July 31, 2023 — OSEC 202, 11 a.m.

Dr. Kathrin Busch, Bedford Institute of Oceanography

Deep-sea coral and sponge microbiomes in an ecosystem context– key aspects, spatio-temporal predictions, management, and technology development

Abstract

Symbioses between microbes and invertebrates are emerging as key drivers of ecosystem health and services. Deep-sea corals and sponges can harbour dense and diverse microbial communities inside their tissue, which play fundamental roles in key physiological processes. This presentation will show-case several key aspects of deep-sea coral and sponge symbioses derived from a global dataset, and outline current efforts to promote a mechanistic understanding of those associations. As we are currently lacking an understanding of continuous spatio-temporal distribution patterns of animal-associated microbial communities, we will discuss in this seminar how spatio-temporal distribution patterns of coral and sponge microbiomes may be modelled from a methodological, but especially conceptual view. We will focus on a regional case study, covering the North American East coast from 25°N to 71°N, and present different scenarios of spatial microbiome distribution patterns, including patterns simulated under worst-case CO2 emission scenarios. In addition to the modelling approaches outlined above, we will also discuss if and how the microbiomes of sensitive benthic habitat-forming animal species should be incorporated into conservation efforts. In particular we will take a look at how microbial community richness are being currently incorporated into conservation network designs in Eastern Canada. The last focus of this seminar will be on current efforts in technological development directed to improve monitoring and accessibility of remote and hidden ecosystems (such as deep-sea microbiomes) and what the future may hold.