Mesophotic coral ecosystems (MCEs) are generallypoorly studied, and our knowledge of lower MCEs(below 60 mdepth) is largely limited to visual surveys. Here,we provide a first detailed assessment of the prokaryoticcommunity associated with scleractinian corals over a depthgradient to the lower mesophotic realm (15–85 m). Specimensof three Caribbean coral species exhibiting differencesin their depth distribution ranges (Agaricia grahamae,Madracis pharensis and Stephanocoenia intersepta) werecollected with a manned submersible on the island of Curac¸ao, and their prokaryotic communities assessed using 16SrRNA gene sequencing analysis. Corals with narrower depthdistribution ranges (depth-specialists) were associated with astable prokaryotic community, whereas corals with a broaderniche range (depth-generalists) revealed a higher variabilityin their prokaryotic community. The observed depth effectsmatch previously described patterns in Symbiodinium depthzonation. This highlights the contribution of structuredmicrobial communities over depth to the coral’s ability tocolonize a broader depth range.
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