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Krausfeldt LE, Shmakova E, Lee HW, Mazzei V, Loftin KA, Smith RP, Karwacki E, Fortman PE, Rosen BH, Urakawa H, Dadlani M, Colwell RR, Lopez JV. Microbial diversity, genomics, and phage-host interactions of cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms. mSystems 2024; 9:e0070923. [PMID: 38856205 PMCID: PMC11265339 DOI: 10.1128/msystems.00709-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/11/2024] Open
Abstract
The occurrence of cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms (cyanoHABs) is related to their physical and chemical environment. However, less is known about their associated microbial interactions and processes. In this study, cyanoHABs were analyzed as a microbial ecosystem, using 1 year of 16S rRNA sequencing and 70 metagenomes collected during the bloom season from Lake Okeechobee (Florida, USA). Biogeographical patterns observed in microbial community composition and function reflected ecological zones distinct in their physical and chemical parameters that resulted in bloom "hotspots" near major lake inflows. Changes in relative abundances of taxa within multiple phyla followed increasing bloom severity. Functional pathways that correlated with increasing bloom severity encoded organic nitrogen and phosphorus utilization, storage of nutrients, exchange of genetic material, phage defense, and protection against oxidative stress, suggesting that microbial interactions may promote cyanoHAB resilience. Cyanobacterial communities were highly diverse, with picocyanobacteria ubiquitous and oftentimes most abundant, especially in the absence of blooms. The identification of novel bloom-forming cyanobacteria and genomic comparisons indicated a functionally diverse cyanobacterial community with differences in its capability to store nitrogen using cyanophycin and to defend against phage using CRISPR and restriction-modification systems. Considering blooms in the context of a microbial ecosystem and their interactions in nature, physiologies and interactions supporting the proliferation and stability of cyanoHABs are proposed, including a role for phage infection of picocyanobacteria. This study displayed the power of "-omics" to reveal important biological processes that could support the effective management and prediction of cyanoHABs. IMPORTANCE Cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms pose a significant threat to aquatic ecosystems and human health. Although physical and chemical conditions in aquatic systems that facilitate bloom development are well studied, there are fundamental gaps in the biological understanding of the microbial ecosystem that makes a cyanobacterial bloom. High-throughput sequencing was used to determine the drivers of cyanobacteria blooms in nature. Multiple functions and interactions important to consider in cyanobacterial bloom ecology were identified. The microbial biodiversity of blooms revealed microbial functions, genomic characteristics, and interactions between cyanobacterial populations that could be involved in bloom stability and more coherently define cyanobacteria blooms. Our results highlight the importance of considering cyanobacterial blooms as a microbial ecosystem to predict, prevent, and mitigate them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren E. Krausfeldt
- Department of Biological Sciences, Guy Harvey Oceanographic Center, Nova Southeastern University, Dania Beach, Florida, USA
| | - Elizaveta Shmakova
- Department of Biological Sciences, Guy Harvey Oceanographic Center, Nova Southeastern University, Dania Beach, Florida, USA
| | - Hyo Won Lee
- Department of Biological Sciences, Guy Harvey Oceanographic Center, Nova Southeastern University, Dania Beach, Florida, USA
| | - Viviana Mazzei
- U.S. Geological Survey, Caribbean–Florida Water Science Center, Orlando, Florida, USA
| | - Keith A. Loftin
- U.S. Geological Survey, Kansas Water Science Center, Lawrence, Kansas, USA
| | - Robert P. Smith
- Department of Biological Sciences, Guy Harvey Oceanographic Center, Nova Southeastern University, Dania Beach, Florida, USA
- Cell Therapy Institute, Kiran Patel College of Allopathic Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA
| | - Emily Karwacki
- U.S. Geological Survey, Caribbean–Florida Water Science Center, Orlando, Florida, USA
| | - P. Eric Fortman
- Department of Biological Sciences, Guy Harvey Oceanographic Center, Nova Southeastern University, Dania Beach, Florida, USA
| | - Barry H. Rosen
- Department of Ecology and Environmental Studies, Florida Gulf Coast University, Fort Myers, Florida, USA
| | - Hidetoshi Urakawa
- Department of Ecology and Environmental Studies, Florida Gulf Coast University, Fort Myers, Florida, USA
| | | | - Rita R. Colwell
- Institute for Advanced Computer Studies, University of Maryland College Park, College Park, Maryland, USA
| | - Jose V. Lopez
- Department of Biological Sciences, Guy Harvey Oceanographic Center, Nova Southeastern University, Dania Beach, Florida, USA
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2
