About This Project

Corals are one of the most important keystone species on the planet and greatly depend on the microbes in their mucus for survival. This study will test the hypothesis that the microbial community within coral mucus exhibits physicochemical responses during heavy sedimentation events. More specifically, coral reefs that can maintain their steady-state surface layer mucus microbiome will exhibit less signs of physiological stress.

Ask the Scientists

What is the context of this research?

Microbiome research, the study of microbial communities within a system, is quickly transforming the way we interpret medicine, manage commerce and understand the environment. Metabolomic research, the study of specialized molecules and their functions, is a rapidly emerging field that allows researchers to interpret chemical shifts within and between systems. Previous research suggest that heavy land runoff is detrimental to coral health, but the corals in Hilo appear to be thriving while experiencing land runoff. Essentially no studies have combined microbiome and metabolome research to investigate the influence of land runoff on coral systems. We hope to study how the unique microbe and molecules of Hilo corals make them so special and resilient.

What is the significance of this project?

Although land runoff greatly threatens coral reef ecosystems, the microbial effects of sedimentation on coral mucus remain unexplored. There is a critical need to implement next-generation analytical tools such as microbiome and metabolome research to better understand the microbial dynamics associated with host survival and their associated mucus. This proposal specifically aims to identify key molecular shifts that lead to host death after sedimentation and also introduce structure-from-motion photogrammetry to characterize nonlethal host responses after environmental disturbances. Methods developed in the basic research serves as a powerful multi-omic profiling tool that can be implemented to other biological systems.

What are the goals of the project?

This study will test the hypothesis that the microbial community within coral mucus exhibits physicochemical responses during heavy sedimentation events. More specifically, coral reefs that can maintain their steady-state surface layer mucus microbiome will exhibit less signs of physiological stress. We plan to dive and collect mucus samples of the coral before, during and after a heavy rain event to understand how the runoff changes the molecular and microbial composition of the reef.