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8657724 
Journal Article 
Preferential carbon utilization by surface bacterial communities from water mass, normal, and white-band diseased Acropora cervicornis 
Ritchie, KB; Smith, GW 
1995 
4 
4 
345-352 
WOS:A1995TL67300010 
Bacterial heterotrophs were isolated from the water mass and from the surface mucopolysaccharide layers of normal Acropora cervicornis (staghorn coral) and A. cervicornis showing signs of white-band disease. Each isolate was exposed to 95 different carbon sources, and the percentages of isolates from each community were compared with respect to their ability to utilize each carbon source. Six-carbon sugars were preferentially metabolized by the white-band community while five-carbon sugars were preferentially used by the normal coral community. More organic and amino acids preferentially were oxidized by the white-band community over the other communities tested. In addition, pyrimidines, glycerol, and phosphorylated compounds also were preferential for the white-band community. This community was less diverse than other communities. These results support previous taxonomic comparisons and may yield insights into the overall pathogenesis of the disease.