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Zufia JA, Legrand C, Farnelid H. Seasonal dynamics in picocyanobacterial abundance and clade composition at coastal and offshore stations in the Baltic Sea. Sci Rep 2022; 12:14330. [PMID: 35995823 PMCID: PMC9395346 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-18454-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2022] [Accepted: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Picocyanobacteria (< 2 µm in diameter) are significant contributors to total phytoplankton biomass. Due to the high diversity within this group, their seasonal dynamics and relationship with environmental parameters, especially in brackish waters, are largely unknown. In this study, the abundance and community composition of phycoerythrin rich picocyanobacteria (PE-SYN) and phycocyanin rich picocyanobacteria (PC-SYN) were monitored at a coastal (K-station) and at an offshore station (LMO; ~ 10 km from land) in the Baltic Sea over three years (2018–2020). Cell abundances of picocyanobacteria correlated positively to temperature and negatively to nitrate (NO3) concentration. While PE-SYN abundance correlated to the presence of nitrogen fixers, PC-SYN abundance was linked to stratification/shallow waters. The picocyanobacterial targeted amplicon sequencing revealed an unprecedented diversity of 2169 picocyanobacterial amplicons sequence variants (ASVs). A unique assemblage of distinct picocyanobacterial clades across seasons was identified. Clade A/B dominated the picocyanobacterial community, except during summer when low NO3, high phosphate (PO4) concentrations and warm temperatures promoted S5.2 dominance. This study, providing multiyear data, links picocyanobacterial populations to environmental parameters. The difference in the response of the two functional groups and clades underscore the need for further high-resolution studies to understand their role in the ecosystem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier Alegria Zufia
- Department of Biology and Environmental Science, Centre for Ecology and Evolution in Microbial Model Systems (EEMiS), Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Sweden
| | - Catherine Legrand
- Department of Biology and Environmental Science, Centre for Ecology and Evolution in Microbial Model Systems (EEMiS), Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Sweden.,School of Business, Innovation and Sustainability, Halmstad University, Halmstad, Sweden
| | - Hanna Farnelid
- Department of Biology and Environmental Science, Centre for Ecology and Evolution in Microbial Model Systems (EEMiS), Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Sweden.
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3
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Ma X, Johnson KB, Gu B, Zhang H, Li G, Huang X, Xia X. The in-situ release of algal bloom populations and the role of prokaryotic communities in their establishment and growth. WATER RESEARCH 2022; 219:118565. [PMID: 35597219 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2022.118565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2021] [Revised: 05/03/2022] [Accepted: 05/05/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Harmful algal blooms (HABs) may quickly travel and inoculate new water bodies via currents and runoff in estuaries. The role of in-situ prokaryotic communities in the re-establishment and growth of inoculated algal blooms remains unknown. A novel on-board incubation experiment was employed to simulate the sudden surge of algal blooms to new estuarine waters and reveal possible outcomes. A dinoflagellate (Amphidinium carterae) and a diatom species (Thalassiosira weissflogii) which had bloomed in the Pearl River Estuary (PRE) area were cultured to bloom densities and reintroduced back into PRE natural seawaters. The diatom showed better adaptation ability to the new environment and increased significantly after the incubation. Simultaneously, particle-attached (PA) prokaryotic community structure was strongly influenced by adding of the diatom, with some opportunistic prokaryotes significantly enhanced in the diatom treatment. Whereas the dinoflagellate population did not increase following incubation, and their PA prokaryotic community showed no significant differences relative to the control. Metagenomic analyzes revealed that labile carbohydrates and organic nitrogen produced by the diatom contributed to the surge of certain PA prokaryotes. Genomic properties of a bacteria strain, which is affiliated with genus GMD16E07 (Planctomycetaceae) and comprised up to 50% of PA prokaryotes in the diatom treatment, was described here for the first time. Notably, the association of Planctomycetaceae and T. weissflogii likely represents symbiotic mutualism, with the diatom providing organic matter for Planctomycetaceae and the bacteria supplying vitamins and detoxifying nitriles and hydrogen peroxides in exchange. Therefore, the close association between Planctomycetaceae and T. weissflogii promoted the growth of both populations, and eventually facilitated the diatom bloom establishment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Ma
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-Resources and Ecology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China; Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), China
