From SCUBA to spectra: Broadly applicable methods for coral metabolomics research

Abstract

Corals represent a complex assemblage consisting of a host cnidarian, symbiotic dinoflagellate microalgae, and associated microbiomes and viromes, collectively called the coral holobiont. Corals are foundational to tropical reefs, yet their global decline due to climate change and other stressors creates an uncertain future for this valuable ecosystem. Metabolomics is a powerful means to unravel biochemical interactions within the holobiont that underpin coral resilience and adaptation. However, the remote nature of reefs and the analytical demands of this technique often limit its application. Untargeted metabolomics presents analytical challenges that are amplified in complex samples like corals, such as identifying the biological source of metabolites. Here, we evaluate how different sample fixation methods and time delays before storage--unavoidable in field contexts--affect coral metabolome profiles. We further present a framework for mapping metabolites in holobiont samples to their coral host and algal symbiont origins and introduce a spectral library to improve and automate annotation of coral lipids. Additionally, we demonstrate how single samples can be used concurrently for metabolomics, DNA amplification, and proteomics. Together, our study provides a streamlined, field-adaptable workflow for coral metabolomics that enables larger-scale studies and broader adoption of metabolomics in coral reef research and conservation.