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High inorganic phosphate concentration in coral mucus and its utilization by heterotrophic bacteria in a Malaysian coral reef
Author(s) -
Nakajima Ryota,
Tanaka Yasuaki,
Yoshida Teruaki,
Fujisawa Tamami,
Nakayama Asami,
Fuchinoue Yumi,
Othman Bin Haji Ross,
Toda Tatsuki
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
marine ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.668
H-Index - 58
eISSN - 1439-0485
pISSN - 0173-9565
DOI - 10.1111/maec.12158
Subject(s) - coral , coral reef , mucus , heterotroph , seawater , reef , acropora , phosphate , biology , nutrient , eutrophication , bacteria , environmental chemistry , ecology , chemistry , biochemistry , genetics
Inorganic nutrient contents of mucus released by Acropora corals and its utilization by heterotrophic bacteria at several different hour intervals in the coral mucus were investigated at a coral reef in Malaysia. The dissolved inorganic phosphate ( DIP ) concentration was 135‐fold higher than in the ambient seawater, probably due to inorganic P release from the coral gut cavity. We experimentally confirmed that heterotrophic bacteria rapidly (within 8 h) consumed ca. 80% of the initial concentration of DIP derived from coral mucus. High DIP concentration in coral mucus may enhance heterotrophic bacterial production and associated carbon flow in the microbial loop of reef ecosystems.