Bacterial community dynamics in Red Sea coral reefs in response to natural stressors
Internship Description
Workshop Description
Corals play an integral
part in the health of the oceans as ecosystem engineers, building highly
diverse and large reef systems. However, rapid increases in natural and
human-induced stressors mean that coral reefs are under more pressure than ever
and are declining rapidly. Previous research has shown that the coral
microbiome is a vital part of a healthy coral reef system. Bacterial
associations and communities on corals are highly diverse and make up a crucial
part of the coral microbiome. However, these coral bacterial communities and
associations are not extensively studied in the Red Sea. Further investigation
into the bacterial aspect of the coral microbiome is essential for the
understanding of its role in the resilience, acclimatization and recovery of
corals after disturbance events. The aim of this research is to investigate the
spatio-temporal changes in bacterial communities in Red Sea coral reefs. This
project will focus, among others, on the following research questions:
1. Is there a significant change in the composition of the coral microbiome
between sites with contrasting bleaching levels or between sites experiencing
different temperature ranges?
2. Are there significant changes in bacterial community composition before and
after bleaching events or before, during and after heat stress periods?
Deliverables/Expectations
Deliverables
The goal of this project is
peer-reviewed publication with the student being the first author
Faculty Name
Xose Anxelu G. Moran
Field of Study
Field Of Study
Coral reef microbiology