News > Coral reefs host a vast diversity of microbes

Coral reefs host a vast diversity of microbes

Coral reefs house a vast diversity of microscopic organisms, with researchers identifying over 542,000 types of microbes on Pacific reefs. These findings suggest that around 2.8 million types of microbes could exist across the entire Pacific Ocean, underscoring the underestimated microbial biodiversity on Earth. The role of microbes in coral reef health and resilience is significant, making understanding their diversity crucial for conservation efforts.