Microbial Influences on Coral Reef Resilience and Recovery

Coral reefs are critical ecosystems under severe threat from environmental stressors, notably climate change. Microbial symbionts play an important role in coral health and resilience, aiding in nutrient cycling, disease resistance, and overall ecosystem stability. Studies reveal how shifts in microbial communities during coral bleaching and recovery phases play a pivotal role in coral adaptation. However, gaps remain in understanding the precise mechanisms through which microbes influence coral resilience and the potential for targeted microbial interventions.

This Research Topic aims to deepen understanding of the microbial processes that underpin coral reef resilience and recovery. We seek to explore how microbial communities contribute to coral health, adapt to environmental pressures, and can be manipulated to enhance reef restoration. Considering the threats to coral reef ecosystems from global warming and ocean acidification, finding potential in new microbial intervention strategies is of paramount importance.

To explore the microbial symbionts and interactions within coral reefs, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:

• Microbial ecology and symbiotic relationships within coral reef ecosystems;

• Impact of microbial communities on coral during bleaching and recovery;

• Advanced techniques in microbiome engineering for reef conservation;

• New methodologies for studying microbial influences under climate change stressors;

• The use of microbial interventions in coral reef restoration and management.

This Research Topic invites contributions from a variety of article types, including Original Research, Reviews, Methods, Opinions and Perspectives, to build a comprehensive picture of the microbial dynamics in coral reef systems.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: Coral reef resilience, Coral bleaching recovery, Microbial ecology in corals, Ocean acidification, Coral reef conservation, Symbiotic relationships in reefs, Climate change and coral reefs, Microbial interventions

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.