Matters Microbial #133: The Microbial Partnerships That Help Corals Survive June 29, 2026

Dr. Hannah Reich of the Department of Environmental Biology at the State University of New York's College of Environmental Science and Forestry joins the #QualityQuorum to discuss how microalgal interactions (including with bacteria) are fundamental contributors to large scale ecosystem processes including the ocean carbon pump, the duration of algal blooms, and the evolutionary success of coral reefs.

Host: Mark O. Martin

Guest: Hannah Reich

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Links for this episode

• An essay on the coral holobiont.
• A discussion of the phycosphere.
• A discussion of the rhizosphere.
• A review of the roles of iron in microbial biology.
• An overview of siderophores in the microbial world.
• An article about iron, the warming oceans, and coral.
• A VERY recent article by Dr. Reich and colleagues regarding siderophores in the coral holobiont.
• A very nice short video by Dr. Reich explaining her work at ESF.
• Dr. Reich's faculty website.
• Dr. Reich's fascinating laboratory group website.

Intro music is by Reber Clark

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