Overfishing and nutrient pollution interact with temperature to disrupt coral reefs down to microbial scales

Jesse R. Zaneveld, Deron E. Burkepile (), Andrew A. Shantz, Catharine E. Pritchard, Ryan McMinds, Jérôme P. Payet, Rory Welsh, Adrienne M. S. Correa, Nathan P. Lemoine, Stephanie Rosales, Corinne Fuchs, Jeffrey A. Maynard and Rebecca Vega Thurber ()
Additional contact information
Jesse R. Zaneveld: Oregon State University
Deron E. Burkepile: Florida International University
Andrew A. Shantz: Florida International University
Catharine E. Pritchard: Florida International University
Ryan McMinds: Oregon State University
Jérôme P. Payet: Oregon State University
Rory Welsh: Oregon State University
Adrienne M. S. Correa: Oregon State University
Nathan P. Lemoine: Florida International University
Stephanie Rosales: Oregon State University
Corinne Fuchs: University of Florida
Jeffrey A. Maynard: SymbioSeas and Marine Applied Research Center
Rebecca Vega Thurber: Oregon State University

Nature Communications, 2016, vol. 7, issue 1, 1-12

Abstract: Abstract Losses of corals worldwide emphasize the need to understand what drives reef decline. Stressors such as overfishing and nutrient pollution may reduce resilience of coral reefs by increasing coral–algal competition and reducing coral recruitment, growth and survivorship. Such effects may themselves develop via several mechanisms, including disruption of coral microbiomes. Here we report the results of a 3-year field experiment simulating overfishing and nutrient pollution. These stressors increase turf and macroalgal cover, destabilizing microbiomes, elevating putative pathogen loads, increasing disease more than twofold and increasing mortality up to eightfold. Above-average temperatures exacerbate these effects, further disrupting microbiomes of unhealthy corals and concentrating 80% of mortality in the warmest seasons. Surprisingly, nutrients also increase bacterial opportunism and mortality in corals bitten by parrotfish, turning normal trophic interactions deadly for corals. Thus, overfishing and nutrient pollution impact reefs down to microbial scales, killing corals by sensitizing them to predation, above-average temperatures and bacterial opportunism.

Date: 2016
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms11833

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