Microbial ecology of corals, sponges, and algae in mesophotic coral environments

FEMS Microbiology Ecology
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Abstract

Mesophotic coral ecosystems that occur at depths from 30 to 200 m have historically been understudied and yet appear to support a diverse biological community. The microbiology of these systems is particularly poorly understood, especially with regard to the communities associated with corals, sponges, and algae. This lack of information is partly due to the problems associated with gaining access to these environments and poor reproducibility across sampling methods. To summarize what is known about the microbiology of these ecosystems and to highlight areas where research is urgently needed, an overview of the current state of knowledge is presented. Emphasis is placed on the characterization of microbial populations, both prokaryotic and eukaryotic, associated with corals, sponges, and algae and the factors that influence microbial community structure. In topic areas where virtually nothing is known from mesophotic environments, the knowledge pertaining to shallow-water ecosystems is summarized to provide a starting point for a discussion on what might be expected in the mesophotic zone.

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Microbial ecology of corals, sponges, and algae in mesophotic coral environments
Series title FEMS Microbiology Ecology
DOI 10.1111/j.1574-6941.2010.00862.x
Volume 73
Issue 1
Year Published 2010
Language English
Publisher Oxford University Press
Contributing office(s) St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center
Description 14 p.
First page 17
Last page 30
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