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Marzinelli EM, Thomas T, Vadillo Gonzalez S, Egan S, Steinberg PD. Seaweeds as holobionts: Current state, challenges, and potential applications. JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY 2024. [PMID: 39047050 DOI: 10.1111/jpy.13485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2024] [Revised: 06/27/2024] [Accepted: 07/01/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024]
Abstract
Seaweeds play a strong ecological and economical role along the world's coastlines, where they support industries (e.g., aquaculture, bioproducts) and essential ecosystem services (e.g., biodiversity, fisheries, carbon capture). Evidence from wild and cultured seaweeds suggests that microorganisms play crucial roles in their health and functioning, prompting the need for considering seaweeds and their microbiome as a coherent entity or "holobiont." Here we show that the number of studies investigating seaweed hosts and their microbiome have increased in the last two decades. This likely reflects the increase in the appreciation of the importance of microbiomes for eukaryotic hosts, improved molecular approaches used to characterize their interactions, and increasing interest in commercial use of seaweeds. However, although increasing, most studies of seaweed holobionts have focused on (i) a few seaweed species of ecological or commercial significance, (ii) interactions involving only bacteria, and (iii) descriptive rather than experimental approaches. The relatively few experimental studies have mostly focused on manipulating abiotic factors to examine responses of seaweeds and their microbiome. Of the few studies that directly manipulated microorganisms to investigate their effects on seaweeds, most were done in laboratory or aquaria. We emphasize the need to move beyond the descriptions of patterns to experimental approaches for understanding causation and mechanisms. We argue that such experimental approaches are necessary for a better understanding of seaweed holobionts, for management actions for wild and cultivated seaweeds, and to better integrate studies of seaweed holobionts with the broader fields of seaweed ecology and biology, which are strongly experimental.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ezequiel M Marzinelli
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Torsten Thomas
- Centre for Marine Science and Innovation, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Sebastian Vadillo Gonzalez
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Centre for Marine Science and Innovation, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Suhelen Egan
- Centre for Marine Science and Innovation, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Peter D Steinberg
- Centre for Marine Science and Innovation, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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2
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Ugarelli K, Campbell JE, Rhoades OK, Munson CJ, Altieri AH, Douglass JG, Heck KL, Paul VJ, Barry SC, Christ L, Fourqurean JW, Frazer TK, Linhardt ST, Martin CW, McDonald AM, Main VA, Manuel SA, Marco-Méndez C, Reynolds LK, Rodriguez A, Rodriguez Bravo LM, Sawall Y, Smith K, Wied WL, Choi CJ, Stingl U. Microbiomes of Thalassia testudinum throughout the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, and Gulf of Mexico are influenced by site and region while maintaining a core microbiome. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1357797. [PMID: 38463486 PMCID: PMC10920284 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1357797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Plant microbiomes are known to serve several important functions for their host, and it is therefore important to understand their composition as well as the factors that may influence these microbial communities. The microbiome of Thalassia testudinum has only recently been explored, and studies to-date have primarily focused on characterizing the microbiome of plants in a single region. Here, we present the first characterization of the composition of the microbial communities of T. testudinum across a wide geographical range spanning three distinct regions with varying physicochemical conditions. We collected samples of leaves, roots, sediment, and water from six sites throughout the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, and the Gulf of Mexico. We then analyzed these samples using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. We found that site and region can influence the microbial communities of T. testudinum, while maintaining a plant-associated core microbiome. A comprehensive comparison of available microbial community data from T. testudinum studies determined a core microbiome composed of 14 ASVs that consisted mostly of the family Rhodobacteraceae. The most abundant genera in the microbial communities included organisms with possible plant-beneficial functions, like plant-growth promoting taxa, disease suppressing taxa, and nitrogen fixers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly Ugarelli
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Science, Ft. Lauderdale Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Davie, FL, United States
| | - Justin E Campbell
- Department of Biological Sciences, Institute of Environment, Coastlines and Oceans Division, Florida International University, Miami, FL, United States
- Smithsonian Marine Station, Fort Pierce, FL, United States
| | - O Kennedy Rhoades
- Department of Biological Sciences, Institute of Environment, Coastlines and Oceans Division, Florida International University, Miami, FL, United States
- Smithsonian Marine Station, Fort Pierce, FL, United States
- Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Calvin J Munson
- Department of Biological Sciences, Institute of Environment, Coastlines and Oceans Division, Florida International University, Miami, FL, United States
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, United States
| | - Andrew H Altieri
- Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panama City, Panama
| | - James G Douglass
- The Water School, Florida Gulf Coast University, Fort Myers, FL, United States
| | - Kenneth L Heck
- Dauphin Island Sea Lab, University of South Alabama, Dauphin Island, AL, United States
| | - Valerie J Paul
- Smithsonian Marine Station, Fort Pierce, FL, United States
| | - Savanna C Barry
- University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Nature Coast Biological Station, University of Florida, Cedar Key, FL, United States
| | | | - James W Fourqurean
- Department of Biological Sciences, Institute of Environment, Coastlines and Oceans Division, Florida International University, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Thomas K Frazer
- College of Marine Science, University of South Florida, St. Petersburg, FL, United States
| | - Samantha T Linhardt
- Dauphin Island Sea Lab, University of South Alabama, Dauphin Island, AL, United States
| | - Charles W Martin
- Dauphin Island Sea Lab, University of South Alabama, Dauphin Island, AL, United States
- University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Nature Coast Biological Station, University of Florida, Cedar Key, FL, United States
| | - Ashley M McDonald
- Smithsonian Marine Station, Fort Pierce, FL, United States
- University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Nature Coast Biological Station, University of Florida, Cedar Key, FL, United States
- Soil and Water Sciences Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Vivienne A Main
- Smithsonian Marine Station, Fort Pierce, FL, United States
- International Field Studies, Inc., Andros, Bahamas
| | - Sarah A Manuel
- Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Government of Bermuda, Hamilton Parish, Bermuda
| | - Candela Marco-Méndez
- Dauphin Island Sea Lab, University of South Alabama, Dauphin Island, AL, United States
- Center for Advanced Studies of Blanes (Spanish National Research Council), Girona, Spain
| | - Laura K Reynolds
- Soil, Water and Ecosystem Sciences Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Alex Rodriguez
- Dauphin Island Sea Lab, University of South Alabama, Dauphin Island, AL, United States
| | | | - Yvonne Sawall
- Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences (BIOS), St. George's, Bermuda
| | - Khalil Smith
- Smithsonian Marine Station, Fort Pierce, FL, United States
- Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Government of Bermuda, Hamilton Parish, Bermuda
| | - William L Wied
