Microbial interactions with dissolved organic matter are central to coral reef ecosystem function and resilience
In: Annual Review of Marine Science. Annual Reviews: Palo Alto, Calif. ISSN 1941-1405; e-ISSN 1941-0611, meer
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| Author keywords |
coral reefs; microbiology; dissolved organic matter; ecosystem function; deoxygenation; microbialization; nutrient cycling |
| Auteurs | | Top |
- Nelson, C.E.
- Wegley Kelly, L.
- Haas, A.F., meer
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| Abstract |
To thrive in nutrient-poor waters, coral reefs must retain and recycle materials efficiently. This review centers microbial processes in facilitating the persistence and stability of coral reefs, specifically the role of these processes in transforming and recycling the dissolved organic matter (DOM) that acts as an invisible central currency in reef production, nutrient cycling, and organismal interactions. The defining characteristics of coral reefs, including high productivity, balanced metabolism, high biodiversity, nutrient recycling efficiency, and structural complexity, are inextricably linked to microbial processing of DOM. The composition of microbes and DOM in reefs is summarized, and the spatial and temporal dynamics of biogeochemical processes carried out by microorganisms in diverse reef habitats are explored in a variety of key reef processes, including decomposition, accretion, trophic transfer, and macronutrient recycling. Finally, we examine how widespread habitat degradation of reefs is altering these important microbe–DOM interactions, creating feedbacks that reduce reef resilience to global change. |
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