Research progress on biological functions of coral mucus
Coral,a highly productive marine cnidarian,secretes a transparent and viscous substance known as mucus into the seawater.Physically,coral mucus acts as a protective barrier for the host and helps to establish equilibrium with the external environment,which is referred to as the"mucus gate".Chemically,the primary constituents of coral mucus are sugars,proteins,and lipids.The majority of the released mucus is utilized by heterotrophic bacteria as dissolved organic matter,contributing to the material metabolism of the reef ecosystem via the microbial loop.Moreover,mucus plays a significant role in coral growth and immune regulation.Its viscous properties enable it to capture,entrain,or filter peripheral particles and organic matter,providing physiological benefits to corals such as resistance to compression,predation,and regulation of cell metabolism.In recent years,research on coral mucus has predominantly focused on its physicochemical components,nutrients,microbial composition,and ecological functions in symbiotic environments(including biological defense,environmental resistance,and host health).As research progresses,the roles of mucus in elemental cycling,microbial shaping,and ecological stability are also gradually gaining attention.This review aims to provide a more comprehensive and systematic understanding of coral mucus and its ecological roles.We summarized the sources,composition,and properties of coral mucus and outlined its roles in host immunity,environmental resilience,microbial regulation,and nutrient cycling.The importance of mucus from both the physiological perspective of the coral and the ecological perspective of the reef is reviewed,and future research directions are also discussed.
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