Fluorescent organic exudates of corals and algae in tropical reefs are compositionally distinct and increase with nutrient enrichment

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) composition is a key determinant of microbial community metabolism and trophic nutrient transfer. On coral reefs, four primary groups of benthic organisms dominate photosynthetic production: corals, macroalgae, microphytobenthos, and encrusting algae on rubble, all of which exude significant quantities of DOM. We conducted a mesocosm experiment to characterize and contrast DOM exudates from these four organismal groups under three levels of continuous inorganic nutrient enrichment. We measured bulk dissolved organic carbon and nitrogen and the multivariate spectral characteristics of fluorescent DOM (fDOM). Moderate nutrient enrichment enhanced DOM exudation by all producers. Corals exuded rapidly accumulating DOM with a markedly high concentration of aromatic amino acid-like fDOM components that clearly distinguishes them from algal exudates, which were dominated by humic-like fDOM components and did not accumulate significantly. Our results emphasize the differences between coral and algae in their potential to influence microbial communities and metabolism in reefs.