Marine species like coral and starfish are supported by a symbiotic holobiont of bacteria and dinoflagellates that provide it with protection and nutrition. Rai

Marine species like coral and starfish are supported by a symbiotic holobiont of bacteria and dinoflagellates that provide it with protection and nutrition. Raising ocean temperatures contribute to the disruption of this biome, but there is something else at play IMO. The bacteria consisting of the holobiont, especially the Rhodobacterales, can quickly transfer genes and plasmids, to devastating effect [0]. There’s evidence that the ultimate genetic source of these destabilizing bacteria is in wastewater treatment plants - I don’t have the sources on hand ATM but there are cases both in Miami and China. 0. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35254236/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35254236/