Richard B. Gump South Pacific Research Station

01 Jun, 01 PM - 29 Jul, 01 PM

The goal of this project is to determine whether anthropogenic stressors affect the gut microbiomes of coral reef fish. Numerous studies have shown that the microbiomes of both invertebrates and vertebrates are heavily shaped by host phylogeny and ecology. However, little attention has been given to how human impact on the environment has translated into changes in the microbiomes of affected species. As inhabitants of fragile ecosystems that are heavily susceptible to unnatural disturbances, coral reef fish present an ideal system to test the effects of anthropogenic stress on gut microbiomes. To test whether fish gut microbiomes are affected by anthropogenic stress, we will sample the guts of fish from both pristine reefs and disturbed reefs around Moorea with the prediction that the two groups will exhibit distinctively different gut microbiomes. As a further investigation, we will also conduct a controlled experiment in flow-through tanks to determine how an increase in nutrients in the water affects reef fish gut microbiomes. We predict that the gut microbiomes of fish receiving nutrient-enriched water will exhibit more nitrogen metabolizing bacteria as well as a decrease in overall community diversity. This project will shed light on the extent to which human impact on coral reefs influences the gut microbiomes of coral reef fish.

Visit #51435 @Richard B. Gump South Pacific Research Station

Approved

Under Project # 35414 | Research

The effects of anthropogenic stress on fish gut microbiomes

graduate_student - University of California, Los Angeles

Reservation Members(s)

Samuel Degregori Jun 1 - Jul 29, 2017 (59 days)

Reserve Resources(s) | Create Invoice

Bed in shared room 1 Jun 1 - Jul 29, 2017