Microeukaryotic Community Structure and Dynamics During Macrobenthos Bioremediation in Intertidal Mudflat Sediments of Sansha Bay, China

Abstract

Background: Microorganisms play important roles in the macrobenthic bioremediation process. At present, studies regarding microeukaryotes in intertidal sediments are not enough, and studies of the microeukaryotic dynamics in the bioremediation process using macrobenthos have received much less attention.

Apicomplexans predict thermal stress mortality in the Mediterranean coralParamuricea clavata

“…6). The closest blast results for these sequences were to uncultured microeukaryotes isolated from intertidal mudflat sediments and ocean surface water from the China Sea (22,23) (100% Similarity). One Symbiodiniaceae ASV (ASV_43) was identified in some of the populations (Tascons, La Vaca, Palazzinu, Lighthouse, Altare, Mana & Balun) despite P. clavata being azooxanthellate (Extended Data Fig.…”

“…Within the ciliate lineages recovered from P. clavata, three genera (Licnophora, Holosticha, & Ephelota) showed variable abundances across the surveyed distribution of the coral host. L. macfarlandi, has been found as an endosymbiont in the respiratory trees of Bonacolta 29 holothuroids, but also in association with corals, likely as a secondary invader hunting other microbes [44,45]. It is a noted predator of protozoans and is speculated to be attracted to other ciliate species found at the interface of coral lesions [45].…”

“…L. macfarlandi, has been found as an endosymbiont in the respiratory trees of Bonacolta 29 holothuroids, but also in association with corals, likely as a secondary invader hunting other microbes [44,45]. It is a noted predator of protozoans and is speculated to be attracted to other ciliate species found at the interface of coral lesions [45]. L. macfarlandi within P. damicornis also exhibited geographic variability in abundance [39], which may depend upon the presence of other ciliates on which it preys.…”

“…L. macfarlandi within P. damicornis also exhibited geographic variability in abundance [39], which may depend upon the presence of other ciliates on which it preys. Another ciliate, H. diademata, has also been found within corals often crawling slowly on the coral surface [45]. It is a noted bacterivore so it may feed upon the bacteria of the coral, exerting top-down control upon that portion of the microbiome, and therefore influencing the cycling of certain nutrients in the holobiont.…”