Viral predation pressure on coral reefs
Cynthia B Silveira1,2, Antoni Luque3,4,5, Andreas F Haas6
1Department of Biology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, 33146, USA. cynthiasilveira@miami.edu.
BMC Biology
|April 10, 2023
Summary
Viral predation of bacteria, alongside fish biomass, is key to maintaining healthy coral reefs. This study highlights how these top-down pressures regulate microbial communities and support coral stability across Pacific reefs.
Area of Science:
- Marine biology
- Ecology
- Microbial ecology
Background:
- Coral reef health is influenced by predation and herbivory, but microbial communities are often overlooked.
- Viruses infecting bacteria can regulate microbial populations and potentially benefit coral health by controlling microbialization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationships between live coral cover and various ecological and chemical factors across Pacific reefs.
- To test the hypothesis that viral predation on bacteria influences coral reef health and stability.
Main Methods:
- Analyzed data from 110 Pacific reefs, examining live coral cover, viruses, bacteria, algae, fish biomass, and water chemistry.
- Employed statistical learning to identify key predictors of coral cover variation.
- Investigated non-linear relationships between coral cover and biotic/abiotic variables.
Main Results:
- Turf algae, viruses, and bacteria abundance were the strongest predictors of coral cover variance.
- High coral cover was associated with high predator fish biomass and high virus-to-bacteria ratios, indicating significant viral predation pressure.
- Reefs with extreme coral cover (high or low) showed narrower combinations of environmental factors than intermediate reefs.
Conclusions:
- Viral predation of bacteria is linked to increased coral cover and improved coral health.
- Combined predation by fish and viruses regulates energy flow, preventing detrimental microbial food web energy accumulation.
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