To thrive in nutrient-poor waters, coral reefs must retain and recycle materials efficiently. This review centers microbial processes in facilitating the persistence and stability of coral reefs, specifically the role of these processes in transforming and recycling the dissolved organic matter (DOM) that acts as an invisible currency in reef production, nutrient exchange, and organismal interactions. The defining characteristics of coral reefs, including high productivity, balanced metabolism, high biodiversity, nutrient retention, and structural complexity, are inextricably linked to microbial processing of DOM. The composition of microbes and DOM in reefs is summarized, and the spatial and temporal dynamics of biogeochemical processes carried out by microorganisms in diverse reef habitats are explored in a variety of key reef processes, including decomposition, accretion, trophictransfer, and macronutrient recycling. Finally, we examine how widespread habitat degradation of reefs is altering these important microbe–DOM interactions, creating feedbacks that reduce reef resilience to global change.

中文翻译：

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微生物与溶解有机物的相互作用是珊瑚礁生态系统功能和复原力的核心


为了在营养贫乏的水域中茁壮成长，珊瑚礁必须有效地保留和回收材料。本综述将微生物过程集中在促进珊瑚礁的持久性和稳定性上，特别是这些过程在转化和回收溶解有机物 （DOM） 方面的作用，DOM 在珊瑚礁生产、营养交换和生物相互作用中充当无形货币。珊瑚礁的决定性特征，包括高生产力、平衡的新陈代谢、高生物多样性、营养保留和结构复杂性，与 DOM 的微生物加工密不可分。总结了珊瑚礁中微生物和 DOM 的组成，并在各种关键的珊瑚礁过程中探讨了微生物在不同珊瑚礁栖息地中进行的生物地球化学过程的时空动态，包括分解、吸积、营养转移和宏量营养素循环。最后，我们研究了珊瑚礁广泛的栖息地退化如何改变这些重要的微生物-DOM 相互作用，从而产生降低珊瑚礁对全球变化的复原力的反馈。