A5032021558- Coral and Marine Ecosystems Studies
- Marine and coastal plant biology
- Marine Biology and Ecology Research
- Microbial Community Ecology and Physiology
- Aquaculture disease management and microbiota
- Marine Sponges and Natural Products
- Marine and fisheries research
- Coastal wetland ecosystem dynamics
- Ichthyology and Marine Biology
- Aquaculture Nutrition and Growth
- Fish Ecology and Management Studies
- Turtle Biology and Conservation
- Crustacean biology and ecology
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Parasite Biology and Host Interactions
- Olfactory and Sensory Function Studies
- Environmental DNA in Biodiversity Studies
- Echinoderm biology and ecology
- Metabolomics and Mass Spectrometry Studies
- Marine Bivalve and Aquaculture Studies
- Reproductive biology and impacts on aquatic species
- Island Studies and Pacific Affairs
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
- Meat and Animal Product Quality
- Evolutionary Game Theory and Cooperation
Natural History Museum Vienna
2021-2025
Caribbean Research and Management of Biodiversity Foundation
2007-2024
University of Algarve
2002-2022
University of Vienna
2013-2018
University of Amsterdam
2007-2013
Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research
2007-2013
Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
2010
University of Lisbon
2007
Microbes are well-recognized members of the coral holobiont. However, little is known about short-term dynamics mucus-associated microbial communities under natural conditions and after disturbances, how these relate to host's health. Here we examined variability prokaryotic (based on 16S ribosomal RNA gene amplicon sequencing) associating with surface mucus layer (SML) Porites astreoides, a species exhibiting cyclical aging shedding. Shifts in community composition during led prevalence...
Coral reefs are facing unprecedented pressure on local and global scales. Sensitive rapid markers for ecosystem stress urgently needed to underpin effective management restoration strategies. Although the fundamental contribution of microbes stability functioning coral is widely recognised, it remains unclear how different reef microbiomes respond environmental perturbations whether sensitive enough predict anomalies that can lead stress. However, lack microbial baselines hinders our ability...
Abstract Our rapidly warming climate is threatening coral reefs as thermal anomalies trigger mass bleaching events. Deep (or “mesophotic”) are hypothesised to act major ecological refuges from bleaching, but empirical assessments limited. We evaluated the potential of mesophotic within Great Barrier Reef (GBR) and adjacent Coral Sea by characterising long-term temperature conditions assessing impacts during 2016 event. found that summer upwelling initially provided relief at upper depths (40...
The composition, ecology and environmental conditions of mesophotic coral ecosystems near the lower limits their bathymetric distributions remain poorly understood. Here we provide first in-depth assessment a community (60–100 m) in Southern Caribbean through visual submersible surveys, genotyping host-endosymbiont assemblages, temperature monitoring growth experiment. zone harbored specialized consisting predominantly Agaricia grahamae, undata "deep-water" lineage Madracis pharensis, with...
Scleractinian corals and their algal endosymbionts (genus Symbiodinium) exhibit distinct bathymetric distributions on coral reefs. Yet, few studies have assessed the evolutionary context of these ecological by exploring genetic diversity closely related species associated Symbiodinium over large depth ranges. Here we assess distribution five agariciid (Agaricia humilis, A. agaricites, lamarcki, grahamae, Helioseris cucullata) (Symbiodinium) across a gradient (2-60 m) covering shallow to...
Abstract Spatially adjacent habitats on coral reefs can represent highly distinct environments, often harbouring different communities. Yet, certain species thrive across divergent environments. It is unknown whether the forces of selection are sufficiently strong to overcome counteracting effects typically high gene flow over short distances, and for local adaptation occur. We screened genome (using restriction site‐associated sequencing) characterized both dinoflagellate photosymbiont‐...
Bathymetric distributions of photosynthetic marine invertebrate species are relatively well studied, however the importance symbiont zonation (i.e. hosting distinct algal endosymbiont communities over depth) in determining these depth still remains unclear. Here, we assess prevalence tropical scleractinian corals by genotyping Symbiodinium 25 most common a large range (down to 60 m) on Caribbean reef. Symbiont was found be reef-wide scale (11 out coral species), and dominant feature with...
