Unveiling microbiome changes in Mediterranean octocorals during the 2022 marine heatwaves: quantifying key bacterial symbionts and potential pathogens.

Background: Climate change has accelerated the occurrence and severity of heatwaves in the Mediterranean Sea and poses a significant threat to the octocoral species that form the foundation of marine animal forests (MAFs). As coral health intricately relies on the symbiotic relationships established between corals and microbial communities, our goal was to gain a deeper understanding of the role of bacteria in the observed tissue loss of key octocoral species following the unprecedented heatwaves in 2022.

Results: Using amplicon sequencing and taxon-specific qPCR analyses, we unexpectedly found that the absolute abundance of the major bacterial symbionts, Spirochaetaceae (C.

Porites' coral calcifying fluid chemistry regulation under normal- and low-pH seawater conditions in Palau Archipelago: Impacts on growth properties.

Ongoing ocean acidification is known to be a major threat to tropical coral reefs. To date, only few studies have evaluated the impacts of natural long-term exposure to low-pH seawater on the chemical regulation and growth of reef-building corals. This work investigated the different responses of the massive Porites coral living at normal (pH ~ 8.

Plastics are a new threat to Palau's coral reefs.

Plastic pollution of the oceans has long been an ongoing and growing problem. Single-use plastic (plastic bags and microbeads) is responsible for most of this pollution. In recent years, studies have highlighted the importance of the size of plastic particles, and the impact of this pollution source on the environment.

Polystyrene nanoplastics impair the photosynthetic capacities of Symbiodiniaceae and promote coral bleaching.

Reef-building corals are increasingly threatened by global and regional stresses, which affect the stability of the coral-Symbiodiniaceae association. Among them, plastic pollution has been an ongoing and growing concern. Whereas several studies have highlighted the detrimental impact of microplastics (0.

Artificial light at night (ALAN) alters the physiology and biochemistry of symbiotic reef building corals.

Artificial Light at Night (ALAN), which is the alteration of natural light levels as the result of anthropogenic light sources, has been acknowledged as an important factor that alters the functioning of marine ecosystems. Using LEDs light to mimic ALAN, we studied the effect on the physiology (symbiont and chlorophyll contents, photosynthesis, respiration, pigment profile, skeletal growth, and oxidative stress responses) of two scleractinian coral species originating from the Red Sea. ALAN induced the photoinhibition of symbiont photosynthesis, as well as an overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and an increase in oxidative damage to lipids in both coral species.

Coral Productivity Is Co-Limited by Bicarbonate and Ammonium Availability.

The nitrogen environment and nitrogen status of reef-building coral endosymbionts is one of the important factors determining the optimal assimilation of phototrophic carbon and hence the growth of the holobiont. However, the impact of inorganic nutrient availability on the photosynthesis and physiological state of the coral holobiont is partly understood. This study aimed to determine if photosynthesis of the endosymbionts associated with the coral and the overall growth of the holobiont were limited by the availability of dissolved inorganic carbon and nitrogen in seawater.

Comparative Assessment of Mediterranean Gorgonian-Associated Microbial Communities Reveals Conserved Core and Locally Variant Bacteria.

Gorgonians are key habitat-forming species of Mediterranean benthic communities, but their populations have suffered from mass mortality events linked to high summer seawater temperatures and microbial disease. However, our knowledge on the diversity, dynamics and function of gorgonian-associated microbial communities is limited. Here, we analysed the spatial variability of the microbiomes of five sympatric gorgonian species (Eunicella singularis, Eunicella cavolini, Eunicella verrucosa, Leptogorgia sarmentosa and Paramuricea clavata), collected from the Mediterranean Sea over a scale of ∼1100 km, using next-generation amplicon sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene.

The response of the scleractinian coral Turbinaria reniformis to thermal stress depends on the nitrogen status of the coral holobiont.

The physiological response of the scleractinian coral Turbinaria reniformis to ammonium enrichment (3 μmol l(-1)) was examined at 26°C as well as during a 7 day increase in temperature to 31°C (thermal stress). At 26°C, ammonium supplementation had little effect on the coral physiology. It induced a decrease in symbiont density, compensated by an increase in chlorophyll content per symbiont cell.

Effects of light, food availability and temperature stress on the function of photosystem II and photosystem I of coral symbionts.

Background: Reef corals are heterotrophic coelenterates that achieve high productivity through their photosynthetic dinoflagellate symbionts. Excessive seawater temperature destabilises this symbiosis and causes corals to "bleach," lowering their photosynthetic capacity. Bleaching poses a serious threat to the persistence of coral reefs on a global scale.

Hsp60 protein pattern in coral is altered by environmental changes in light and temperature.

The heat shock protein Hsp60 exhibited marked oscillation during a 12-hour day period when the coral Turbinaria reniformis was maintained in the laboratory under constant conditions of light (200μE) and temperature (27°C). A biphasic pattern of Hsp60 was apparent, punctuated by a low protein level at the midpoint of the 12-hour day period. Oscillation of Hsp60 was also apparent when coral was kept in darkness in lieu of a scheduled light period.

Changes in plant communities along soil pollution gradients: responses of leaf antioxidant enzyme activities and phytochelatin contents.

This work describes an ecological and ecotoxicological study of polluted wasteland plant communities in a former coke-factory located in Homécourt (France). Ecological analyses were performed along two transects to investigate changes in plant community structure through species richness (S), biological diversity (H') and evenness (J). Five species (Arrhenatherum elatius, Bromus tectorum, Euphorbia cyparissias, Hypericum perforatum and Tanacetum vulgare) were then selected to assess cellular responses through antioxidant enzyme activities and phytochelatins (PCs) contents.

Antioxidant enzyme activities as affected by trivalent and hexavalent chromium species in Fontinalis antipyretica Hedw.

The detoxification mechanisms of the aquatic moss, Fontinalis antipyretica Hedw., exposed to Cr was analyzed. In addition, the influence of Cr salts (as Cr nitrate, chloride and potassium bichromate) on these mechanisms has also been studied.

Genotoxic effects and induction of phytochelatins in the presence of cadmium in Vicia faba roots.

This study investigates different effects in roots of Vicia faba (broad bean) after exposure to cadmium. Genotoxic effects were assessed by use of the well-known Vicia root tip micronucleus assay. Cytotoxic effects were evaluated by determining the mitotic index in root tip cells.