Project description DEENESFRITPL Role of microbes and sponges in microbialisation of reefs Nutrient pollution and overfishing represent a major threat for coral reefs as they facilitate community shifts from reef-building corals to algae, increasing production of algal-derived dissolved organic matter (DOM). Since DOM cannot be consumed by most reef animals, it is transformed by microbes and sponges into particles and re-enters the food web. These recycling processes termed ‘microbial and sponge loops’ are considered as key ecosystem adaptations for reefs. However, increased algal-DOM and sponges on degraded reefs have been associated with the ‘microbialisation of reefs’. The EU-funded DDMS project intends to define whether planktonic microbes and sponges compete over DOM and describe the composition of different DOM types in past, present and future projection of available DOM. Show the project objective Hide the project objective Objective Anthropogenic disturbances, such as nutrient pollution and overfishing, threaten coral reefs by facilitating community shifts from reef-building corals to algae, increasing production of algal-derived dissolved organic matter (DOM). DOM is the largest food source on reefs, but cannot be consumed by most reef animals. Instead, microbes and sponges transform DOM into particles that re-enter the food web. These recycling pathways, termed the “microbial and sponge loops”, are understood as crucial ecosystem adaptations for reefs to thrive as biological hotspots under nutrient-poor conditions. However, the increased load of algal-DOM on degraded reefs has been associated with the inefficient growth of pathogenic microbes—the “microbialization of reefs”.Sponges have been hypothesized to further stimulate this microbialization by feeding on increased algal-DOM and accelerating algal proliferation via the subsequent release of nutrients. Through this “vicious circle”, microbes and sponges may jointly promote the degradation of coral reefs even faster than the usual, and much more studied, suspects of climate change (i.e. rising seawater temperature and ocean acidification).I aim to determine whether planktonic microbes and sponges compete over DOM (i.e. feed on same or different DOM components) under past, present, and future projections of available DOM. Thereto, I will characterize the composition of different DOM types (e.g. coral- and algal-DOM) and mixtures of DOM representing past, present and future DOM-producing communities and assess their availability (uptake) and utilization (metabolic processing) by planktonic microbes and sponges. I will further assess the ability of planktonic microbes to utilize sponge-processed water and vice versa. With this project I will lay the foundation to integrate microbes and sponges as understudied key ecosystem engineers into coral reef food web frameworks that will allow to elucidate the fate of future coral reefs. Fields of science engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringwaste managementwaste treatment processesrecyclingnatural sciencesearth and related environmental sciencesenvironmental sciencespollutionnatural sciencesbiological sciencesecologyecosystemsnatural sciencesearth and related environmental sciencesatmospheric sciencesclimatologyclimatic changes Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Main Programme H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility Topic(s) MSCA-IF-2019 - Individual Fellowships Call for proposal H2020-MSCA-IF-2019 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme MSCA-IF-GF - Global Fellowships Coordinator UNIVERSITEIT VAN AMSTERDAM Net EU contribution € 253 052,16 Address Spui 21 1012WX Amsterdam Netherlands See on map Region West-Nederland Noord-Holland Groot-Amsterdam Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Other funding € 0,00 Partners (1) Sort alphabetically Sort by Net EU contribution Expand all Collapse all Partner Partner organisations contribute to the implementation of the action, but do not sign the Grant Agreement. UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII United States Net EU contribution € 0,00 Address 2440 campus road, box 368 96822-2234 Honolulu hi See on map Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Other funding € 165 265,92
