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Published (Version of record)CC BY V4.0, Open Access
Published (Version of record)CC BY V4.0, Open
Journal article
The role of microbiota in kelp gametophyte development and resilience to thermal stress
Journal of phycology, Vol.61(3), pp.633-649
06/2025
PMID: 40299544
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Source: InCites
Abstract
Ocean warming is driving profound changes in the ecology of marine habitat formers such as kelps, with negative implications for the biodiversity and ecosystem services they support. Thermal stress can disturb associated microbiota that are essential to the healthy functioning of kelp, but little is known about how this process influences early-life stages. Because kelps have a biphasic life cycle, thermal stress dynamics of adult sporophyte microbiota may not reflect those of the free-living haploid gametophyte. We investigated the role of microbial disruption under thermal stress on gametophytes of the kelp Ecklonia radiata and compared sporophyte and gametophyte microbiota. The microbiota of gametophytes changed significantly when the microbiome was disrupted and under increased temperature (26°C), in which putative generalist bacterial taxa proliferated and bacterial families associated with nitrogen fixation decreased. Concurrently, the survival of gametophytes decreased to <10%, and surviving gametophytes did not become fertile when the microbiome was disrupted. The length of gametophytes decreased under both microbial disruption and thermal stress. Taken together, this suggests that the associated microbiota of Ecklonia gametophytes is important for their survival, fertility, and response to warming. Gametophyte and parental sporophyte microbiota were also distinct from the water column but not each other, suggesting vertical transmission of microbiota from one life stage to the next. This study furthers our understanding of the role of microbiota in gametophyte stress tolerance as well as the acquisition of microbiota, which may prove vital in protecting and increasing the stress resilience of these foundation species.
Details
- Title
- The role of microbiota in kelp gametophyte development and resilience to thermal stress
- Creators
- Reina J Veenhof - Southern Cross UniversityAlexander H McGrath - The University of SydneyCurtis Champion - Southern Cross UniversitySymon A Dworjanyn - Southern Cross UniversityEzequiel M Marzinelli - The University of SydneyMelinda A Coleman - Southern Cross University
- Publication Details
- Journal of phycology, Vol.61(3), pp.633-649
- Publisher
- Wiley-Blackwell Publishing, Inc.; HOBOKEN
- Grant note
- R.J.V. and A.H.M. are supported by the Holsworth Wildlife Research Endowment. This work contributes to the NSW Primary Industries Climate Change Research Strategy, funded by the NSW Climate Change Fund. Funding was also provided by Australian Research Council grant DP200100201 awarded to M.A.C. A.H.M. was further supported by a scholarship granted by The University of Sydney through the William George Murrell bequest.
- Identifiers
- 991013278305602368
- Copyright
- © 2025 The Author(s)
- Academic Unit
- Faculty of Science and Engineering; National Marine Science Centre
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article