| Text | 395084 2018 10.3354/meps12583 Scopus 2 s2.0 85052373955 ISI Web of Science WOS 000434964400006 Coral reefs Macroalgae Turbinaria ornata Epilithic bacterial biofilms Coral recruitment French Polynesia Erect macroalgae influence epilithic bacterial assemblages and reduce coral recruitment Bulleri F.; Thiault L.; Mills S.C.; Nugues M.M.; Eckert E.M.; Corno G.; Claudet J. Dipartimento di Biologia, Universita di Pisa, Via Derna 1, Pisa, 56126, , Italy; CoNISMa, Piazzale Flaminio 9, Roma, 00196, , Italy; National Center for Scientific Research, PSL Universite Paris, CRIOBE, USR 3278 CNRS EPHE UPVD, 195 rue Saint Jacques, Paris, 75005, , , , , France; National Center for Scientific Research, PSL Universite Paris, CRIOBE, USR 3278 CNRS EPHE UPVD, 195 rue Saint Jacques, Paris, 75005, , , , , France; National Center for Scientific Research, PSL Universite Paris, CRIOBE, USR 3278 CNRS EPHE UPVD, 195 rue Saint Jacques, Paris, 75005, , , , , France; National Center for Scientific Research, PSL Universite Paris, CRIOBE, USR 3278 CNRS EPHE UPVD, 195 rue Saint Jacques, Paris, 75005, , , , , France; Laboratoire D Excellence CORAIL , Perpignan, 66860, , France; Museum National D Histoire Naturelle, PALOC, UMR 208 MNHN IRD, Paris, 75231, , , France; Museum National D Histoire Naturelle, PALOC, UMR 208 MNHN IRD, Paris, 75231, , , France; Center of Applied Ecology and Sustainability, Departamento de Ecologia, Facultad de Ciencias Biologicas, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile, Santiago, , Chile; PSL Universite Paris EPHE UPVD CNRS, USR 3278 CRIOBE BP 1013, Papetoai, Moorea, 98729, , French Polynesia; Microbial Ecology Group MEG , National Research Council Institute of Ecosystem Study CNR ISE , Largo Tonolli, 50, Verbania, 28922, , Italy Macroalgal competition can indirectly influence the health of corals and their response to changing environmental conditions by altering their associated bacterial community. However, the effect of macroalgae on the composition of epilithic microbial biofilms, an important determinant of coral recruitment, is poorly known. In the back reefs of Moorea French Polynesia , we evaluated how the experimental removal of either the canopy of the seaweed Turbinaria ornata or that of the entire macroalgal assemblage influenced the composition of the bacterial biofilm and coral recruitment on macroalga free substrata. The number of bacterial colonies on culture plates inoculated with dilutions of 9 d old biofilm from canopy removal sites was smaller compared with control sites. After 3.5 mo, the diversity of bacterial operational taxonomic units OTUs was lower at both canopy and total macroalgal removal sites. Total macroalgal removal sites had a lower relative abundance of several bacterial families, including Rhodobacteraceae, Erythrobacteraceae, Cyanobacteria Family IV and Family VIII, Flavobacteriaceae and Verrucomicrobiaceae. After 8 mo, coral recruitment was generally low, but greater at total macroalgal removal sites. The relative abundance of Cyanobacteria, Sphingo bacteria and Verrucomicrobia was negatively correlated with coral recruitment and explained 70% of variation in coral recruit density. Our study shows that the removal of T. ornata and understory macroalgae influences the composition of epilithic bacterial assemblages and coral recruitment. Thus, eradication campaigns are unlikely to sustain long term reductions in the abundance of T. ornata and, hence, increase coral recruitment, when plant holdfasts and understory macroalgae are left in place. 597 Published version http //www.scopus.com/inward/record.url eid=2 s2.0 85052373955 partnerID=q2rCbXpz Articolo 2018_MEP_597_65_77.pdf Articolo in rivista Inter Research 0171 8630 Marine ecology. Progress series Halstenbek Marine ecology. Progress series Halstenbek Mar. ecol., Prog. ser. Halstenbek Marine ecology. Halstenbek Marine ecology. Progress series Print Halstenbek MEPS Halstenbek gianluca.corno CORNO GIANLUCA estermaria.eckert ECKERT ESTER MARIA |
