Microbiome-mediated mechanisms contributing to the environmental tolerance of reef invertebrate species

Coral reefs globally are increasingly impacted by climate change. High temperature and pCO(2) levels disrupt multiple physiological and biochemical pathways in marine organisms, often leading to disease and mortality in sensitive reef species. Host-associated microbes contribute critical functions that underpin host health, and environmentally induced changes in microbial communities represent a potential source for new metabolic features within holobiont systems. However, whether the acquisition of new beneficial microbial functions contributes to environmental acclimatisation of reef species is currently unknown. Using extensively studied model systems, we identify potential direct and indirect microbiome-mediated mechanisms that may contribute to environmental acclimatisation in reef invertebrate species. These mechanisms include increasing energy metabolism in the host, reduction of oxidative stress, regulation of nutrients in host cells, and increased pathogen resistance. We also propose a robust experimental strategy to test how microbial metabolic pathways may facilitate environmental acclimatisation of reef taxa. Understanding the mechanisms of microbiome-mediated acclimatisation and the timescales over which it can occur will be critical for predicting reef ecosystem dynamics under future climate scenarios and applying effective reef conservation strategies.

Automated summary

The study identifies the important role of microbiomes in facilitating environmental acclimatization in coral reef invertebrate species, through mechanisms such as increasing host energy metabolism, reducing oxidative stress, regulating nutrients in host cells, and enhancing pathogen resistance. Understanding these mechanisms and the timescales over which they operate is critical for predicting future coral reef ecosystem dynamics and implementing effective conservation strategies.