Apicomplexan and non-metazoan microeukaryotes in the thermosensitive reef-building coral Acropora hyacinthus shift in abundance throughout an extreme coral bleaching event

Athena Peterson; Sunni Patton; Emily Rose Schmeltzer; Carsten Grupstra; Lauren Howe-Kerr; J. Grace Klinges; Rebecca Maher; Adrianna Messyasz; Sarah Seabrook; Andrew Thurber; Adrienne Correa; Rebecca Vega Thurber

doi:10.3389/fmars.2025.1626071

USGS · 70271737

Apicomplexan and non-metazoan microeukaryotes in the thermosensitive reef-building coral Acropora hyacinthus shift in abundance throughout an extreme coral bleaching event

Athena Peterson·Sunni Patton·Emily Rose Schmeltzer·Carsten Grupstra·Lauren Howe-Kerr·J. Grace Klinges·Rebecca Maher·Adrianna Messyasz·Sarah Seabrook·Andrew Thurber·Adrienne Correa·Rebecca Vega Thurber

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Abstract

Coral reefs play vital roles in global marine systems and are currently facing increased threats of bleaching. Coral bleaching is heavily influenced by the host-associated microeukaryote community – most notably the dinoflagellate family Symbiodiniaceae. The apicomplexan family Corallicolidae, is the second most abundant member of the microeukaryote community, yet their role in coral health is largely unknown. To explore the role that this apicomplexan and the greater non-metazoan microeukaryotic community play in coral health, samples of a thermally sensitive scleractinian coral, Acropora hyacinthus , were collected over the course of a severe coral bleaching event and its aftermath. Through 18S rRNA gene sequencing analysis, we found that taxa within the family Corallicolidae were relatively enriched in corals during, and immediately after, the severe bleaching event as compared to before or one year after. Although utilizing 18S rRNA gene sequencing methods is not the standard for Symbiodiniaceae community profiling, we were able to observe symbiont shuffling among the Symbiodiniaceae communities, as the dominant algal symbiont shifted from the genus Cladocopium to the genus Symbiodinium following the bleaching event. Furthermore, the non-metazoan microeukaryote community displayed a general shift towards a state of dysbiosis; evidenced by substantial changes in both microeukaryote community composition and dispersion. These results offer insight into the dynamics of apicomplexans throughout the course of an increasingly common global coral reef stressor.

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Frontiers in Marine Science Article

Source-reported bounding extent: -17.612716041327616° to -17.463455039196617° latitude; -149.94261835394644° to -149.73838596029304° longitude. This indicates report coverage, not an exact sampling location. View area on OpenStreetMap.

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Athena Peterson, Sunni Patton, Emily Rose Schmeltzer, Carsten Grupstra, Lauren Howe-Kerr, J. Grace Klinges, Rebecca Maher, Adrianna Messyasz, Sarah Seabrook, Andrew Thurber, Adrienne Correa, Rebecca Vega Thurber. 2025-09-22. Apicomplexan and non-metazoan microeukaryotes in the thermosensitive reef-building coral Acropora hyacinthus shift in abundance throughout an extreme coral bleaching event. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2025.1626071

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