Date of Award
2018
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelors
Department
Natural Sciences
First Advisor
Saarinen, Emily
Area of Concentration
Biology
Abstract
The health of coral reefs is in decline worldwide and scientists are investigating assisted evolution as a tool for coral restoration. Assisted evolution allows scientists to enhance naturally occurring traits within corals through methods including selective breeding and manipulation of microbial communities. Unique mangrove communities in Hurricane Hole, U.S. Virgin Islands host corals that exhibit resistance to both thermal stress and ocean acidification. Through molecular sequencing of the microbial communities of these resistant corals, the factors that influence this resiliency may be identified and used for restoration via assisted evolution. Samples from three coral species—Colpophyllia natans, Diploria labyrinthiformis, and Orbicella annularis—from two resilient mangrove sites and two susceptible reef sites were analyzed to determine differences among species and sites. This study indicates that the bacterial microbiomes do vary among coral species and sites and that alpha diversity in the bacterial microbiome is higher in the resilient sites. The dominant bacterial classes in all samples were Alphaproteobacteria, Gammaproteobacteria, Cyanobacteria, and Flavobacteriia. Although it is difficult to claim that a certain bacteria is driving the observed difference, bacteria from genera Pseudoalteromonas, Alteromonas, Xanthobacillum, and Prochlorococcus may be significant players.
Recommended Citation
Sartor, Constance, "CHARACTERIZING THE BACTERIAL MICROBIOME OF CORALS RESILIENT TO CLIMATE CHANGE AND OCEAN ACIDIFICATION IN ST. JOHN, US VIRGIN ISLANDS" (2018). Theses & ETDs. 5599.
https://digitalcommons.ncf.edu/theses_etds/5599