Great Barrier Reef seawater microbiomes genome database
Microbes play a critical role in nutrient-deplete habitats such as coral reefs, where they mediate efficient nutrient recycling. With reefs under increasing pressure from environmental changes, a greater understanding of microbial contributions to reef health is urgently needed. The Integrated Marine Observing System (IMOS) Great Barrier Reef Microbial Genomics Database (GBR MGD) was established to provide high-quality genomic references to increase our understanding of the role of microbes in reef environments. Sample collections from 48 sites on the GBR and a hybrid assembly process was used to combine Illumina and Nanopore sequencing data to generate ~5000 microbial genomes, complemented with comprehensive water chemistry and benthic reef survey data.