| | - Kevin B Johnson
- Department of Ocean Engineering and Marine Sciences, Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne, FL, United States
| | - Bowei Gu
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-Resources and Ecology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Hao Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-Resources and Ecology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China; Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), China
| | - Gang Li
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-Resources and Ecology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China; Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), China
| | - Xiaoping Huang
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-Resources and Ecology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China; Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), China
| | - Xiaomin Xia
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-Resources and Ecology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China; Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), China.
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4
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Wang Y, Xie R, Shen Y, Cai R, He C, Chen Q, Guo W, Shi Q, Jiao N, Zheng Q. Linking Microbial Population Succession and DOM Molecular Changes in Synechococcus-Derived Organic Matter Addition Incubation. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0230821. [PMID: 35380472 PMCID: PMC9045170 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02308-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2021] [Accepted: 03/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
The molecular-level interactions between phytoplankton-derived dissolved organic matter (DOM) and heterotrophic prokaryotes represent a fundamental and yet poorly understood component of the marine elemental cycle. Here, we investigated the degradation of Synechococcus-derived organic matter (SynOM) by coastal microorganisms using spectroscopic and ultrahigh-resolution mass spectrometry analyses coupled with high-throughput sequencing. The added SynOM showed a spectrum of reactivity during a 180-day dark incubation experiment. Along with the decrease in DOM bioavailability, the chemical properties of DOM molecules overall showed increases in oxidation state and aromaticity. Both the microbial community and DOM molecular compositions became more homogeneous toward the end of the incubation. The experiment was partitioned into three phases (I, II, and III) based on the total organic carbon consumption rates from 7.0 ± 1.0 to 1.0 ± 0.1 and to 0.1 ± 0.0 μmol C L-1 day-1, respectively. Diverse generalists with low abundance were present in all three phases of the experiment, while a few abundant specialists dominated specific phases, suggesting their diverse roles in the transformation of DOM molecules from labile and semilabile to recalcitrant. The changes of organic molecules belonging to CHO, CHNO, and CHOS containing formulas were closely associated with specific microbial populations, suggesting close interactions between the different bacterial metabolic potential for substrates and DOM molecular compositional characteristics. This study sheds light on the interactions between microbial population succession and DOM molecular changes processes and collectively advances our understanding of microbial processing of the marine elemental cycle. IMPORTANCE Phytoplankton are a major contributor of labile dissolved organic matter (DOM) in the upper ocean, fueling tremendous marine prokaryotic activity. Interactions between microorganisms and algae-derived DOM regulate biogeochemical cycles in the ocean, but key aspects of their interactions remain poorly understood. Under global warming and eutrophication scenarios, Synechococcus blooms are commonly observed in coastal seawaters, and they significantly influence the elemental biogeochemistry cycling in eutrophic ecosystems. To understand the interactions between Synechococcus-derived DOM and heterotrophic prokaryotes as well as their influence on the coastal environment, we investigated the degradation of DOM by coastal microbes during a 180-day dark incubation. We showed substantial DOM compositional changes that were closely linked to the developments of microbial specialists and generalists. Our study provides information on the interactions between microbial population succession and DOM molecular changes, thereby advancing our understanding of microbial processing of the marine DOM pool under the influence of climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Marine Environmental Science, Institute of Marine Microbes and Ecospheres, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, College of the Environment and Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Marine Carbon Sequestration, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Rui Xie
