Each square centimeter of a coral's surface contains over 100 million microbes, more than ten times as many than on a patch of #human #skin or #forest floor. ⠀ ⠀ Some #microorganisms fill the outer layer of #coral mucus, surrounding and protecting, keeping pathogenic invaders out. Others release #chemical signals to help coral young navigate and choose a place in the reef to call home. Researchers are also pointing to increasing evidence that a group of #bacteria called Endozoicomonas may actually live deep within coral tissue, and be critical to #energy conversion ⚡️and coral #health.⠀ ⠀ A coral reef is a #diverse #ecosystem, teeming with #life. 🐡🐟🐠 But like any ecosystem, its health relies on its delicate balance. Climate change and warming #seas are adding layers of stress, shifting towards #dysbiosis, and contributing to the rapid decline of coral populations around the #world.⠀ ⠀ ______________⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ #climatechange #coralreef #climatechangeisreal #deepsea