Temperature Affects Antagonism Among Coral-Associated Bacteria

Reef-building corals are invertebrate animals that associate with diverse microorganisms, including Symbiodiniaceae, bacteria, fungi, and archaea. This symbiotic consortium, called the holobiont, is a dynamic system rapidly responds to environmental temperatures. At present, effects of temperature on bacteria-bacteria interactions in coral-associated bacterial community not clear. Antagonism considered one potential structuring forces coral microbial communities. Here, we examined antagonistic among 32 bacteria physiological biochemical characteristics these isolates at different The results showed antagonism breadth (i.e. total number interactions) increased but intensity size inhibition zone) decreased 32°C. interaction network was nested sender-determined both 25°C 32°C, suggesting competition networks were more influenced by antagonist strains than sensitive strains. Furthermore, found elevated complexity network. By evaluating correlations between phylogenetic phenotypic distances, demonstrated probability correlated distance rather distance. Moreover, have wider metabolic niche space, i.e., grew carbon sources, antagonized 25°C, while there no difference trade-off resource exploitation shifted under higher temperature. These findings will be helpful for understanding holobionts assembly altered environments, especially heat stress.