- Department of Biological Sciences, Institute of Environment, Coastlines and Oceans Division, Florida International University, Miami, FL, United States
- Smithsonian Marine Station, Fort Pierce, FL, United States
| | - Chang Jae Choi
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Science, Ft. Lauderdale Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Davie, FL, United States
| | - Ulrich Stingl
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Science, Ft. Lauderdale Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Davie, FL, United States
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3
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Khan T, Song W, Nappi J, Marzinelli EM, Egan S, Thomas T. Functional guilds and drivers of diversity in seaweed-associated bacteria. FEMS MICROBES 2023; 5:xtad023. [PMID: 38213395 PMCID: PMC10781435 DOI: 10.1093/femsmc/xtad023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Revised: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Comparisons of functional and taxonomic profiles from bacterial communities in different habitats have suggested the existence of functional guilds composed of taxonomically or phylogenetically distinct members. Such guild membership is, however, rarely defined and the factors that drive functional diversity in bacteria remain poorly understood. We used seaweed-associated bacteria as a model to shed light on these important aspects of community ecology. Using a large dataset of over 1300 metagenome-assembled genomes from 13 seaweed species we found substantial overlap in the functionality of bacteria coming from distinct taxa, thus supporting the existence of functional guilds. This functional equivalence between different taxa was particularly pronounced when only functions involved in carbohydrate degradation were considered. We further found that bacterial taxonomy is the dominant driver of functional differences between bacteria and that seaweed species or seaweed type (i.e. brown, red and green) had relatively stronger impacts on genome functionality for carbohydrate-degradation functions when compared to all other cellular functions. This study provides new insight into the factors underpinning the functional diversity of bacteria and contributes to our understanding how community function is generated from individual members.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tahsin Khan
- Centre for Marine Science and Innovation & School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Weizhi Song
- Centre for Marine Science and Innovation & School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Jadranka Nappi
- Centre for Marine Science and Innovation & School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Ezequiel M Marzinelli
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Suhelen Egan
- Centre for Marine Science and Innovation & School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Torsten Thomas
- Centre for Marine Science and Innovation & School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
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Fernández-Valero AD, Reñé A, Timoneda N, Pou-Solà N, Gordi J, Sampedro N, Garcés E. The succession of epiphytic microalgae conditions fungal community composition: how chytrids respond to blooms of dinoflagellates. ISME COMMUNICATIONS 2023; 3:103. [PMID: 37752353 PMCID: PMC10522651 DOI: 10.1038/s43705-023-00304-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2023] [Revised: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023]
Abstract
This study aims to investigate the temporal dynamics of the epiphytic protist community on macroalgae, during the summer months, with a specific focus on fungi, and the interactions between zoosporic chytrid parasites and the proliferation of the dinoflagellates. We employed a combination of environmental sequencing techniques, incubation of natural samples, isolation of target organisms and laboratory experiments. Metabarcoding sequencing revealed changes in the dominant members of the epiphytic fungal community. Initially, fungi comprised < 1% of the protist community, mostly accounted for by Basidiomycota and Ascomycota, but with the emergence of Chytridiomycota during the mature phase of the biofilm, the fungal contribution increased to almost 30%. Chytridiomycota became dominant in parallel with an increase in the relative abundance of dinoflagellates in the community. Microscopy observations showed a general presence of chytrids following the peak proliferation of the dinoflagellate Ostreopsis sp., with the parasite, D. arenysensis as the dominant chytrid. The maximum infection prevalence was 2% indicating host-parasite coexistence. To further understand the in-situ prevalence of chytrids, we characterised the dynamics of the host abundance and prevalence of chytrids through co-culture. These laboratory experiments revealed intraspecific variability of D. arenysensis in its interaction with Ostreopsis, exhibiting a range from stable coexistence to the near-extinction of the host population. Moreover, while chytrids preferentially parasitized dinoflagellate cells, one of the strains examined displayed the ability to utilize pollen as a resource to maintain its viability, thus illustrating a facultative parasitic lifestyle. Our findings not only enrich our understanding of the diversity, ecology, and progression of epiphytic microalgal and fungal communities on Mediterranean coastal macroalgae, but they also shed light on the presence of zoosporic parasites in less-explored benthic habitats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan Denis Fernández-Valero
- Departament de Biologia Marina i Oceanografia, Institut de Ciències del Mar (CSIC), Pg. Marítim de la Barceloneta, 37-49, 08003, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
| | - Albert Reñé
- Departament de Biologia Marina i Oceanografia, Institut de Ciències del Mar (CSIC), Pg. Marítim de la Barceloneta, 37-49, 08003, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Natàlia Timoneda
- Departament de Biologia Marina i Oceanografia, Institut de Ciències del Mar (CSIC), Pg. Marítim de la Barceloneta, 37-49, 08003, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Núria Pou-Solà
- Departament de Biologia Marina i Oceanografia, Institut de Ciències del Mar (CSIC), Pg. Marítim de la Barceloneta, 37-49, 08003, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Jordina Gordi
- Departament de Biologia Marina i Oceanografia, Institut de Ciències del Mar (CSIC), Pg. Marítim de la Barceloneta, 37-49, 08003, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Nagore Sampedro
- Departament de Biologia Marina i Oceanografia, Institut de Ciències del Mar (CSIC), Pg. Marítim de la Barceloneta, 37-49, 08003, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Esther Garcés
- Departament de Biologia Marina i Oceanografia, Institut de Ciències del Mar (CSIC), Pg. Marítim de la Barceloneta, 37-49, 08003, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
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5
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Conte C, Apostolaki ET, Vizzini S, Migliore L. A Tight Interaction between the Native Seagrass Cymodocea nodosa and the Exotic Halophila stipulacea in the Aegean Sea Highlights Seagrass Holobiont Variations. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 12:350. [PMID: 36679063 PMCID: PMC9863530 DOI: 10.3390/plants12020350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2022] [Revised: 01/03/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Seagrasses harbour bacterial communities with which they constitute a functional unit called holobiont that responds as a whole to environmental changes. Epiphytic bacterial communities rapidly respond to both biotic and abiotic factors, potentially contributing to the host fitness. The Lessepsian migrant Halophila stipulacea has a high phenotypical plasticity and harbours a highly diverse epiphytic bacterial community, which could support its invasiveness in the Mediterranean Sea. The current study aimed to evaluate the Halophila/Cymodocea competition in the Aegean Sea by analysing each of the two seagrasses in a meadow zone where these intermingled, as well as in their monospecific zones, at two depths. Differences in holobionts were evaluated using seagrass descriptors (morphometric, biochemical, elemental, and isotopic composition) to assess host changes, and 16S rRNA gene to identify bacterial community structure and composition. An Indicator Species Index was used to identify bacteria significantly associated with each host. In mixed meadows, native C. nodosa was shown to be affected by the presence of exotic H. stipulacea, in terms of both plant descriptors and bacterial communities, while H. stipulacea responded only to environmental factors rather than C. nodosa proximity. This study provided evidence of the competitive advantage of H. stipulacea on C. nodosa in the Aegean Sea and suggests the possible use of associated bacterial communities as an ecological seagrass descriptor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Conte
