Distinct coral environments shape the dynamic of planktonic Vibrio spp

Wenbin Zhao; Xing Chen; Ronghua Liu; Peng Tian; Wentao Niu; Xiao-Hua Zhang; Jiwen Liu; Xiaolei Wang

doi:10.1186/s40793-023-00532-7

Distinct coral environments shape the dynamic of planktonic Vibrio spp

Environ Microbiome. 2023 Oct 23;18(1):77. doi: 10.1186/s40793-023-00532-7.

Authors

Wenbin Zhao^{1

2}, Xing Chen^{1

2}, Ronghua Liu^{1

2}, Peng Tian^{3

4}, Wentao Niu^{3

4}, Xiao-Hua Zhang^{1

2}, Jiwen Liu^{5

6}, Xiaolei Wang^{7

8}

Affiliations

¹ Frontiers Science Center for Deep Ocean Multispheres and Earth System, College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, China.
² Institute of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266100, China.
³ Laboratory of Marine Biodiversity Research, Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, 178 Daxue Road, Xiamen, 361005, China.
⁴ Nansha Islands Coral Reef Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, Guangzhou, 510000, China.
⁵ Frontiers Science Center for Deep Ocean Multispheres and Earth System, College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, China. liujiwen@ouc.edu.cn.
⁶ Institute of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266100, China. liujiwen@ouc.edu.cn.
⁷ Frontiers Science Center for Deep Ocean Multispheres and Earth System, College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, China. wangxiaolei@ouc.edu.cn.
⁸ Institute of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266100, China. wangxiaolei@ouc.edu.cn.

Abstract

Background: Coral reefs are one of the most biodiverse and productive ecosystems, providing habitat for a vast of species. Reef-building scleractinian corals with a symbiotic microbiome, including bacteria, archaea, viruses and eukaryotic microbes, are referred to coral holobionts. Among them, coral diseases, mainly caused by Vibrio spp., have significantly contributed to the loss of coral cover and diversity. Habitat filtering across the globe has led to a variety structure of marine bacterial communities. Coral species, quantity and characteristics are significant differences between the Xisha Islands and Daya Bay (Guangdong Province). Thus, the Vibrio communities may be distinct between coral rich and poor areas.

Results: Through comparison of Vibrio dynamics between coral-rich (Xisha Islands) and coral-poor (Daya Bay) locations, we uncovered differences in Vibrio abundance, diversity, community composition and assembly mechanisms associated with corals. The higher abundance of Vibrio in coral rich areas may indicate a strong interaction between vibrios and corals. V. campbellii, Paraphotobacterium marinum and V. caribbeanicus were widely distributed in both coral rich and poor areas, likely indicating weak species specificity in the coral-stimulated growth of Vibrio. Random-forest prediction revealed Vibrio species and Photobacterium species as potential microbial indicators in the coral rich and coral poor areas, respectively. Ecological drift rather than selection governed the Vibrio community assembly in the Xisha Islands. Comparatively, homogenizing selection was more important for the Daya Bay community, which may reflect a role of habitat filtration.

Conclusion: This study revealed the different distribution pattern and assembly mechanism of Vibrio spp. between coral rich and poor areas, providing the background data for the research of Vibrio community in coral reef areas and may help the protection of coral reef at the biological level. The main reasons for the difference were different number and species of corals, environmental (e.g., temperature) and spatial factors. It reflected the strong interaction between Vibrio and corals, and provided a new perspective for the investigation of Vibrio in coral reef ecosystem.

Keywords: Assembly mechanisms; Coral environments; Distribution patterns; Vibrio spp..

Abstract

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