Microbiome dynamics of coral reefs, Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease, and reef fish

Coral reef ecosystems are important habitats for marine fauna such as cleanerfish and damselfish. Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease (SCTLD) is devastating coral reef ecosystems in the Caribbean. We surveyed coral reefs in St. Croix (USVI) and Puerto Rico for cleanerfish and damselfish density, coral health, and microbial growth in healthy and diseased reefs. Sterile tiles were deployed at coral heads and monitored for biofilm growth over 6-7 days. Additionally, we collected samples of coral tissue and mucus from damselfish and cleanerfish, and water from the coral heads proximal to tiles. From these samples, we analyzed microbial community populations through sequencing the bacterial/archaeal 16S rRNA gene.