- PhD Program in Evolutionary Biology and Ecology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy
- Laboratory of Ecology and Ecotoxicology, Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Eugenia T. Apostolaki
- Institute of Oceanography, Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, P.O. Box 2214, 71003 Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Salvatrice Vizzini
- Department of Earth and Marine Sciences, University of Palermo, Via Archirafi 18, 90123 Palermo, Italy
- CoNISMa, National Interuniversity Consortium for Marine Sciences, Piazzale Flaminio 9, 00196 Roma, Italy
| | - Luciana Migliore
- Laboratory of Ecology and Ecotoxicology, Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy
- eCampus University, Via Isimbardi 10, 22060 Novedrate (CO), Italy
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6
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Xu N, Wang W, Xu K, Xu Y, Ji D, Chen C, Xie C. Cultivation of different seaweed species and seasonal changes cause divergence of the microbial community in coastal seawaters. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:988743. [PMID: 36160253 PMCID: PMC9490310 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.988743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Accepted: 08/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Although the effects of certain species of seaweed on the microbial community structure have long been a research focus in marine ecology, the response of the microbial community to seasons and different seaweed species is poorly understood. In the present study, a total of 39 seawater samples were collected during 3 months from three zones: Neoporphyra haitanensis cultivation zones (P), Gracilaria lemaneiformis-Saccharina japonica mixed cultivation zones (G), and control zones (C). These samples were then analyzed using 18S and 16S rRNA gene sequencing to ascertain the fungal and bacterial communities, respectively, along with the determination of environmental factors. Our results showed that increased dissolved oxygen (DO), decreased inorganic nutrients, and released dissolved organic matter (DOM) in seaweed cultivation zone predominantly altered the variability of eukaryotic and prokaryotic microbial communities. Certain microbial groups such as Aurantivirga, Pseudomonas, and Woeseia were stimulated and enriched in response to seaweed cultivation, and the enriched microorganisms varied across seaweed cultivation zones due to differences in the composition of released DOM. In addition, seasonal changes in salinity and temperature were strongly correlated with microbial community composition and structure. Our study provides new insights into the interactions between seaweed and microbial communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ningning Xu
- Fisheries College, Jimei University, Xiamen, China
- Key Laboratory of Healthy Mariculture for the East China Sea, Ministry of Agriculture, Xiamen, China
- Fujian Engineering Research Center of Aquatic Breeding and Healthy Aquaculture, Xiamen, China
| | - Wenlei Wang
- Fisheries College, Jimei University, Xiamen, China
- Key Laboratory of Healthy Mariculture for the East China Sea, Ministry of Agriculture, Xiamen, China
- Fujian Engineering Research Center of Aquatic Breeding and Healthy Aquaculture, Xiamen, China
| | - Kai Xu
- Fisheries College, Jimei University, Xiamen, China
- Key Laboratory of Healthy Mariculture for the East China Sea, Ministry of Agriculture, Xiamen, China
- Fujian Engineering Research Center of Aquatic Breeding and Healthy Aquaculture, Xiamen, China
| | - Yan Xu
- Fisheries College, Jimei University, Xiamen, China
- Key Laboratory of Healthy Mariculture for the East China Sea, Ministry of Agriculture, Xiamen, China
- Fujian Engineering Research Center of Aquatic Breeding and Healthy Aquaculture, Xiamen, China
| | - Dehua Ji
- Fisheries College, Jimei University, Xiamen, China
- Key Laboratory of Healthy Mariculture for the East China Sea, Ministry of Agriculture, Xiamen, China
- Fujian Engineering Research Center of Aquatic Breeding and Healthy Aquaculture, Xiamen, China
| | - Changsheng Chen
- Fisheries College, Jimei University, Xiamen, China
- Key Laboratory of Healthy Mariculture for the East China Sea, Ministry of Agriculture, Xiamen, China
- Fujian Engineering Research Center of Aquatic Breeding and Healthy Aquaculture, Xiamen, China
| | - Chaotian Xie
- Fisheries College, Jimei University, Xiamen, China
- Key Laboratory of Healthy Mariculture for the East China Sea, Ministry of Agriculture, Xiamen, China
- Fujian Engineering Research Center of Aquatic Breeding and Healthy Aquaculture, Xiamen, China
- *Correspondence: Chaotian Xie,
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Barbato M, Vacchini V, Engelen AH, Patania G, Mapelli F, Borin S, Crotti E. What lies on macroalgal surface: diversity of polysaccharide degraders in culturable epiphytic bacteria. AMB Express 2022; 12:98. [PMID: 35895126 PMCID: PMC9329506 DOI: 10.1186/s13568-022-01440-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 07/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Macroalgal surface constitutes a peculiar ecological niche and an advantageous substratum for microorganisms able to degrade the wide diversity of algal glycans. The degrading enzymatic activities of macroalgal epiphytes are of paramount interest for the industrial by-product sector and biomass resource applications. We characterized the polysaccharide hydrolytic profile of bacterial isolates obtained from three macroalgal species: the red macroalgae Asparagopsis taxiformis and Sphaerococcus coronopifolius (Rhodophyceae) and the brown Halopteris scoparia (Phaeophyceae), sampled in South Portugal. Bacterial enrichment cultures supplemented with chlorinated aliphatic compounds, typically released by marine algae, were established using as inoculum the decaying biomass of the three macroalgae, obtaining a collection of 634 bacterial strains. Although collected from the same site and exposed to the same seawater seeding microbiota, macroalgal cultivable bacterial communities in terms of functional and phylogenetic diversity showed host specificity. Isolates were tested for the hydrolysis of starch, pectin, alginate and agar, exhibiting a different hydrolytic potential according to their host: A. taxiformis showed the highest percentage of active isolates (91%), followed by S. coronopifolius (54%) and H. scoparia (46%). Only 30% of the isolates were able to degrade starch, while the other polymers were degraded by 55-58% of the isolates. Interestingly, several isolates showed promiscuous capacities to hydrolyze more than one polysaccharide. The isolate functional fingerprint was statistically correlated to bacterial phylogeny, host species and enrichment medium. In conclusion, this work depicts macroalgae as holobionts with an associated microbiota of interest for blue biotechnologies, suggesting isolation strategies and bacterial targets for polysaccharidases' discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Barbato
- Dipartimento di Scienze per gli Alimenti, la Nutrizione e l'Ambiente (DeFENS), Università degli Studi di Milano, via Celoria 2, 20133, Milano, Italy.,Department of Biology, Section for Microbiology, Aarhus University, Ny Munkegade 116, 8000, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Violetta Vacchini
- Dipartimento di Scienze per gli Alimenti, la Nutrizione e l'Ambiente (DeFENS), Università degli Studi di Milano, via Celoria 2, 20133, Milano, Italy
| | - Aschwin H Engelen
- Centro de Ciências do Mar (CCMAR), Universidade do Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, 8005-139, Faro, Portugal
| | - Giovanni Patania
- Dipartimento di Scienze per gli Alimenti, la Nutrizione e l'Ambiente (DeFENS), Università degli Studi di Milano, via Celoria 2, 20133, Milano, Italy
| | - Francesca Mapelli
- Dipartimento di Scienze per gli Alimenti, la Nutrizione e l'Ambiente (DeFENS), Università degli Studi di Milano, via Celoria 2, 20133, Milano, Italy
| | - Sara Borin
- Dipartimento di Scienze per gli Alimenti, la Nutrizione e l'Ambiente (DeFENS), Università degli Studi di Milano, via Celoria 2, 20133, Milano, Italy.