- State Key Laboratory for Marine Environmental Science, Institute of Marine Microbes and Ecospheres, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, College of the Environment and Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Marine Carbon Sequestration, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Yuan Shen
- State Key Laboratory for Marine Environmental Science, Institute of Marine Microbes and Ecospheres, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, College of the Environment and Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Ruanhong Cai
- State Key Laboratory for Marine Environmental Science, Institute of Marine Microbes and Ecospheres, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, College of the Environment and Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Marine Carbon Sequestration, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Chen He
- State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing, China University of Petroleum, Beijing, China
| | - Qi Chen
- State Key Laboratory for Marine Environmental Science, Institute of Marine Microbes and Ecospheres, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, College of the Environment and Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Marine Carbon Sequestration, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Weidong Guo
- State Key Laboratory for Marine Environmental Science, Institute of Marine Microbes and Ecospheres, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, College of the Environment and Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- Key Laboratory of Coastal and Wetland Ecosystems, Ministry of Education, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Quan Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing, China University of Petroleum, Beijing, China
| | - Nianzhi Jiao
- State Key Laboratory for Marine Environmental Science, Institute of Marine Microbes and Ecospheres, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, College of the Environment and Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Marine Carbon Sequestration, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Qiang Zheng
- State Key Laboratory for Marine Environmental Science, Institute of Marine Microbes and Ecospheres, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, College of the Environment and Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Marine Carbon Sequestration, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
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5
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Yang YY, Asal S, Toor GS. Residential catchments to coastal waters: Forms, fluxes, and mechanisms of phosphorus transport. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 765:142767. [PMID: 33097253 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.142767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2020] [Revised: 09/06/2020] [Accepted: 09/28/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Controlling phosphorus (P) loss from land to water bodies is of immense scientific and societal interest and scrutiny. We investigated P forms in a longitudinal gradient in three typical urban junctions: stormwater from a residential catchment, pond discharges from a stormwater retention pond, and 13 coastal waters (rivers and estuary). Concentrations of total P (TP) were 122.7 ± 99.1 μg/L in the stormwater, 89.7 ± 35.8 μg/L in the pond discharges, and 212.1 ± 51.2 μg/L in 13 coastal water sites. Lower P concentrations in pond discharges reflect P attenuation in the stormwater pond, and higher P concentrations in surface waters are likely attributed to the additional contributing P sources in the watershed. Dissolved reactive P (DRP) was 38% of TP load in stormwater and 46% of TP concentrations in surface water sites, whereas particulate unreactive P (PUP) was 52% of TP load in pond discharges. The first-flush strength of P forms in the stormwater indicated the dominance of particulate P over dissolved P. More particulate P was transported in the early stages of storms due to the runoff of P associated with sediment, plant materials, and built up on impervious surfaces. Whereas more dissolved P was transported in the later stages of storms likely due to the flushing of P, as exacerbated by greater runoff amounts, from the landscape sources, i.e., grass clippings, tree leaves, and soil. In the pond discharges, DRP was a minor form suggesting its utilization by bacteria and algae in the pond. The high concentration and proportion of DRP in surface waters suggest an abundance of bioavailable P in urban waters. These results imply that treatment designs in urban areas should consider ways to remove P in urban landscapes focusing on attenuating P before the initiation of runoff and discharge to surface waters to protect downstream water quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun-Ya Yang
- Department of Environmental Science and Technology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, United States.
| | - Sinan Asal
- Former Soil and Water Quality Laboratory, Gulf Coast Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Wimauma, FL 33598, United States
| | - Gurpal S Toor
- Department of Environmental Science and Technology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, United States.
