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Fish or Germs? Microbial Dynamics Associated with Changing Trophic Structures on Coral Reefs

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Book cover Coral Reefs: An Ecosystem in Transition

Abstract

Overfishing major predators has dramatically changed the trophic structures of coral reefs. Here, we argue that the photosynthate, which would normally support the large predators via trophic transfers, is being used by microbes (Bacteria and Archaea) on degraded reefs. The supply of higher concentrations of photosynthate to the microbes increases their population size and enables heterotrophic microbes to dominate the community. In turn, the heterotrophic microbes detrimentally affect the corals causing disease outbreaks and death, which causes the phase shift from coral to fleshy algae (including macroalgae and turf algae) dominated reefs. To succeed, conservation and restoration efforts need to understand and consider the influence of microbes.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the participants of the Line Islands Expedition and the San Diego Coral Club for their helpful discussions, criticisms, and insights.

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  1. Biology Department, San Diego State University, 5500 Campanile Drive, San Diego, CA, 92182, USA

    Elizabeth A. Dinsdale & Forest Rohwer

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  1. Elizabeth A. Dinsdale
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  2. Forest Rohwer
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Correspondence to Elizabeth A. Dinsdale .

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  1. , The Mina & Everard Goodman Fac. of Life, Bar Ilan University, Ramat Gan, 52900, Israel

    Zvy Dubinsky

  2. , The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of, Bar Ilan University, Ramat Gan, 52900, Israel

    Noga Stambler

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Dinsdale, E.A., Rohwer, F. (2011). Fish or Germs? Microbial Dynamics Associated with Changing Trophic Structures on Coral Reefs. In: Dubinsky, Z., Stambler, N. (eds) Coral Reefs: An Ecosystem in Transition. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-0114-4_16

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