| | - Elena Crotti
- Dipartimento di Scienze per gli Alimenti, la Nutrizione e l'Ambiente (DeFENS), Università degli Studi di Milano, via Celoria 2, 20133, Milano, Italy
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8
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Wood G, Steinberg PD, Campbell AH, Vergés A, Coleman MA, Marzinelli EM. Host genetics, phenotype and geography structure the microbiome of a foundational seaweed. Mol Ecol 2022; 31:2189-2206. [PMID: 35104026 PMCID: PMC9540321 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2020] [Accepted: 01/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Interactions between hosts and their microbiota are vital to the functioning and resilience of macro-organisms. Critically, for hosts that play foundational roles in communities, understanding what drives host-microbiota interactions is essential for informing ecosystem restoration and conservation. We investigated the relative influence of host traits and the surrounding environment on microbial communities associated with the foundational seaweed Phyllospora comosa. We quantified 16 morphological and functional phenotypic traits, including host genetics (using 354 single nucleotide polymorphisms) and surface-associated microbial communities (using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing) from 160 individuals sampled from eight sites spanning Phyllospora's entire latitudinal distribution (1,300 km). Combined, these factors explained 54% of the overall variation in Phyllospora's associated microbial community structure, much of which was related to the local environment (~32%). We found that putative "core" microbial taxa (i.e., present on all Phyllospora individuals sampled) exhibited slightly higher associations with host traits when compared to "variable" taxa (not present on all individuals). We identified several key genetic loci and phenotypic traits in Phyllospora that were strongly related to multiple microbial amplicon sequence variants, including taxa with known associations to seaweed defence, disease and tissue degradation. This information on how host-associated microbial communities vary with host traits and the environment enhances our current understanding of how "holobionts" (hosts plus their microbiota) are structured. Such understanding can be used to inform management strategies of these important and vulnerable habitats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgina Wood
- School of Life and Environmental SciencesThe University of SydneySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
- Centre for Marine Science and InnovationSchool of Biological, Earth and Environmental SciencesUNSW SydneySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Peter D. Steinberg
- Centre for Marine Science and InnovationSchool of Biological, Earth and Environmental SciencesUNSW SydneySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
- Sydney Institute of Marine ScienceSydneyNew South WalesAustralia
- Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences EngineeringNanyang Technological UniversitySingaporeSingapore
| | - Alexandra H. Campbell
- USC Seaweed Research GroupUniversity of the Sunshine CoastSunshine CoastQueenslandAustralia
| | - Adriana Vergés
- Centre for Marine Science and InnovationSchool of Biological, Earth and Environmental SciencesUNSW SydneySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Melinda A. Coleman
- Department of Primary IndustriesNational Marine Science CentreCoffs HarbourNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Ezequiel M. Marzinelli
- School of Life and Environmental SciencesThe University of SydneySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
- Sydney Institute of Marine ScienceSydneyNew South WalesAustralia
- Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences EngineeringNanyang Technological UniversitySingaporeSingapore
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9
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Chen J, Zang Y, Yang Z, Qu T, Sun T, Liang S, Zhu M, Wang Y, Tang X. Composition and Functional Diversity of Epiphytic Bacterial and Fungal Communities on Marine Macrophytes in an Intertidal Zone. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:839465. [PMID: 35369473 PMCID: PMC8972133 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.839465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Marine macrophytes (seagrasses and macroalgae) and their epiphytic microorganisms play an important role in the ecological and biochemical processes of coastal oceans. However, simultaneous comparative studies on the biodiversity and functions of epiphytic bacteria and fungi associated with marine macrophytes have not been conducted. In this study, high-throughput sequencing technology was used to describe the epiphytic bacterial and fungal communities of 11 common macroalgae and 2 seagrasses from an intertidal zone of northern China and compare them with seawater communities. The results showed that Proteobacteria and Bacteroidota were the dominant bacterial phyla in marine macrophytes, whereas Ascomycota, Chytridiomycota, and Basidiomycota were the dominant fungal phyla. The alpha diversity of the bacterial and fungal communities in seagrasses was the highest of all macrophyte samples. This may have been related to their ability to recruit microorganisms from multiple sources. Host phylogeny may influence bacterial community structure, and geographical differences may influence fungal community structure. The FAPROTAX data indicated that C metabolic microbes were enriched in marine macrophytes, while the FUNGuild data indicated that undefined saprotroph, which participated in organic matter degradation, were also enriched in marine macrophytes. These findings provide a theoretical basis regarding the epiphytic microorganisms of macrophytes and may offer new insights to support the improved ecological restoration of seagrass and macroalgae beds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Chen
- College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Yu Zang
- Key Laboratory of Marine Eco-Environmental Science and Technology, First Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Qingdao, China
| | - Zhibo Yang
- College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Tongfei Qu
- College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Tao Sun
- College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Shuo Liang
- College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Meiling Zhu
- College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Ying Wang
- College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
- Laboratory for Marine Ecology and Environmental Science, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, China
| | - Xuexi Tang
- College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
- Laboratory for Marine Ecology and Environmental Science, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, China
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10
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Tong X, Leung MHY, Shen Z, Lee JYY, Mason CE, Lee PKH. Metagenomic insights into the microbial communities of inert and oligotrophic outdoor pier surfaces of a coastal city. MICROBIOME 2021; 9:213. [PMID: 34724986 PMCID: PMC8562002 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-021-01166-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Studies of the microbiomes on surfaces in built environment have largely focused on indoor spaces, while outdoor spaces have received far less attention. Piers are engineered infrastructures commonly found in coastal areas, and due to their unique locations at the interface between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, pier surfaces are likely to harbor interesting microbiology. In this study, the microbiomes on the metal and concrete surfaces at nine piers located along the coastline of Hong Kong were investigated by metagenomic sequencing. The roles played by different physical attributes and environmental factors in shaping the taxonomic composition and functional traits of the pier surface microbiomes were determined. Metagenome-assembled genomes were reconstructed and their putative biosynthetic gene clusters were characterized in detail. RESULTS Surface material was found to be the strongest factor in structuring the taxonomic and functional compositions of the pier surface microbiomes. Corrosion-related bacteria were significantly enriched on metal surfaces, consistent with the pitting corrosion observed. The differential enrichment of taxa mediating biodegradation suggests differences between the metal and concrete surfaces in terms of specific xenobiotics being potentially degraded. Genome-centric analysis detected the presence of many novel species, with the majority of them belonging to the phylum Proteobacteria. Genomic characterization showed that the potential metabolic functions and secondary biosynthetic capacity were largely correlated with taxonomy, rather than surface attributes and geography. CONCLUSIONS Pier surfaces are a rich reservoir of abundant novel bacterial species. Members of the surface microbial communities use different mechanisms to counter the stresses under oligotrophic conditions. A better understanding of the outdoor surface microbiomes located in different environments should enhance the ability to maintain outdoor surfaces of infrastructures. Video Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinzhao Tong
