The identification and characterization of the sources of terpenes from the soft corals Leptogorgia minimata (LM, formerly Lophogorgia spp., Family: Gorgoniidae), Swifita exertia (SE, Family: Plexauridae), Iciligorgia schrammi (IS, Family: Anthothelidae), Eunicea fusca, Erythropodium caribaeorum or Plexaurella sp. through direct culture of microbial populations derived from coral homogenates.