Number of archaeal cells on coral surface

Range >10^7 archaea/cm^2
Organism Coral
Reference Rosenberg E, Koren O, Reshef L, Efrony R, Zilber-Rosenberg I. The role of microorganisms in coral health, disease and evolution. Nat Rev Microbiol. 2007 May5(5):355-62. DOI: 10.1038/nrmicro1635 p.356 right column 5th paragraphPubMed ID17384666
Method Direct cell counts with Archaea-specific probes
Comments P.356 right column 5th paragraph: "The presence of diverse and abundant populations of Archaea in hard corals has been demonstrated using culture-independent techniques [refs 9, 36, 37]. Direct cell counts with Archaea-specific probes suggest that many corals contain >10^7 archaeal cells per cm^2 of coral surface. However, recent evidence suggests that Archaea do not form specific associations with corals, as most archaeal sequences that were associated with coral also matched sequences that were found in the surrounding marine water column [ref 9]. So far, little is known about the biological role of Archaea in the coral holobiont [The host organism and all of its associated symbiotic microorganisms]."
Entered by Uri M
ID 113022