The corals we find in the world's reefs have their own microbiomes, and scientists are figuring out how to feed them probiotic 'supplements' – to try and save them for future generations.
Acropora tenuis, A. millepora, A. hyacinthus, Platygyra daedalea, Porites lobata,"Our coral bacterial culture collection covers a high taxonomic diversity, with more than 50 bacterial genera represented," Høj told ScienceAlert.Scientists are screening a selection of the bacteria in this massive collection for traits that could support the health and development of human-reared coral.
The traits they're looking for in probiotic bacteria at the moment include antibacterial activity, biofilm formation on coral mucus, and the production of digestive enzymes. These qualities are expected to help the coral retain its healthy microbiome after the probiotic course has ended. Detailed analysis on last year's studies is ongoing.At the Sea Simulator lab, coral spawning occurs annually, and this is the scientists' opportunity to run experiments on the coral larvae.
Høj says this next experiment will also look at long-term effects of the probiotic on lab-grown corals as they mature, and what this particular probiotic's potential is for improving the coral's resilience under stress. The team will alsofor delivering the probiotic to young corals – it's not nearly as simple as swallowing a capsule with breakfast.
According to Høj, this research might one day lead to probiotics for use in the natural reef environment, although questions remain. But at this stage, the probiotics in development are intended for use in labs and aquaculture, and only for GBR species. While mitigating human-induced climate change remains the most important factor in the survival of coral reefs, it's good to know there are other creatures looking out for these ecosystems.
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