Summary
Coral reefs are among the most diverse and productive ecosystems on the planet, yet they are increasingly threatened by local and global stressors. One major consequence of reef degradation is the shift from coral-dominated ecosystems to algae-dominated ecosystems. These organisms modulate reef water column microbial communities and dissolved organic matter (DOM) substrates. Thus, as the balance of reef communities shift, reef water chemistry and microbiology shift in tandem. In healthy, coral-dominated reefs, microbes in the water column serve as critical regulators of reef ecosystem function
