Bacterial communities that are associated with tropical reef-forming corals are being increasingly recognized
for their role in host physiology and health. However, little is known about the microbial diversity of the communities
associated with temperate gorgonian corals, even though these communities are key structural components of the
ecosystem. In the Northwestern Mediterranean Sea, gorgonians undergo recurrent mass mortalities, but the potential
relationship between these events and the structure of the associated bacterial communities remains unexplored. Because
microbial assemblages may contribute to the overall health and disease resistance of their host, a detailed baseline of the
associated bacterial diversity is required to better understand the functioning of the gorgonian holobiont