Black band disease of corals: Ecology and Physiology of the sulfur bacteria Desulfovibrio Spp. and Beggiatoa Spp.
Viehman TS. 2002. Black band disease of corals: Ecology and Physiology of the sulfur bacteria Desulfovibrio Spp. and Beggiatoa Spp.. Florida International University
Black band disease (BBD) of corals is a pathogenic microbial consortium that exhibits an active sulfur cycle. This study is focused on two questions aimed at understanding two bacterial populations integral to the sulfur biogeochemistry of the disease consortium. First, the nature of the taxonomic identity ofBBD-associated sulfate-reducing bacteria was determined by selective culturing and sequencing ( 16S rDNA) of samples from regional BBD infections. Second, microbial motility patterns in BBD were investigated with a focus on sulfide-oxidizing bacteria (Beggiatoa) to determine if patterns were comparable to non-disease microbial mat communities. Eight out of 10 cultures sequenced showed 98+% species homology to Desulfovibrio sp. strain TBP-1, and revealed a consistency in Desulfovibrio sp. between different BBD infections, coral species, and geographic areas. In situ studies ofBBD cyanobacteria and Beggiatoa exposed to both natural and manipulated changes in light intensity showed the microbial vertical migration pattern to be unique.
- Type
- Academic
- Authors
- Viehman, Tiffany
- Date of Issue
- 2002
- Publisher
- Florida International University
- Units
- BISC
- Keywords
- Black band disease, coral reef disturbances, Coral Reefs, infected coral, sulfate-reducing bacteria, thesis