Microbe diversity is key to healthy coastal ecosystems

For millions of years, symbiotic bacteria have lived inside the gills of Lucinidae clams found in seagrass meadows located along tropical coasts, such as the Florida Keys. These bacteria play a crucial role in the clams' survival, while contributing to the overall health of the seagrasses in which the clams live.

Scientists collect lucinid clams in seagrass beds at Sugarloaf Key, Florida. Photo: Annette Engel, UT Knoxville

Seagrasses are important nurseries for marine life and help protect coasts from storms and sea level rise.

As important as the bacteria are, little was known about their makeup until now. Scientists at Clemson University have published a paper indicating that the bacteria are more taxonomically diverse than previously thought.

Normally, when seagrass decomposes, sulfide is produced and is toxic to clams. However, the bacteria oxidize the sulfide compounds to harmless sulfate, using the energy produced to turn carbon dioxide into sugars for the clams.

"This symbiotic process enables the clams and bacteria to live in environments that are not necessarily hospitable," said Clemson University biologist Barbara Campbell. Campbell studies how organisms interact with each other, and how their microbiomes -- the communities of microorganisms living in and on organisms -- are involved in that interaction. "The more diverse the symbionts are, the healthier the ecosystem should be. Diversity matters."

The new findings have important implications for fisheries and lobster farming, which require healthy coastal ecosystems, including seagrass beds, to thrive.

The researchers plan to conduct additional experiments to explore the genetic diversity of both the clams and the microbes.

"This study underscores the extent of unknown microbial diversity even in well-studied areas, and the flexibility and importance of host-microbe associations in different habitats," says Simon Malcomber, a program director in NSF's Division of Environmental Biology. (National Science Foundation)

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE

Harvesting genes to improve watermelons

Watermelon is one of the world’s most popular fruits. But there are six other wild species of watermelon, all of which, however, have pale, hard and bitter fruits.

Scientists probe the limits of ice

How small is the tiniest possible particle of ice? According to new research, the smallest nanodroplet of water in which ice can form is only as big as 90 water molecules -- a tenth the size of the smallest virus.

For species that mate for life, bonding behaviors provide advantages

Male birds of species that form long-lasting pair-bonds often continue to make elaborate displays of plumage, color and dance after they mate with a female, encouraging the female to invest more energy into their brood.

Fossils may need air to form

Some of the world's most exquisite fossil beds were formed millions of years ago during time periods when Earth's oceans were largely without oxygen.

Study vaccine protects monkeys against four types of hemorrhagic fever viruse

Scientists have developed an investigational vaccine that protected cynomolgus macaques against four types of hemorrhagic fever viruses endemic to overlapping regions in Africa.

Tiny swimming 'doughnuts' deliver the biomedical goods

Researchers manufacture micro-doughnuts that mimic swimming bacteria for biomedical purposes.