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The Seagrass Holobiont and Its Microbiome
Kelly Ugarelli1, Seemanti Chakrabarti2, Peeter Laas3
1Ft. Lauderdale Research and Education Center, Department of Microbiology and Cell Science, UF/IFAS, University of Florida, Davie, FL 33314, USA. kugarelli@ufl.edu.
Microorganisms
|December 16, 2017
Summary
Seagrass meadows are vital coastal ecosystems threatened by human activities. Increased sulfide levels from microbial action in sediments are a major cause of seagrass die-offs, impacting marine environments.
Area of Science:
- Marine Biology
- Coastal Ecology
- Microbial Ecology
Background:
- Seagrass meadows provide critical ecosystem services globally.
- Significant seagrass loss (29%) has occurred since 1879 due to various factors.
- Increased sediment sulfide concentrations are a primary driver of seagrass die-offs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the basic ecology and biology of seagrasses.
- To focus on the interactions between seagrasses and their associated microbiomes.
- To understand the role of microbes in seagrass health and decline.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of seagrass ecology and biology.
- Analysis of studies on seagrass microbiomes.
- Examination of microbial roles in the sulfur cycle and seagrass health.
Main Results:
- Sulfate-reducing prokaryotes increase sediment sulfide, harming seagrasses.
- Heterotrophic bacteria, stimulated by nutrients, exacerbate sulfide issues.
- Microbial symbionts in seagrasses can detoxify sulfide under normal conditions.
Conclusions:
- Understanding seagrass microbiomes is crucial for conservation.
- Microbial interactions significantly influence seagrass resilience to environmental stressors.
- Further research into seagrass-microbe interactions can inform management strategies.
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