Inoculation with Roseovarius increases thermal tolerance of the coral photosymbiont, Breviolum minutum

Abstract

Coral reefs are diverse marine ecosystems that have tremendous ecological and cultural value and support more than 25% of eukaryote marine biodiversity. Increased ocean temperatures and light intensity trigger coral bleaching, the breakdown of the relationship between corals and their photosymbionts, dinoflagellates of the family Symbiodiniaceae. This leaves corals without their primary energy source, thereby leading to starvation and, often, death. Coral bleaching is hypothesized to occur due to an overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by Symbiodiniaceae, which subsequently accumulate in coral tissues. Bacterial probiotics have been proposed as an approach to mitigate coral bleach..