Coral Microbiomes and Their Role in Growth and Disease
Author Information
Author(s): Hannah E. Epstein, Tanya Brown, Ayọmikun O. Akinrinade, Ryan McMinds, F. Joseph Pollock, Dylan Sonett, Styles Smith, David G. Bourne, Carolina S. Carpenter, Rob Knight, Bette L. Willis, Mónica Medina, Joleah B. Lamb, Rebecca Vega Thurber, Jesse R. Zaneveld
Primary Institution: School of Life Sciences, University of Essex
Hypothesis
Do coral microbiomes correlate with disease susceptibility and growth rate across coral evolution?
Conclusion
The evolution of Endozoicomonas symbiosis in corals correlates with both disease prevalence and growth rate.
Supporting Evidence
- Microbial dominance predicts disease susceptibility in corals.
- Endozoicomonas relative abundance explains 30% of variation in disease susceptibility.
- Corals with high Endozoicomonas abundance show increased growth rates.
Takeaway
Corals have tiny living things called microbes that help them grow, but having too many of one type can make them sick.
Methodology
A comparative approach using a cross-species coral microbiome survey combined with long-term disease prevalence and coral trait data.
Limitations
The study relies on correlational data, which does not establish causation.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p=0.0002
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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