Coral Mucus Dynamics in Reef Ecosystems

Coral mucus constitutes a multifaceted secretion that envelopes reef-building corals, mediating critical ecological functions such as nutrient retention, sediment clearance and microbial regulation. Comprised predominantly of carbohydrates, glycoproteins, lipids and transparent exopolymer particles, this dynamic layer forms the primary interface between the coral host and its environment. Mucus protects against pathogens, facilitates symbiotic partnerships with Symbiodiniaceae and shapes holobiont microbial communities by providing substrates for bacterial colonisation and modulating chemical signals. Environmental stressors including thermal anomalies, ocean acidification and hydrodynamic forces induce changes in mucus quantity and composition, leading to shifts in associated microbial assemblages and biogeochemical fluxes. Recent research has unveiled phylogenetic controls on mucus carbohydrate profiles, characterised the role of dimethylsulfoniopropionate in bacterial metabolism and demonstrated how water flow regulates exopolymer release. A comprehensive understanding of mucus dynamics is vital for predicting reef ecosystem responses to climate change and for developing interventions that bolster coral resilience.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Recent studies have elucidated the influence of coral phylogeny on mucus carbohydrate composition, revealing that monosaccharide profiles align with major scleractinian clades and underpin distinct microbial interactions. Investigations into acclimatisation have demonstrated that environmental factors such as water depth and sea surface temperature regulate mucus production alongside Symbiodiniaceae distribution, enabling corals to adjust their energy allocation and biomineralisation processes. Foundational experiments further show that enhanced water flow stabilises mucus release under elevated temperature, thereby preserving beneficial bacterial associations and mitigating dysbiosis during thermal stress.

Coral Mucus Dynamics in Reef Ecosystems publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in coral mucus dynamics in reef ecosystems across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Holobiont: The coral host and its associated microbial communities considered as an integrated ecological unit.

Transparent exopolymer particles (TEP): Gel-like carbohydrate-rich particles derived from mucus that facilitate particle aggregation and microbial colonisation.

Dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP): A sulphur-containing compound produced by corals and symbionts that serves as a substrate for bacterial catabolism, yielding nutrients or dimethyl sulfide.

Symbiodiniaceae: A family of dinoflagellate endosymbionts that inhabit coral tissues and contribute to host nutrition via photosynthesis.

References

1. Distinct coral environments shape the dynamic of planktonic Vibrio spp.. Environmental Microbiome (2023).
2. Mucus carbohydrate composition correlates with scleractinian coral phylogeny. Scientific Reports (2024).
3. Corals regulate the distribution and abundance of Symbiodiniaceae and biomolecules in response to changing water depth and sea surface temperature. Scientific Reports (2021).
4. Water flow buffers shifts in bacterial community structure in heat-stressed Acropora muricata. Scientific Reports (2017).
5. Increased DMSP availability during thermal stress influences DMSP-degrading bacteria in coral mucus. Frontiers in Marine Science (2022).
6. Effects of flows on transparent exopolymer particles released from branching Acropora coral colonies. Frontiers in Marine Science (2024).