The microbiome associated with Neogoniolithon sp. in the eastern Mediterranean coast

We examined the microbial community associated with the crustose coralline algae (CCA) Neogoniolithon sp. in the eastern Mediterranean using parallel sequencing of the V4 region of the 16S rDNA gene and compared them to their surrounding water and aquarium grown alga. Samples of rocks bearing the CCA (and their surrounding seawater) were collected from eolianite reef of the east Mediterranean shore, Sdot-Yam site, Israel (32??29'38.61''N, 34??53'16.65''E), in winter (January) 2017 and spring (May) 2018. Samples were collected from three locations on the reef - two tidal pools - TP1 (Eastern, closer to shoreline) and TP2 (western, closer to open sea), and platform edge.