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6
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Paerl RW, Venezia RE, Sanchez JJ, Paerl HW. Picophytoplankton dynamics in a large temperate estuary and impacts of extreme storm events. Sci Rep 2020; 10:22026. [PMID: 33328574 PMCID: PMC7744581 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-79157-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2020] [Accepted: 12/01/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Picophytoplankton (PicoP) are increasingly recognized as significant contributors to primary productivity and phytoplankton biomass in coastal and estuarine systems. Remarkably though, PicoP composition is unknown or not well-resolved in several large estuaries including the semi-lagoonal Neuse River Estuary (NRE), a tributary of the second largest estuary-system in the lower USA, the Pamlico-Albemarle Sound. The NRE is impacted by extreme weather events, including recent increases in precipitation and flooding associated with tropical cyclones. Here we examined the impacts of moderate to extreme (Hurricane Florence, September 2018) precipitation events on NRE PicoP abundances and composition using flow cytometry, over a 1.5 year period. Phycocyanin-rich Synechococcus-like cells were the most dominant PicoP, reaching ~ 106 cells mL-1, which highlights their importance as key primary producers in this relatively long residence-time estuary. Ephemeral "blooms" of picoeukaryotic phytoplankton (PEUK) during spring and after spikes in river flow were also detected, making PEUK periodically major contributors to PicoP biomass (up to ~ 80%). About half of the variation in PicoP abundance was explained by measured environmental variables. Temperature explained the most variation (24.5%). Change in total dissolved nitrogen concentration, an indication of increased river discharge, explained the second-most variation in PicoP abundance (15.9%). The short-term impacts of extreme river discharge from Hurricane Florence were particularly evident as PicoP biomass was reduced by ~ 100-fold for more than 2 weeks. We conclude that precipitation is a highly influential factor on estuarine PicoP biomass and composition, and show how 'wetter' future climate conditions will have ecosystem impacts down to the smallest of phytoplankton.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan W Paerl
- Department of Marine Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695-8208, USA.
| | - Rebecca E Venezia
- Department of Marine Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695-8208, USA
| | - Joel J Sanchez
- Department of Marine Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695-8208, USA
| | - Hans W Paerl
- Institute of Marine Sciences, University of North Carolina At Chapel Hill, Morehead City, NC, 28557, USA
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7
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Accoroni S, Totti C, Romagnoli T, Giulietti S, Glibert PM. Distribution and potential toxicity of benthic harmful dinoflagellates in waters of Florida Bay and the Florida Keys. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2020; 155:104891. [PMID: 32072980 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2020.104891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2019] [Revised: 10/01/2019] [Accepted: 01/21/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Few studies have been carried out on benthic dinoflagellates along the Florida Keys, and little is known about their distribution or toxicity in Florida Bay. Here, the distribution and abundance of benthic dinoflagellates was explored in northern and eastern Florida Bay and along the bay and ocean sides of the Florida Keys. Isolates were brought into culture and their toxicity was tested with oyster larvae bioassays. Seven genera were detected, including Prorocentrum, Coolia, Ostreopsis, Amphidinium, Gambierdiscus, Fukuyoa (all included potentially toxic species) and Sinophysis. In general, distribution increased with water temperature and nutrient availability, especially that of phosphate. This study documented the first record of Coolia santacroce in the Florida Keys. Potential toxic effects of Gambierdiscus caribaeus, the abundance of which exceeded 1000 cells g-1 fw at some sites, were established using oyster larvae as a bioassay organism. These findings suggest a potential risk of ciguatera fish poisoning in this area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Accoroni
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell'Ambiente, Università Politecnica delle Marche, via Brecce Bianche, 60131, Ancona, Italy; Consorzio Interuniversitario per le Scienze del Mare, CoNISMa, ULR Ancona, Ancona, Italy.
