Ulva fasciata associated microbiome

Ulva spp., one of the most important providers of marine ecosystem services, has gained substantial attention lately in both ecological and applicational aspects. It is known that macroalgae and their associated microbial community form an inseparable unit whose intimate relationship can affect the well-being of both sides. Different cultivating systems, such as integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA), are assumed to impact Ulva bacterial community significantly in terms of compositional guilds. Still, in such a highly dynamic environment, it is crucial to determine how the community dynamics changed over time. In the current study, we characterized the Ulva fasciata-associated microbiota that was grown as biofilters in an IMTA system following a development period of five weeks. The microbial community associated with Ulva was identified using the 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing technique, and ecological indices analysis was further investigated.