A catalog of coral microbes and metabolites paves the way to monitoring reef health

Researchers may have a new way to monitor the health of reefs around Hawaiʻi. A study co-led by a University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa doctoral student has revealed that each type of coral and algae from a coral reef produced a unique suite of chemical compounds. Many of these new metabolites haven't been studied before. They could provide important insight into how healthy the reef organisms are.