The world’s coral reefs are facing unprecedented levels of stress due to climate change, with one of the most pressing problems being hypoxia. Hypoxia is a decrease in the amount of oxygen in the water, and it can be harmful to the corals. Now, a new study has found that the coral microbiome shifts in response to hypoxia, and this could be key to helping corals survive in a changing environment. The study, published in Nature Communications, found that corals exposed to hypoxia had a distinct microbiome, and that this microbiome was associated with better oxygen levels in the water. This suggests that the microbiome could be a key factor in helping corals survive hypoxic conditions. The research team believes that understanding how the microbiome shifts in response to hypoxia could help scientists develop strategies to help corals cope with climate change.

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source: Phys.org