The microbial key to coral reef health

Ocean Biology Coral reefs around the world are under threat from global warming, overfishing, and pollution. Ocean warming is particularly dangerous, causing bleaching that can lead to the death of the coral. In a Perspective, Ainsworth and Gates explains that the microbes associated with coral reefs are critical to reef survival. Corals that have more pathogenic bacteria are more likely to die after bleaching. The loss of beneficial bacteria has also been linked to the development of lesions and tissue necrosis in corals. If climate change leads to reefs with lower coral diversity, reduced microbial diversity is likely to result, making the reefs less resilient to further stress. Science , this issue p. [1518][1] [1]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.aad9957