A Succession of Microbiome Communities in the Early Establishing Process of an Epilithic Algal Matrix in a Fringing Reef
An epilithic algal matrix (EAM) exhibits rapid expansion, recovery capacity, and high adaptability, leading to widespread distribution in degraded coral reef habitats. However, limited research on the dynamic processes of succession hinders a comprehensive understanding of EAM formation. To examine...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-03-01
|
| Series: | Microorganisms |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13/3/672 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850091571089768448 |
|---|---|
| author | Beiye Zhang Simin Hu Chen Zhang Tiancheng Zhou Tao Li Hui Huang Sheng Liu |
| author_facet | Beiye Zhang Simin Hu Chen Zhang Tiancheng Zhou Tao Li Hui Huang Sheng Liu |
| author_sort | Beiye Zhang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | An epilithic algal matrix (EAM) exhibits rapid expansion, recovery capacity, and high adaptability, leading to widespread distribution in degraded coral reef habitats. However, limited research on the dynamic processes of succession hinders a comprehensive understanding of EAM formation. To examine the influence of succession processes and environmental factors on the composition of EAM microbial communities, a three-factor (time × depth × attached substrate type) crossover experiment was conducted in the Luhuitou Reef Area, Sanya, China. Microbial community compositions were analyzed through 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. The community was predominantly composed of proteobacteria (61.10–92.75%), cyanobacteria (2.47–23.54%), bacteroidetes (0.86–8.49%), and firmicutes (0.14–7.76%). Successional processes were found to significantly shape the EAM-associated microbial communities in the Luhuitou Reef Area. Proteobacteria played a crucial role in biofilm formation during this process, while cyanobacteria contributed to the structural complexity of microhabitats within the EAM. A chaotic aggregation stage of approximately one month was observed before transitioning into an expansion stage, eventually stabilizing into a low-diversity community. Although the relatively smooth substrate supported high biodiversity, microorganisms displayed no preference for the three different substrates. While no significant differences in community composition were observed at small-scale depths, cyanobacteria and bacteroidetes showed positive correlations with light and temperature, respectively. The EAM-associated microbial community exhibited higher complexity in the shallower regions under increased light intensity and temperature. Given the characteristics of the microbial community succession process, continuous monitoring of changes in microbial community structure and key taxa (such as proteobacteria and cyanobacteria) during EAM formation is recommended. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-54aa45eb22854023b3c5c481d7f9d681 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2076-2607 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Microorganisms |
| spelling | doaj-art-54aa45eb22854023b3c5c481d7f9d6812025-08-20T02:42:22ZengMDPI AGMicroorganisms2076-26072025-03-0113367210.3390/microorganisms13030672A Succession of Microbiome Communities in the Early Establishing Process of an Epilithic Algal Matrix in a Fringing ReefBeiye Zhang0Simin Hu1Chen Zhang2Tiancheng Zhou3Tao Li4Hui Huang5Sheng Liu6Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-Resources and Ecology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, ChinaKey Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-Resources and Ecology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, ChinaKey Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-Resources and Ecology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, ChinaKey Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-Resources and Ecology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, ChinaKey Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-Resources and Ecology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, ChinaKey Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-Resources and Ecology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, ChinaKey Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-Resources and Ecology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, ChinaAn epilithic algal matrix (EAM) exhibits rapid expansion, recovery capacity, and high adaptability, leading to widespread distribution in degraded coral reef habitats. However, limited research on the dynamic processes of succession hinders a comprehensive understanding of EAM formation. To examine the influence of