately investigated. - Data
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