- School of Energy and Environment, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Marcus H Y Leung
- School of Energy and Environment, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Zhiyong Shen
- School of Energy and Environment, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Justin Y Y Lee
- School of Energy and Environment, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Christopher E Mason
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- The HRH Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Alsaud Institute for Computational Biomedicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- The WorldQuant Initiative for Quantitative Prediction, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- The Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Patrick K H Lee
- School of Energy and Environment, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
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11
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Korlević M, Markovski M, Zhao Z, Herndl GJ, Najdek M. Seasonal Dynamics of Epiphytic Microbial Communities on Marine Macrophyte Surfaces. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:671342. [PMID: 34603223 PMCID: PMC8482799 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.671342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2021] [Accepted: 08/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Surfaces of marine macrophytes are inhabited by diverse microbial communities. Most studies focusing on epiphytic communities of macrophytes did not take into account temporal changes or applied low sampling frequency approaches. The seasonal dynamics of epiphytic microbial communities was determined in a meadow of Cymodocea nodosa invaded by Caulerpa cylindracea and in a monospecific settlement of C. cylindracea at monthly intervals. For comparison the ambient prokaryotic picoplankton community was also characterized. At the OTU level, the microbial community composition differed between the ambient water and the epiphytic communities exhibiting host-specificity. Also, successional changes were observed connected to the macrophyte growth cycle. Taxonomic analysis, however, showed similar high rank taxa (phyla and classes) in the ambient water and the epiphytic communities, with the exception of Desulfobacterota, which were only found on C. cylindracea. Cyanobacteria showed seasonal changes while other high rank taxa were present throughout the year. In months of high Cyanobacteria presence the majority of cyanobacterial sequences were classified as Pleurocapsa. Phylogenetic groups present throughout the year (e.g., Saprospiraceae, Rhodobacteraceae, members without known relatives within Gammaproteobacteria, Desulfatitalea, and members without known relatives within Desulfocapsaceae) constituted most of the sequences, while less abundant taxa showed seasonal patterns connected to the macrophyte growth cycle. Taken together, epiphytic microbial communities of the seagrass C. nodosa and the macroalga C. cylindracea appear to be host-specific and contain taxa that undergo successional changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marino Korlević
- Center for Marine Research, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Rovinj, Croatia
| | - Marsej Markovski
- Center for Marine Research, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Rovinj, Croatia
| | - Zihao Zhao
- Department of Functional and Evolutionary Ecology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Gerhard J Herndl
- Department of Functional and Evolutionary Ecology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.,Department of Marine Microbiology and Biogeochemistry, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ), Utrecht University, Den Burg, Netherlands
| | - Mirjana Najdek
- Center for Marine Research, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Rovinj, Croatia
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12
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Aires T, Stuij TM, Muyzer G, Serrão EA, Engelen AH. Characterization and Comparison of Bacterial Communities of an Invasive and Two Native Caribbean Seagrass Species Sheds Light on the Possible Influence of the Microbiome on Invasive Mechanisms. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:653998. [PMID: 34434172 PMCID: PMC8381869 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.653998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2021] [Accepted: 07/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Invasive plants, including marine macrophytes, are one of the most important threats to biodiversity by displacing native species and organisms depending on them. Invasion success is dependent on interactions among living organisms, but their study has been mostly limited to negative interactions while positive interactions are mostly underlooked. Recent studies suggested that microorganisms associated with eukaryotic hosts may play a determinant role in the invasion process. Along with the knowledge of their structure, taxonomic composition, and potential functional profile, understanding how bacterial communities are associated with the invasive species and the threatened natives (species-specific/environmentally shaped/tissue-specific) can give us a holistic insight into the invasion mechanisms. Here, we aimed to compare the bacterial communities associated with leaves and roots of two native Caribbean seagrasses (Halodule wrightii and Thalassia testudinum) with those of the successful invader Halophila stipulacea, in the Caribbean island Curaçao, using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing and functional prediction. Invasive seagrass microbiomes were more diverse and included three times more species-specific core OTUs than the natives. Associated bacterial communities were seagrass-specific, with higher similarities between natives than between invasive and native seagrasses for both communities associated with leaves and roots, despite their strong tissue differentiation. However, with a higher number of OTUs in common, the core community (i.e., OTUs occurring in at least 80% of the samples) of the native H. wrightii was more similar to that of the invader H. stipulacea than T. testudinum, which could reflect more similar essential needs (e.g., nutritional, adaptive, and physiological) between native and invasive, in contrast to the two natives that might share more environment-related OTUs. Relative to native seagrass species, the invasive H. stipulacea was enriched in halotolerant bacterial genera with plant growth-promoting properties (like Halomonas sp. and Lysinibacillus sp.) and other potential beneficial effects for hosts (e.g., heavy metal detoxifiers and quorum sensing inhibitors). Predicted functional profiles also revealed some advantageous traits on the invasive species such as detoxification pathways, protection against pathogens, and stress tolerance. Despite the predictive nature of our findings concerning the functional potential of the bacteria, this investigation provides novel and important insights into native vs. invasive seagrasses microbiome. We demonstrated that the bacterial community associated with the invasive seagrass H. stipulacea is different from native seagrasses, including some potentially beneficial bacteria, suggesting the importance of considering the microbiome dynamics as a possible and important influencing factor in the colonization of non-indigenous species. We suggest further comparison of H. stipulacea microbiome from its native range with that from both the Mediterranean and Caribbean habitats where this species has a contrasting invasion success. Also, our new findings open doors to a more in-depth investigation combining meta-omics with bacterial manipulation experiments in order to confirm any functional advantage in the microbiome of this invasive seagrass.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tania Aires
