SCUBA Project: Structuration des CommUnautés Bactériennes de biofilms de récifs Artificiels

08 Jun 2017

The colonization of artificial reefs starts with microfouling or biofilm, corresponding to the establishment of pioneer colonies of microorganisms. These microorganisms secrete a matrix of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) which constitute the biofilm, a matrix on which will be installed sessile macroorganisms. In turn, those macroorganisms are of crucial importance for the higher trophic levels of the reef trophic network. Thus, the settlement of pioneer microbial communities is a key step for the functioning of the reef ecosystem. The relative abundance of the different microbial taxa in artificial reef biofilm will depend on the immersion site (and environmental conditions), biofilm maturity and type of colonized material.

The objective of the SCUBA project is to determine and compare the diversity and structure of bacterial communities (identified through next generation sequencing) in the biofilm of artificial reefs, at two contrasting Mediterranean sites, on different types of material (concrete, natural rock and dolomite) and at different biofilm maturation times. The immersion of the samples took place at the Larvotto reserve in Monaco, a site preserved from currents and storms, and at the Cap d'Ail site, a more exposed site. The main hypothesis is that the settlement of bacterial taxa will depend on the environmental conditions and the type of colonized substrate. We assume that a more complex substrate and closer to natural reefs such as dolomite will host more diverse bacterial communities. The questions adressed here are: Is the bacterial community structure different on different types of colonised substrate? How does the bacterial diversity evolve over time on each substrate? What is the influence of environmental parameters?

This project is funded by the program « ATM blanche 2017 » from the National Museum of Natural History of Paris.

Project contact:
Dominique Lamy, assistant professor at UPMC, Team 6 RESAQUA, dominique.lamy@upmc.fr

Partners: 
Cédric Hubas, UMR BOREA, Team 6 RESAQUA
Elisabeth Riera, FRE 3729, Laboratory ECOMERS, Université Nice Antipolis
Patrice Francour, FRE 3729, LaboratoryECOMERS, Université Nice Antipolis