Abstract Symbiotic algae in coral species distributed over a large depth range are confronted with major differences light conditions. We studied the genetic variation of Symbiodinium genus Madracis (5–40 m) and at two different colony surface positions. Using polymerase chain reaction–denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis ITS2 nuclear ribosomal DNA analyses, we consistently identified three symbiont genotypes distributions that reveal patterns host specificity depth‐based zonation. type...
Abstract Microbially mediated processes contribute to coral reef resilience yet, despite extensive characterisation of microbial community variation following environmental perturbation, the effect on microbiome function is poorly understood. We undertook metagenomic sequencing sponge, macroalgae and seawater microbiomes from a macroalgae-dominated inshore define their functional potential evaluate seasonal shifts in microbially processes. In total, 125 high-quality metagenome-assembled...
Corals are associated with diverse microbial assemblages; however, the spatial-temporal dynamics of intra-species interactions poorly understood. The coral-associated community varies substantially between tissue and mucus microhabitats; factors controlling occurrence, abundance, distribution taxa over time have rarely been explored for different coral compartments simultaneously. Here, we test (1) differentiation in microbiome diversity composition (surface tissue) two Acropora hosts ( A....
Abstract Microorganisms are fundamental drivers of biogeochemical cycling, though their contribution to coral reef ecosystem functioning is poorly understood. Here, we infer predictors bacterioplankton community dynamics across surface-waters the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) through a meta-analysis, combining microbial with environmental data from eReefs platform. Nutrient and temperature explained 41.4% inter-seasonal cross-shelf variation in bacterial assemblages. Bacterial families OCS155,...
Abstract Marine bacterioplankton underpin the health and function of coral reefs respond in a rapid sensitive manner to environmental changes that affect reef ecosystem stability. Numerous meta-omics surveys over recent years have documented persistent associations opportunistic seawater microbial taxa, their associated functions, with metrics stress poor (e.g. elevated temperature, nutrient loads macroalgae cover). Through positive feedback mechanisms, disturbance-triggered heterotrophic...
The role of symbiont variation in the photobiology reef corals was addressed by investigating links among genetic diversity, function and ecological distribution a single host species, Madracis pharensis. Symbiont studied for two depths (10 25 m), different light habitats (exposed shaded) three colour morphs (brown, purple green). Two Symbiodinium genotypes were present, as defined nuclear internal transcribed spacer 2 ribosomal DNA (ITS2-rDNA) variation. depth- morph-dependent. Type B15...
We applied a multivariate analysis to investigate the roles of host and symbiont on in situ physiological response genus Madracis holobionts towards light. Across large depth gradient (5‐40 m) for four species three genotypes, we assessed several variables by measuring chlorophyll fluorescence, photosynthetic pigment composition, or population descriptors. Most variation is explained two major photobiological components: light‐use efficiency cell densities. Two other minor components...
Comparative studies on the distribution of archaeal versus bacterial communities associated with surface mucus layer corals have rarely taken place. It has therefore remained enigmatic whether mucus-associated and exhibit a similar specificity towards coral hosts they vary in same fashion over spatial gradients between reef locations. We used microbial community profiling (terminal-restriction fragment length polymorphism, T-RFLP) clone library sequencing 16S rRNA gene to compare diversity...
Reef-building corals are endangered animals with a complex colonial organization. Physiological mechanisms connecting multiple polyps and integrating them into coral colony still enigmatic. Using live imaging, particle tracking, mathematical modeling, we reveal how connect individual form integrated polyp groups via species-specific, complex, stable networks of currents at their surface. These involve surface mucus different concentrations, which regulate joint feeding the colony. Inside...
Environmental context Corals produce copious amounts of dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP), a sulfur compound implicated in climate regulation. We studied DMSP concentrations inside corals and unveiled the linkage between availability abundance DMSP-degrading bacterial groups inhabiting corals’ surface. Our findings suggest that mediates interplay microbes, highlighting importance compounds for microbial processes resilience coral reef ecosystems. Abstract thought to play role structuring...
Electro‐olfactogram (EOG) recordings from female Mozambique tilapia Oreochromis mossambicus gave large responses (up to 45 mV) water previously occupied by sexually active males. Male body‐fluids also elicited very strong olfactory with thresholds of detection c . 1: 10 6.9 (bile), 5.2 (urine) and 4.9 (faeces). Considering the likely rates release these fluids, it is urine that provides strongest stimulus for females. Crude fractionation male implicated: (a) sulphated compounds, possibly...