Crustose coralline algae that promote coral larval settlement harbor distinct surface bacterial communities

摘要: Most benthic invertebrates, including ecosystem engineers such as corals, sponges and bivalves, have a motile planktonic larval phase rely on specific chemical cues to identify suitable substrate settle. Crustose coralline algae (CCA) can induce settlement metamorphosis responses in many invertebrates corals. We tested the respective coral capacity of multiple CCA species choice experiment investigated composition their microbiomes. Our findings revealed that was drastically influenced by genera also suggest bacterial communities surface potentially serve driver settlement. The least attractive genus, Neogoniolithon fosliei, markedly different from other genera, Porolithon gardineri Titanoderma prototypum significantly enriched Vibrio Flammeovirgaceae. activity CCA-associated may contribute some variability observed between species. Specific ASVs assigned Neptuniibacter, Methylotrophic Group 3 Cellvibrionaceae were positively correlated with Conversely, Flammeovirga negatively This study identifies putative taxa involved settlement, which is an essential step understand this process predict ability corals recolonize damaged reefs following disturbances.