Preferential carbon utilization by surface bacterial communities from water mass, normal, and white-band diseased Acropora cervicornis
Ritchie KB and Smith GW. 1995. Preferential carbon utilization by surface bacterial communities from water mass, normal, and white-band diseased Acropora cervicornis. Molecular Marine Biology and Biotechnology. 4(3):345-352
This report includes methods, results and discussion of a study done on the relationship between carbon utilization and coral communities with white-band disease. Bacterial heterotrophs were isolated from the water mass and from the surface mucopolysaccharide layers of normal Acropora cervicorrus (staghorn coral) and A. cervicornis showing signs of white-band disease. Each isolate was exposed to 95 different carbon sources, and the percentages of isolates from each community were compared with respect to their ability to utilize each carbon source. Six-carbon sugars were preferentially metabolized by the white-band community while five-carbon sugars were preferentially used by the normal coral community. More organic and amino acids preferentially were oxidized by the white-band community over the other communities tested. In addition, pyrimidines, glycerol, and phosphorylated compounds also were preferential for the white-band community. This community was less diverse than other communities. These results support previous taxonomic comparisons and may yield insights into the overall pathogenesis of the disease.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Ritchie, K.; Smith, G.
- Units
- BISC
- Keywords
- Acropora, Acropora cervicornis, Bacteria, Carbon, Coral, Coral Disease, Microbiology, Staghorn coral, Water, white-band disease