- Centro de Ciências do Mar (CCMAR), Centro de Investigação Marinha e Ambiental (CIMAR), Universidade do Algarve, Faro, Portugal
| | - Tamara M Stuij
- Centro de Ciências do Mar (CCMAR), Centro de Investigação Marinha e Ambiental (CIMAR), Universidade do Algarve, Faro, Portugal.,CESAM - Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Gerard Muyzer
- Microbial Systems Ecology, Department of Freshwater and Marine Ecology, Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Ester A Serrão
- Centro de Ciências do Mar (CCMAR), Centro de Investigação Marinha e Ambiental (CIMAR), Universidade do Algarve, Faro, Portugal
| | - Aschwin H Engelen
- Centro de Ciências do Mar (CCMAR), Centro de Investigação Marinha e Ambiental (CIMAR), Universidade do Algarve, Faro, Portugal.,CARMABI Foundation, Willemstad, Curaçao
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13
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Phelps CM, McMahon K, Bissett A, Bernasconi R, Steinberg PD, Thomas T, Marzinelli EM, Huggett MJ. The surface bacterial community of an Australian kelp shows cross-continental variation and relative stability within regions. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2021; 97:fiab089. [PMID: 34156064 DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiab089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2020] [Accepted: 06/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Epiphytic microbial communities often have a close relationship with their eukaryotic host, assisting with defence, health, disease prevention and nutrient transfer. Shifts in the structure of microbial communities could therefore have negative effects on the individual host and indirectly impact the surrounding ecosystem, particularly for major habitat-forming hosts, such as kelps in temperate rocky shores. Thus, an understanding of the structure and dynamics of host-associated microbial communities is essential for monitoring and assessing ecosystem changes. Here, samples were taken from the ecologically important kelp, Ecklonia radiata, over a 17-month period, from six different sites in two distinct geographic regions (East and West coasts of Australia), separated by ∼3,300 kms, to understand variation in the kelp bacterial community and its potential environmental drivers. Differences were observed between kelp bacterial communities between the largely disconnected geographical regions. In contrast, within each region and over time the bacterial communities were considerably more stable, despite substantial seasonal changes in environmental conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlie M Phelps
- Centre for Marine Ecosystems Research, School of Science, Edith Cowan University, 270 Joondalup Drive, Joondalup, WA, 6027, Australia
| | - Kathryn McMahon
- Centre for Marine Ecosystems Research, School of Science, Edith Cowan University, 270 Joondalup Drive, Joondalup, WA, 6027, Australia
| | - Andrew Bissett
- CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere, Castray Esp, Battery Point, Tas, 7004, Australia
| | - Rachele Bernasconi
- Centre for Marine Ecosystems Research, School of Science, Edith Cowan University, 270 Joondalup Drive, Joondalup, WA, 6027, Australia
| | - Peter D Steinberg
- Sydney Institute of Marine Science, 19 Chowder Bay Rd, Mosman, NSW, 2088, Australia
- Centre for Marine Science and Innovation, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, High St, Kensington, NSW, 2052, Australia
- Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 60 Nanyang Dr, Singapore 637551
| | - Torsten Thomas
- Centre for Marine Science and Innovation, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, High St, Kensington, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - Ezequiel M Marzinelli
- Sydney Institute of Marine Science, 19 Chowder Bay Rd, Mosman, NSW, 2088, Australia
- Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 60 Nanyang Dr, Singapore 637551
- The University of Sydney, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Coastal and Marine Ecosystems, City Rd, Camperdown, NSW, 2006, Australia
| | - Megan J Huggett
- Centre for Marine Ecosystems Research, School of Science, Edith Cowan University, 270 Joondalup Drive, Joondalup, WA, 6027, Australia
- School of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Newcastle, 10 Chittaway Rd, Ourimbah, NSW, 2258, Australia
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14
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Davis KM, Mazel F, Parfrey LW. The microbiota of intertidal macroalgae Fucus distichus is site-specific and resistant to change following transplant. Environ Microbiol 2021; 23:2617-2631. [PMID: 33817918 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.15496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2020] [Revised: 03/29/2021] [Accepted: 03/30/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
It is unclear how host-associated microbial communities will be affected by future environmental change. Characterizing how microbiota differ across sites with varying environmental conditions and assessing the stability of the microbiota in response to abiotic variation are critical steps towards predicting outcomes of environmental change. Intertidal organisms are valuable study systems because they experience extreme variation in environmental conditions on tractable timescales such as tide cycles and across small spatial gradients in the intertidal zone. Here we show a widespread intertidal macroalgae, Fucus distichus, hosts site-specific microbiota over small (meters to kilometres) spatial scales. We demonstrate stability of site-specific microbial associations by manipulating the host environment and microbial species pool with common garden and reciprocal transplant experiments. We hypothesized that F. distichus microbiota would readily shift to reflect the contemporary environment due to selective filtering by abiotic conditions and/or colonization by microbes from the new environment or nearby hosts. Instead, F. distichus microbiota was stable for days after transplantation in both the laboratory and field. Our findings expand the current understanding of microbiota dynamics on an intertidal foundation species. These results may also point to adaptations for withstanding short-term environmental variation, in hosts and/or microbes, facilitating stable host-microbial associations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine M Davis
- Biodiversity Research Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
- Department of Botany, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Florent Mazel
- Biodiversity Research Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
- Department of Botany, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Laura Wegener Parfrey
- Biodiversity Research Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
- Department of Botany, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
- Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
- Hakai Institute, PO Box 309, Heriot Bay, BC, V0P 1H0, Canada
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15
