Microbiome dynamics in the tissue and mucus of acroporid corals differ in relation to host and environmental parameters.

Giulia M Marchioro,Pedro R Frade,Aschwin H Engelen,Nicole S Webster,Ester A Serrão,David G Bourne,Bettina Glasl

doi:10.7717/peerj.9644

Abstract

Corals are associated with diverse microbial assemblages; however, the spatial-temporal dynamics of intra-species microbial interactions are poorly understood. The coral-associated microbial community varies substantially between tissue and mucus microhabitats; however, the factors controlling the occurrence, abundance, and distribution of microbial taxa over time have rarely been explored for different coral compartments simultaneously. Here, we test (1) differentiation in microbiome diversity and composition between coral compartments (surface mucus and tissue) of two Acropora hosts (A. tenuis and A. millepora) common along inshore reefs of the Great Barrier Reef, as well as (2) the potential linkage between shifts in individual coral microbiome families and underlying host and environmental parameters. Amplicon based 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing of 136 samples collected over 14 months, revealed significant differences in bacterial richness, diversity and community structure among mucus, tissue and the surrounding seawater. Seawater samples were dominated by members of the Synechococcaceae and Pelagibacteraceae bacterial families. The mucus microbiome of Acropora spp. was dominated by members of Flavobacteriaceae, Synechococcaceae and Rhodobacteraceae and the tissue was dominated by Endozoicimonaceae. Mucus microbiome in both Acropora species was primarily correlated with seawater parameters including levels of chlorophyll a, ammonium, particulate organic carbon and the sum of nitrate and nitrite. In contrast, the correlation of the tissue microbiome to the measured environmental (i.e., seawater parameters) and host health physiological factors differed between host species, suggesting host-specific modulation of the tissue-associated microbiome to intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Furthermore, the correlation between individual coral microbiome members and environmental factors provides novel insights into coral microbiome-by-environment dynamics and hence has potential implications for current reef restoration and management efforts (e.g. microbial monitoring and observatory programs).

Highlights

Coral microbiomes include the well-characterized endosymbiotic dinoflagellates of the family Symbiodiniaceae, and a vast diversity of bacteria and archaea (Bourne, Morrow & Webster, 2016; Frade et al, 2016a; Rohwer et al, 2002)
We aim to identify significant correlations of individual bacterial families associated with coral tissue and mucus with host-physiological and seawater parameters
The bacterial 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes derived from 136 samples, including coral tissue (n = 24 for A. millepora; n = 30 for A. tenuis), coral mucus layer

Summary

Introduction

Coral microbiomes include the well-characterized endosymbiotic dinoflagellates of the family Symbiodiniaceae, and a vast diversity of bacteria and archaea (Bourne, Morrow & Webster, 2016; Frade et al, 2016a; Rohwer et al, 2002). Recent studies have proposed that spatial–temporal factors such as environmental parameters (Chen et al, 2011), depth (Glasl et al, 2017), geography (Hong et al, 2009; Littman et al, 2009), seasonality (Ceh, Van Keulen & Bourne, 2011; Chen et al, 2011; Hong et al, 2009; Koren & Rosenberg, 2006), coastal pollution (Klaus et al, 2007), and the physiological status of the host (Grottoli et al, 2018; Littman, Willis & Bourne, 2009) can influence the occurrence and relative abundance of microbial taxa. Li et al (2015) reported a dynamic relationship between the community structure of coral-associated bacteria and the seasonal variation in environmental parameters such as dissolved oxygen and rainfall. Glasl et al (2019a) showed that host-associated microbiomes were five-times less responsive to the environment compared to the seawater microbiome, they were still affected by environmental factors (e.g., temperature, turbidity, and nutrient concentration)

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