Great Barrier Reef microbiome mapped as researchers discover 500 bacterial species

Scientists have completed a comprehensive mapping of the Great Barrier Reef's microbiome by analyzing DNA from 48 reef locations, discovering over 360,000 distinct viruses and more than 500 previously unknown bacterial species. This groundbreaking research reveals the vast and complex communities of microorganisms that inhabit the reef ecosystem, over a decade after the human microbiome was similarly mapped. The findings provide crucial insights into the microbial diversity that supports one of the world's most important marine environments.