Coral microbes and microbial memory

Some corals have been shown to toughen to repeated stress, such as marine heat waves. It seems that these corals remember exposure to past stress, suffering less when the stress is repeated, but it is not entirely clear how. Part of the answer is related to the coral microbial community. Corals have abundant, diverse, and functionally important communities of microbes, living in and on their mucus, tissue, and skeletons, that may contribute to this memory. 

What are microbes and microbial memory?

Microbes are microscopic, single-celled organisms that exist everywhere on Earth, including inside animals, like humans and corals. They can be helpful, parasitic, or neutral to their hosts. Think of microbes as tiny experts that learn from their experiences and share their knowledge with other microbes. They can also sense and respond to signals left behind by other organisms or previous microbial communities. This helps them anticipate and prepare for changes in their surroundings, which can help them resist future stressors.

Alex Vompe is a researcher who studies coral microbes.