Manipulation of prokaryotic communities in the coral model organism, Exaiptasia diaphana

The persistence of coral reefs is threatened by elevated temperatures linked to climate change. In this thesis, the hypothesised link between coral's thermal tolerance and the bacteria they harbour was investigated using a coral model organism, the sea anemone Exaiptasia diaphana. Bacterial communities harboured by Exaiptasia from the Great Barrier Reef were characterised, and heat-induced community changes were described. Methods to reduce and measure bacterial load in Exaiptasia were developed. Exaiptasia were inoculated with probiotic bacteria and their physiological performance under thermal stress was assessed. This research helped develop a model organism that is becoming more important under climate change.