Coral reefs control daily rhythms of ocean microbes

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Divers explore coral reefs and marine life in the Red Sea, Egypt, December 28, 2025. /VCG

A new study showed that coral reefs help set daily rhythms for nearby marine microbes, in addition to providing ocean habitat, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem said in a statement Thursday.

The study, published in Science Advances, tracked microbial populations above a coral reef in the northern Gulf of Aqaba in the Red Sea.

The team compared these populations with nearby open waters during winter and summer. It found that reef waters consistently had fewer bacteria and microalgae than open waters, suggesting active removal by reef organisms.

Symbiodiniaceae, a family of coral symbionts, peaked around midday, indicating daily cycles linked to light and coral metabolism.

The study showed that these daily microbial rhythms were often stronger than seasonal changes, highlighting the importance of time of day when studying reef ecosystems.

These findings suggest that daily microbial cycles could help scientists monitor reef health in a changing ocean.

Source(s): Xinhua News Agency

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