| | - Cecilia Totti
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell'Ambiente, Università Politecnica delle Marche, via Brecce Bianche, 60131, Ancona, Italy; Consorzio Interuniversitario per le Scienze del Mare, CoNISMa, ULR Ancona, Ancona, Italy
| | - Tiziana Romagnoli
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell'Ambiente, Università Politecnica delle Marche, via Brecce Bianche, 60131, Ancona, Italy
| | - Sonia Giulietti
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell'Ambiente, Università Politecnica delle Marche, via Brecce Bianche, 60131, Ancona, Italy
| | - Patricia M Glibert
- University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, Horn Point Laboratory, P.O. Box 775, Cambridge, MD, 21613, USA
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Davis DA, Mondo K, Stern E, Annor AK, Murch SJ, Coyne TM, Brand LE, Niemeyer ME, Sharp S, Bradley WG, Cox PA, Mash DC. Cyanobacterial neurotoxin BMAA and brain pathology in stranded dolphins. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0213346. [PMID: 30893348 PMCID: PMC6426197 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0213346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2018] [Accepted: 02/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Dolphin stranding events occur frequently in Florida and Massachusetts. Dolphins are an excellent sentinel species for toxin exposures in the marine environment. In this report we examine whether cyanobacterial neurotoxin, β-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA), is present in stranded dolphins. BMAA has been shown to bioaccumulate in the marine food web, including in the muscles and fins of sharks. Dietary exposure to BMAA is associated with the occurrence of neurofibrillary tangles and β-amyloid plaques in nonhuman primates. The findings of protein-bound BMAA in brain tissues from patients with Alzheimer’s disease has advanced the hypothesis that BMAA may be linked to dementia. Since dolphins are apex predators and consume prey containing high amounts of BMAA, we examined necropsy specimens to determine if dietary and environmental exposures may result in the accumulation of BMAA in the brains of dolphins. To test this hypothesis, we measured BMAA in a series of brains collected from dolphins stranded in Florida and Massachusetts using two orthogonal analytical methods: 1) high performance liquid chromatography, and 2) ultra-performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry. We detected high levels of BMAA (20–748 μg/g) in the brains of 13 of 14 dolphins. To correlate neuropathological changes with toxin exposure, gross and microscopic examinations were performed on cortical brain regions responsible for acoustico-motor navigation. We observed increased numbers of β-amyloid+ plaques and dystrophic neurites in the auditory cortex compared to the visual cortex and brainstem. The presence of BMAA and neuropathological changes in the stranded dolphin brain may help to further our understanding of cyanotoxin exposure and its potential impact on human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- David A. Davis
- Department of Neurology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, United States of America
- * E-mail: (DM); (DD)
| | - Kiyo Mondo
- Department of Neurology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, United States of America
| | - Erica Stern
- Department of Neurology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, United States of America
| | - Ama K. Annor
- Department of Neurology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, United States of America
| | - Susan J. Murch
- Department of Chemistry, University of British Columbia, Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Thomas M. Coyne
- Office of the District 21 Medical Examiner, Fort Myers, Florida, United States of America
| | - Larry E. Brand
- Divisions of Marine Biology and Fisheries and NSF/NIEHS Oceans and Human Health Center, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, United States of America
| | - Misty E. Niemeyer
- Marine Mammal Rescue and Research, International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), Yarmouth Port, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Sarah Sharp
- Marine Mammal Rescue and Research, International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), Yarmouth Port, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Walter G. Bradley
- Department of Neurology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, United States of America
| | - Paul Alan Cox
- Brain Chemistry Labs, Institute for Ethnomedicine, Jackson Hole, Wyoming, United States of America
| | - Deborah C. Mash
- Department of Neurology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, United States of America
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, United States of America
- * E-mail: (DM); (DD)
