In marine ecosystems microbial communities are critical to ocean function, global primary productivity, and biogeochemical cycles. Both prokaryotic and eukaryotic microbes are essential symbionts and mutualists, nonpathogenic invaders, primary pathogens, have been linked to disease emergence, and can underpin broader ecosystem changes. However, in the effort to determine coral–microbial interactions, the structure and function of the eukaryotic microbes of the microbiome have been studied less. Eukaryotic microbes are important members of the microbiome, constitute entire kingdoms of life, and make important contributions to ecosystem function. Here, we outline the roles of eukaryotic microbes in marine systems and their contribution to ecosystem change, and discuss the microeukaryotic microbiome of corals and coral reefs.

在海洋生态系统中，微生物群落对于海洋功能，全球初级生产力和生物地球化学循环至关重要。原核和真核微生物都是必不可少的共生体和共生者，非致病性入侵者，主要病原体与疾病的发生有关，并且可以支撑更广泛的生态系统变化。但是，在努力确定珊瑚与微生物之间的相互作用时，对微生物组的真核微生物的结构和功能的研究较少。真核微生物是微生物组的重要成员，构成整个生命王国，并对生态系统功能做出重要贡献。在这里，我们概述了真核微生物在海洋系统中的作用及其对生态系统变化的贡献，并讨论了珊瑚和珊瑚礁的微真核微生物组。