succession processes and environmental factors on the composition of EAM microbial communities, a three-factor (time × depth × attached substrate type) crossover experiment was conducted in the Luhuitou Reef Area, Sanya, China. Microbial community compositions were analyzed through 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. The community was predominantly composed of proteobacteria (61.10–92.75%), cyanobacteria (2.47–23.54%), bacteroidetes (0.86–8.49%), and firmicutes (0.14–7.76%). Successional processes were found to significantly shape the EAM-associated microbial communities in the Luhuitou Reef Area. Proteobacteria played a crucial role in biofilm formation during this process, while cyanobacteria contributed to the structural complexity of microhabitats within the EAM. A chaotic aggregation stage of approximately one month was observed before transitioning into an expansion stage, eventually stabilizing into a low-diversity community. Although the relatively smooth substrate supported high biodiversity, microorganisms displayed no preference for the three different substrates. While no significant differences in community composition were observed at small-scale depths, cyanobacteria and bacteroidetes showed positive correlations with light and temperature, respectively. The EAM-associated microbial community exhibited higher complexity in the shallower regions under increased light intensity and temperature. Given the characteristics of the microbial community succession process, continuous monitoring of changes in microbial community structure and key taxa (such as proteobacteria and cyanobacteria) during EAM formation is recommended.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13/3/672microbiome communitysuccessionepilithic algal matrixcoral reef |
| spellingShingle | Beiye Zhang Simin Hu Chen Zhang Tiancheng Zhou Tao Li Hui Huang Sheng Liu A Succession of Microbiome Communities in the Early Establishing Process of an Epilithic Algal Matrix in a Fringing Reef Microorganisms microbiome community succession epilithic algal matrix coral reef |
| title | A Succession of Microbiome Communities in the Early Establishing Process of an Epilithic Algal Matrix in a Fringing Reef |
| title_full | A Succession of Microbiome Communities in the Early Establishing Process of an Epilithic Algal Matrix in a Fringing Reef |
| title_fullStr | A Succession of Microbiome Communities in the Early Establishing Process of an Epilithic Algal Matrix in a Fringing Reef |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Succession of Microbiome Communities in the Early Establishing Process of an Epilithic Algal Matrix in a Fringing Reef |
| title_short | A Succession of Microbiome Communities in the Early Establishing Process of an Epilithic Algal Matrix in a Fringing Reef |
| title_sort | succession of microbiome communities in the early establishing process of an epilithic algal matrix in a fringing reef |
| topic | microbiome community succession epilithic algal matrix coral reef |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13/3/672 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT beiyezhang asuccessionofmicrobiomecommunitiesintheearlyestablishingprocessofanepilithicalgalmatrixinafringingreef AT siminhu asuccessionofmicrobiomecommunitiesintheearlyestablishingprocessofanepilithicalgalmatrixinafringingreef AT chenzhang asuccessionofmicrobiomecommunitiesintheearlyestablishingprocessofanepilithicalgalmatrixinafringingreef AT tianchengzhou asuccessionofmicrobiomecommunitiesintheearlyestablishingprocessofanepilithicalgalmatrixinafringingreef AT taoli asuccessionofmicrobiomecommunitiesintheearlyestablishingprocessofanepilithicalgalmatrixinafringingreef AT huihuang asuccessionofmicrobiomecommunitiesintheearlyestablishingprocessofanepilithicalgalmatrixinafringingreef AT shengliu asuccessionofmicrobiomecommunitiesintheearlyestablishingprocessofanepilithicalgalmatrixinafringingreef AT beiyezhang successionofmicrobiomecommunitiesintheearlyestablishingprocessofanepilithicalgalmatrixinafringingreef AT siminhu successionofmicrobiomecommunitiesintheearlyestablishingprocessofanepilithicalgalmatrixinafringingreef AT chenzhang successionofmicrobiomecommunitiesintheearlyestablishingprocessofanepilithicalgalmatrixinafringingreef AT tianchengzhou successionofmicrobiomecommunitiesintheearlyestablishingprocessofanepilithicalgalmatrixinafringingreef AT taoli successionofmicrobiomecommunitiesintheearlyestablishingprocessofanepilithicalgalmatrixinafringingreef AT huihuang successionofmicrobiomecommunitiesintheearlyestablishingprocessofanepilithicalgalmatrixinafringingreef AT shengliu successionofmicrobiomecommunitiesintheearlyestablishingprocessofanepilithicalgalmatrixinafringingreef |