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Zhu B, Cao H, Li G, Du W, Xu G, Domingo JS, Gu H, Xu N, Duan S, Lu J. Biodiversity and dynamics of cyanobacterial communities during blooms in temperate lake (Harsha Lake, Ohio, USA). HARMFUL ALGAE 2019; 82:9-18. [PMID: 30928013 DOI: 10.1016/j.hal.2018.12.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2018] [Revised: 12/18/2018] [Accepted: 12/20/2018] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Cyanobacterial blooms are intensifying global ecological hazards. The fine structure and dynamics of bloom community are critical to understanding bloom development but little understood. Here, the questions whether dominant bloomers have high diversity and whether dominant OTUs (operational taxonomical units) compete with one another were addressed. 16S rRNA gene amplicons from an annual bloom at five locations in Harsha Lake (Ohio, USA) showed cyanobacteria were the dominant phylum, and co-existing major bacterial phyla included Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Actinoacteria, and Verrucomicrobia. On the genus level, the initial dominance by Dolichospermum in June yielded to Planktothrix in July, which were replaced by Microcystis and Cylindrospermopsis in August throughout the bloom. Based on the number of verified unique OTUs (a within-genus biodiversity metric), dominant genera tended to have high within-genus diversity. For example, Dolichospermum had 57 unique OTUs, Planktothrix had 36, Microcystis had 12, and Cylindrospermopsis had 4 unique OTUs. Interestingly, these different OTUs showed different dynamics and association with other OTUs. First, no between-OTU competitions were observed during the bloom cycle, and dominant OTUs were abundant throughout the bloom. Such biodiversity of OTUs and their dynamics were verified in Microcystis aeruginosa with two microcystin synthetase genes (mcyA and mcyG): the relative abundance of both genes varied during the bloom based on quantitative PCR. Two Dolichospermum circinale OTUs and one P. rubescens OTU were most abundant and persistently present throughout the entire bloom. Second, these OTUs differed in the OTUs they were associated with. Third, these OTUs tended to have different levels of association with the environmental factors, even they belonged to the same genera. These findings suggest the structure and dynamics of a cyanobacterial bloom community is complex, with only few OTUs dominating the bloom. Thus, high-resolution molecular characterization will be necessary to understand bloom development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Zhu
- Institute of Hydrobiology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Huansheng Cao
- Center for Fundamental and Applied Microbiomics, Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA.
| | - Gaoyang Li
- College of Computer Science and Technology, Jilin University, Jilin, Changchun 100012, China
| | - Wei Du
- College of Computer Science and Technology, Jilin University, Jilin, Changchun 100012, China
| | - Guangyu Xu
- College of Pharmacy, Beihua University, Jilin, Changchun 132013, China
| | | | - Haiwei Gu
- College of Health Solutions, Arizona State University, Scottsdale, AZ 85259, USA
| | - Ning Xu
- Institute of Hydrobiology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Shunshan Duan
- Institute of Hydrobiology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
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Yang YY, Toor GS. Stormwater runoff driven phosphorus transport in an urban residential catchment: Implications for protecting water quality in urban watersheds. Sci Rep 2018; 8:11681. [PMID: 30076338 PMCID: PMC6076301 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-29857-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2017] [Accepted: 07/20/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Increased stormwater runoff in urban watersheds is a leading cause of nonpoint phosphorus (P) pollution. We investigated the concentrations, forms, and temporal trends of P in stormwater runoff from a residential catchment (31 low-density residential homes; 0.11 km2 drainage area) in Florida. Unfiltered runoff samples were collected at 5 min intervals over 29 storm events with an autosampler installed at the stormwater outflow pipe. Mean concentrations of orthophosphate (PO4–P) were 0.18 ± 0.065 mg/L and total P (TP) were 0.28 ± 0.062 mg/L in all runoff samples. The PO4–P was the dominant form in >90% of storm events and other–P (combination of organic P and particulate P) was dominant after a longer antecedent dry period. We hypothesize that in the stormwater runoff, PO4–P likely originated from soluble and desorbed pool of eroded soil and other–P likely originated from decomposing plant materials i.e. leaves and grass clippings and eroded soil. We found that the runoff was co-limited with nitrogen (N) and P in 34% of storm events and only N limited in 66% of storm events, implicating that management strategies focusing on curtailing both P and N transport would be more effective than focussing on only N or P in protecting water quality in residential catchments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun-Ya Yang
- Department of Environmental Science and Technology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA
| | - Gurpal S Toor
- Department of Environmental Science and Technology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA.
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