[Coral-List] ICRS 2020: “What is the role of benthic holobionts and free-living microbes in element recycling and overall ecosystem functioning?”

[Benjamin Mueller]

Dearcolleagues, 

Tomorrow isthe deadline for the abstract submission for ICRS 2020!

So lastchance to submit an abstract for an oral or poster presentations to our session“What is the role of benthic holobionts and free-living microbes in elementrecycling and overall ecosystem functioning?” under session theme 3 “Ecosystemfunctions and services”.

We wouldfurther like to highlight that we also welcome contributions from environmentsother than coral reefs, including mangroves, seagrass beds, anddeep-sea environments.

Please feelfree to contact us if you have any further questions regarding our session.

 Sessionabstract:

Sincethe first description of coral reefs it remains an enigma how such diverse andproductive ecosystems can flourish in nutrient-poor waters, the equivalent to amarine dessert. It is becoming increasingly evident that certain elementrecycling pathways mediated by benthic holobionts (host plus associated microbiota)and free-living microbes play key roles in ecosystem functioning. For example,the transformation of dissolved organic matter (DOM; the largest, yet largelyunavailable food source) to particles via the respective microbial and spongeloop reduce the loss of elements stored in this DOM to the open ocean and isconsidered pivotal to sustain reefs under oligotrophic conditions. However,global and local stressors cause shifts in benthic communities and affectlevels and composition of organic and inorganic nutrients, as well as thestoichiometry of elements in reef waters. Efficient element recycling pathwaysthat initially allowed reefs to evolve under nutrient-poor conditions, are nowhypothesized to reinforce ongoing benthic shifts and the deterioration of thesesystems. Recent examples are the accumulation of microbial biomass at theexpense of element transfer to higher trophic levels("microbialization") and the release of organic and inorganicnutrients by sponges ("vicious circle"). Both theories suggest tostimulate an increase in opportunistic microbes causing low oxygen levels anddetrimental effects on coral health, and to further fuel algal growth. Thissession invites abstracts on the latest findings on organic and inorganicelement cycling by benthic holobionts and free-living microbes and their rolein ecosystem function. The aim is to bring together studies from organism toecosystem levels assessing the current status, making future projections, anddiscussing possible management interventions. Contributions from mangrove,seagrass, and deep-sea environments are encouraged to foster a broadinterdisciplinary exchange.

We hope to see you in Bremen next year!

The session chairs

Benjamin Mueller (University of Amsterdam)

Martha Ribes (Institut de Ciències del Mar)

CynthiaSilveira (San Diego StateUniversity)

Jasper de Goeij (Universityof Amsterdam)


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Dr. Benjamin Mueller
Marine Biologist

University of Amsterdam (UvA)Department of Freshwater and Marine EcologyInstitute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics (IBED)
Science Park 904P.O. Box 94248, AmsterdamThe Netherlands
Phone:  +31 649883575Mail: muellerb at ymail.com
Web: www.uva.nl