title: Taxonomic and Functional Metagenomic Signature of Turfs in the Abrolhos Reef System (Brazil).
abstract: Turfs are widespread assemblages (consisting of microbes and algae) that inhabit reef systems. They are the most abundant benthic component in the Abrolhos reef system (Brazil), representing greater than half the coverage of the entire benthic community. Their presence is associated with a reduction in three-dimensional coral reef complexity and decreases the habitats available for reef biodiversity. Despite their importance, the taxonomic and functional diversity of turfs remain unclear. We performed a metagenomics and pigments profile characterization of turfs from the Abrolhos reefs. Turf microbiome primarily encompassed Proteobacteria (mean 40.57% ± s.d. 10.36, N = 1.548,192), Cyanobacteria (mean 35.04% ± s.d. 15.5, N = 1.337,196), and Bacteroidetes (mean 11.12% ± s.d. 4.25, N = 424,185). Oxygenic and anoxygenic phototrophs, chemolithotrophs, and aerobic anoxygenic phototrophic (AANP) bacteria showed a conserved functional trait of the turf microbiomes. Genes associated with oxygenic photosynthesis, AANP, sulfur cycle (S oxidation, and DMSP consumption), and nitrogen metabolism (N2 fixation, ammonia assimilation, dissimilatory nitrate and nitrite ammonification) were found in the turf microbiomes. Principal component analyses of the most abundant taxa and functions showed that turf microbiomes differ from the other major Abrolhos benthic microbiomes (i.e., corals and rhodoliths) and seawater. Taken together, these features suggest that turfs have a homogeneous functional core across the Abrolhos Bank, which holds diverse microbial guilds when comparing with other benthic organisms.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Microbiology, Institute of Biology, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.|Center of Technology-CT2, SAGE-COPPE, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Juline M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Walter
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Microbiology, Institute of Biology, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.|Center of Technology-CT2, SAGE-COPPE, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Diogo A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Tschoeke
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Microbiology, Institute of Biology, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Pedro M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Meirelles
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Microbiology, Institute of Biology, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.|Center of Technology-CT2, SAGE-COPPE, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Louisi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: de Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Microbiology, Institute of Biology, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.|Center of Technology-CT2, SAGE-COPPE, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luciana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Leomil
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biology, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Márcio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tenório
authors.affiliation: COPPE-Production Engineering Program, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rogério
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Valle
authors.affiliation: Center of Technology-CT2, SAGE-COPPE, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.|Institute of Biology, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Paulo S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Salomon
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Microbiology, Institute of Biology, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Cristiane C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Microbiology, Institute of Biology, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.|Center of Technology-CT2, SAGE-COPPE, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fabiano L
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Thompson
mesh_terms: D000641:Ammonia / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D037421:Anthozoa / Q000502:physiology; D041963:Bacteroidetes; D044822:Biodiversity; D001938:Brazil; D057894:Coral Reefs; D000458:Cyanobacteria / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D058893:DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics*; D056186:Metagenomics; D059013:Microbial Consortia / Q000235:genetics; D064307:Microbiota / Q000235:genetics*; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism; D010788:Photosynthesis; D010802:Phylogeny; D010860:Pigments, Biological / Q000096:biosynthesis; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D020560:Proteobacteria / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D012623:Seawater / Q000382:microbiology; D013452:Sulfonium Compounds / Q000378:metabolism; D013455:Sulfur / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D010860:Pigments, Biological; D013452:Sulfonium Compounds; D013455:Sulfur; D000641:Ammonia; C068078:dimethylpropiothetin; D009584:Nitrogen