Microbial communities associated with corals life stages and surrounding environment.. Acropora digitifera

Aim of this study is to characterize the structure and source (environmental or parental) of the microbial community associated with early life stages and adults of the common broadcast spawning coral species Acropora digitifera. This study propose that corals have the ability to transmit specific microbial consortia from one generation to another, and that these microbial taxa are likely to facilitate the growth, development, nutrition and protection of the specific developmental stages of the host. This study also suggest the ability of the host to uptake genetically diverse symbionts from the environment, dependent upon host requirements