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Environmental factors shape the epiphytic bacterial communities of Gracilariopsis lemaneiformis. Sci Rep 2021; 11:8671. [PMID: 33883606 PMCID: PMC8060329 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-87977-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2021] [Accepted: 04/06/2021] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Macroalgae host various symbionts on their surface, which play a critical role in their growth and development processes. However, there is still incomplete understanding of this epiphytic bacteria-host algae interactions. This study comprehensively analysed variation of the epiphytic bacterial communities (EBC) composition of red macroalga Gracilariopsis lemaneiformis at different geographic locations and environmental factors (i.e., nitrogen and phosphorus), which shape the EBC composition of G. lemaneiformis. The composition and structure of EBC were characterized using high throughput sequencing of the V3-V4 hypervariable region of the 16S rRNA gene. The results revealed that epiphytic bacteria varied significantly among three different geographic locations in China, i.e., Nan'ao Island (NA), Lianjiang County (LJ), and Nanri Island (NR). Redundancy analysis (RDA) showed that the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, Verrucomicrobia, and Epsilonbacteraeota at NR were strongly positively correlated with total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), nitrate nitrogen (NO3-N), and dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN), but negatively correlated with nitrite nitrogen (NO2-N). The relative abundance of Cyanobacteria at NA and LJ were strongly positively correlated with NO2-N, but negatively correlated with TN, TP, NO3-N, and DIN. Besides, the Mantel test results indicated that the EBC composition was significantly correlated with these environmental factors, which was also confirmed by Spearman correlation analysis. Thus, environmental factors such as NO3-N and DIN play a key role in the community composition of epiphytic bacteria on G. lemaneiformis. This study provides important baseline knowledge on the community composition of epiphytic bacteria on G. lemaneiformis and shows correlation between different epiphytic bacteria and their surrounding environmental factors.
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16
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Vogel MA, Mason OU, Miller TE. Composition of seagrass phyllosphere microbial communities suggests rapid environmental regulation of community structure. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2021; 97:6119907. [PMID: 33493257 DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiab013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2020] [Accepted: 01/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent studies have revealed that seagrass blade surfaces, also known as the phyllosphere, are rich habitats for microbes; however, the primary drivers of composition and structure in these microbial communities are largely unknown. This study utilized a reciprocal transplant approach between two sites with different environmental conditions combined with 16S rRNA gene sequencing (iTag) to examine the relative influence of environmental conditions and host plant on phyllosphere community composition of the seagrass Thalassia testudinum. After 30 days, identity of phyllosphere microbial community members was more similar within the transplant sites than between despite differences in the source of host plant. Additionally, the diversity and evenness of these communities was significantly different between the two sites. These results indicated that local environmental conditions can be a primary driver in structuring seagrass phyllosphere microbial communities over relatively short time scales. Composition of microbial community members in this study also deviated from those in previous seagrass phyllosphere studies with a higher representation of candidate bacterial phyla and archaea than previously observed. The capacity for seagrass phyllosphere microbial communities to shift dramatically with environmental conditions, including ecosystem perturbations, could significantly affect seagrass-microbe interactions in ways that may influence the health of the seagrass host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margaret A Vogel
- Florida State University, Department of Biological Science, 319 Stadium Drive, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA
| | - Olivia U Mason
- Florida State University, Department of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Science, 1011 Academic Way, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA
| | - Thomas E Miller
- Florida State University, Department of Biological Science, 319 Stadium Drive, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA
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17
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Contribution of horizontal gene transfer to the functionality of microbial biofilm on a macroalgae. THE ISME JOURNAL 2021; 15:807-817. [PMID: 33558686 PMCID: PMC8027169 DOI: 10.1038/s41396-020-00815-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Revised: 10/12/2020] [Accepted: 10/15/2020] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) is thought to be an important driving force for microbial evolution and niche adaptation and has been show in vitro to occur frequently in biofilm communities. However, the extent to which HGT takes place and what functions are being transferred in more complex and natural biofilm systems remains largely unknown. To address this issue, we investigated here HGT and enrichment of gene functions in the biofilm community of the common kelp (macroalgae) Ecklonia radiata in comparison to microbial communities in the surrounding seawater. We found that HGTs in the macroalgal biofilms were dominated by transfers between bacterial members of the same class or order and frequently involved genes for nutrient transport, sugar and phlorotannin degradation as well as stress responses, all functions that would be considered beneficial for bacteria living in this particular niche. HGT did not appear to be driven by mobile gene elements, indicating rather an involvement of unspecific DNA uptake (e.g. natural transformation). There was also a low overlap between the gene functions subject to HGT and those enriched in the biofilm community in comparison to planktonic community members. This indicates that much of the functionality required for bacteria to live in an E. radiata biofilm might be derived from vertical or environmental transmissions of symbionts. This study enhances our understanding of the relative role of evolutionary and ecological processes in driving community assembly and genomic diversity of biofilm communities.
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18
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The Seagrass Holobiont: What We Know and What We Still Need to Disclose for Its Possible Use as an Ecological Indicator. WATER 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/w13040406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Microbes and seagrass establish symbiotic relationships constituting a functional unit called the holobiont that reacts as a whole to environmental changes. Recent studies have shown that the seagrass microbial associated community varies according to host species, environmental conditions and the host’s health status, suggesting that the microbial communities respond rapidly to environmental disturbances and changes. These changes, dynamics of which are still far from being clear, could represent a sensitive monitoring tool and ecological indicator to detect early stages of seagrass stress. In this review, the state of art on seagrass holobiont is discussed in this perspective, with the aim of disentangling the influence of different factors in shaping it. As an example, we expand on the widely studied Halophila stipulacea’s associated microbial community, highlighting the changing and the constant components of the associated microbes, in different environmental conditions. These studies represent a pivotal contribution to understanding the holobiont’s dynamics and variability pattern, and to the potential development of ecological/ecotoxicological indices. The influences of the host’s physiological and environmental status in changing the seagrass holobiont, alongside the bioinformatic tools for data analysis, are key topics that need to be deepened, in order to use the seagrass-microbial interactions as a source of ecological information.
