Scientists have completed the first comprehensive survey of the microbiome in the open waters of reef systems on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, documenting more than 800,000 microbial genomes from 48 reefs, according to a statement released by the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS). Published in the journal Nature, the research was led by Australia’s University of Queensland (UQ) and AIMS, successfully identifying over 500 new bacterial species and more than 300,000 distinct viruses across the world’s largest coral reef system.
Mapping the Invisible Ecosystem of the Great Barrier Reef
The research team discovered 5,283 different bacterial and archaeal genomes representing 876 species, with about two-thirds of those species previously unknown to science. These invisible communities contribute heavily to healthy reef ecosystems by cycling nutrients and supporting food webs, according to researchers. To share these findings with the broader scientific community, researchers compiled the data into the newly established Great Barrier Reef Microbial Genomes Database.
Did you know? Microalgae produce most of the oxygen we breathe and underpin food chains in the open oceans, making these microscopic organisms vital to global climate health, according to senior AIMS research scientist Yun Kit Yeoh.
Tracking Climate Stresses and Reef Bleaching Responses
Modern DNA sequencing has made it possible for marine biologists to study massive marine environments. According to UQ microbiologist and study senior author Prof. Philip Hugenholtz, researchers can now measure microscopic changes in thousands of invisible microbes and explore how healthy reef microbiomes respond to environmental disturbances.
These advances allow scientists to monitor reef resilience against pressing modern threats. Researchers will use the new genomic database to track how microbial communities react to bleaching events, storms, sediment, and fishing pressures.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was discovered in the Great Barrier Reef microbiome study?
Researchers documented over 800,000 microbial genomes from seawater samples across 48 reefs, identifying more than 500 new bacterial species, over 300,000 distinct viruses, and 5,283 bacterial and archaeal genomes representing 876 species.
Who led the Great Barrier Reef microbiome research?
The research was led by the University of Queensland and the Australian Institute of Marine Science, with findings published in the journal Nature.
How will the new microbial database help scientists?
The Great Barrier Reef Microbial Genomes Database allows researchers to track healthy reef microbiomes and study how invisible marine communities respond to bleaching, storms, sediment, and fishing pressures.
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