A University of Hawaii at Mānoa study may have found new ways to monitor the health of coral reefs around Hawaii. The study, co-led by a PhD student, revealed that each type of coral and algae on the reef produces a unique combination of chemical compounds. These newly discovered metabolites have not yet been studied, and they may provide important insights into the health of coral reef organisms.
Macroalgae (also called limu), corals, and stony coralline algae (the hard, rocky covering that grows on coral reefs and provides a habitat for other organisms) in coral reef ecosystems are the primary producers, equivalent to the plants in terrestrial forests . These groups drive ecosystems by converting sunlight’s energy and play multiple roles in the environment through the microorganisms they harbor and the different chemical compounds they produce. “The microorganisms and organic chemicals in the ecosystem can tell us about the health of the reef,” said Sean Swift, a doctoral candidate in marine biology in U-Manoa’s School of Marine and Earth Sciences and Technology. “This gives us a window into what’s going on.” How primary producers respond to disease or environmental stress, and how these organisms maintain healthy microbiomes in dynamic reef systems.”
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The team conducted extensive research in the waters of Oahu’s Waimi Bay, collecting more than 100 samples of coral reef life from five locations. They extracted microbial DNA from the samples and found more than 36,000 unique groups of microorganisms associated with larger host organisms. The study also found that these coral and algae compounds may be a food source for the microbes, used for communication or as weapons to defend against competitors.
Determine more than 10,000 chemical signatures using “untargeted metabolomics”
Researchers dive in Waimea Bay. Image Source: Sean Swift Advertisement (Please continue reading this article)
In a project at the University of Hawai’i at Manoa, researchers are now assessing the aftermath of Maui’s wildfires, studying the impact urban fire sewage may have on nearby coral reef ecosystems. “We will use these techniques to assess coral reef health and analyze environmental samples, such as water and sediment, as well as corals, algae and fish,” said study leader Craig Nelson, a professor at the Center for Marine Microbiology Research and Education and Hawaii Ocean University. Identifying fire-related contaminants in the tissues of coral reef organisms.”
To further study these chemical compounds, the team collaborated with scientists at the University of California, San Diego, and used “untargeted metabolomics” technology to identify more than 10,000 different chemical signatures. These unique compounds may represent undiscovered chemical diversity and provide important information for the next phase of research in coral reef ecology.
This research not only enriches our understanding of coral reef ecosystems but also provides new perspectives and tools for future conservation efforts. By understanding chemical signals in coral reefs, scientists can better assess and monitor the health of these precious ecosystems.
The research appears in the latest issue of Communications Biology.
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Source of the first picture:Communications Biology cc By4.0
Image source: Sean Swift cc By4.0
Reference papers:
1.Microbiomes and metabolomes of dominant coral reef primary producers illustrate a potential role for immunolipids in marine symbioses Communications Biology
Further reading:
1.“Reef Star” technology saves Indonesian coral reefs: from destruction to rebirth in four years