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19
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Sanders-Smith R, Segovia BT, Forbes C, Hessing-Lewis M, Morien E, Lemay MA, O'Connor MI, Parfrey LW. Host-Specificity and Core Taxa of Seagrass Leaf Microbiome Identified Across Tissue Age and Geographical Regions. Front Ecol Evol 2020. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2020.605304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The seagrass Zostera marina is a widespread foundational species in temperate coastal ecosystems that supports diverse communities of epiphytes and grazers. Bacteria link the production of seagrass to higher trophic levels and are thought to influence seagrass biology and health. Yet, we lack a clear understanding of the factors that structure the seagrass microbiome, or whether there is a consistent microbial community associated with seagrass that underpins functional roles. We sampled surface microbiome (epibiota) from new and old growth seagrass leaves and the surrounding seawater in eight meadows among four regions along the Central Coast of British Columbia, Canada to assess microbiome variability across space and as leaves age. We found that the seagrass leaf microbiome differs strongly from seawater. Microbial communities in new and old growth leaves are different from each other and from artificial seagrass leaves we deployed in one meadow. The microbiome on new leaves is less diverse and there is a small suite of core OTUs (operational taxonomic units) consistently present across regions. The overall microbial community for new leaves is more dispersed but with little regional differentiation, while the epiphytes on old leaves are regionally distinct. Many core OTUs on old leaves are commonly associated with marine biofilms. Together these observations suggest a stronger role for host filtering in new compared to old leaves, and a stronger influence of the environment and environmental colonization in old leaves. We found 11 core microbial taxa consistently present on old and new leaves and at very low relative abundance on artificial leaves and in the water column. These 11 taxa appear to be strongly associated with Z. marina. These core taxa may perform key functions important for the host such as detoxifying seagrass waste products, enhancing plant growth, and controlling epiphyte cover.
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20
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Wu Y, Xiao F, Wang C, Shu L, Zheng X, Xu K, Yu X, Zhang K, Luo H, Yang Y, He Z, Yan Q. The Beta-Diversity of Siganus fuscescens-Associated Microbial Communities From Different Habitats Increases With Body Weight. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:1562. [PMID: 32733425 PMCID: PMC7358552 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.01562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2020] [Accepted: 06/16/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Fish-associated microbial communities play important roles in host growth, health and disease in the symbiont ecosystem; however, their diversity patterns and underlying mechanisms in different body habitats remain poorly understood. Siganus fuscescens is one of the most important consumers of macroalgae and an excellent natural marine source of nutritional lipids for humans, and widely distributes in shallow coastal areas. Here we systematically studied the microbial communities of 108 wild S. fuscescens in four body habitats (i.e., skin, gill, stomach, and hindgut) and surrounding water. We found that the β-diversity but not α-diversity of fish-associated microbial communities from each habitat significantly (p < 0.05) increased as body weight increased. Also, opportunistic pathogens and probiotics (e.g., Pseudomongs, Methylobacterium) appeared to be widely distributed in different body habitats, and many digestive bacteria (e.g., Clostridium) in the hindgut; the abundances of some core OTUs associated with digestive bacteria, “Anaerovorax” (OTU_6 and OTU_46724) and “Holdemania” (OTU_33295) in the hindgut increased as body weight increased. Additionally, the quantification of ecological processes indicated that heterogeneous selection was the major process (46–70%) governing the community assembly of fish microbiomes, whereas the undominated process (64%) was found to be more important for the water microbiome. The diversity pattern showed that β-diversity (75%) of the metacommunity overweight the α-diversity (25%), confirming that the niche separation of microbial communities in different habitats and host selection were important to shape the fish-associated microbial community structure. This study enhances our mechanistic understanding of fish-associated microbial communities in different habitats, and has important implications for analyzing host-associated metacommunities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongjie Wu
- Environmental Microbiomics Research Center, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Fanshu Xiao
- Environmental Microbiomics Research Center, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Cheng Wang
- Environmental Microbiomics Research Center, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Longfei Shu
- Environmental Microbiomics Research Center, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiafei Zheng
- Environmental Microbiomics Research Center, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Kui Xu
- Environmental Microbiomics Research Center, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaoli Yu
- Environmental Microbiomics Research Center, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Keke Zhang
- Environmental Microbiomics Research Center, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hongtian Luo
- Department of Ecology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yufeng Yang
- Department of Ecology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhili He
- Environmental Microbiomics Research Center, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.,College of Agronomy, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, China
| | - Qingyun Yan
- Environmental Microbiomics Research Center, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
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21
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Vogel MA, Mason OU, Miller TE. Host and environmental determinants of microbial community structure in the marine phyllosphere. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0235441. [PMID: 32614866 PMCID: PMC7332025 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0235441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2020] [Accepted: 06/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Although seagrasses are economically and ecologically critical species, little is known about their blade surface microbial communities and how these communities relate to the plant host. To determine microbial community composition and diversity on seagrass blade surfaces and in the surrounding seawater,16S rRNA gene sequencing (iTag) was used for samples collected at five sites along a gradient of freshwater input in the northern Gulf of Mexico on three separate sampling dates. Additionally, seagrass surveys were performed and environmental parameters were measured to characterize host characteristics and the abiotic conditions at each site. Results showed that Thalassia testudinum (turtle grass) blades hosted unique microbial communities that were distinct in composition and diversity from the water column. Environmental conditions, including water depth, salinity, and temperature, influenced community structure as blade surface microbial communities varied among sites and sampling dates in correlation with changes in environmental parameters. Microbial community composition also correlated with seagrass host characteristics, including growth rates and blade nutrient composition. There is some evidence for a core community for T. testudinum as 21 microorganisms from five phyla (Cyanobacteria, Proteobacteria, Planctomycetes, Chloroflexi, and Bacteroidetes) were present in all blade surface samples. This study provides new insights and understanding of the processes that influence the structure of marine phyllosphere communities, how these microbial communities relate to their host, and their role as a part of the seagrass holobiont, which is an important contribution given the current decline of seagrass coverage worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margaret A. Vogel
- Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Olivia U. Mason
- Department of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, United States of America
| | - Thomas E. Miller
- Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, United States of America
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22
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Tarquinio F, Hyndes GA, Laverock B, Koenders A, Säwström C. The seagrass holobiont: understanding seagrass-bacteria interactions and their role in seagrass ecosystem functioning. FEMS Microbiol Lett 2020; 366:5382495. [PMID: 30883643 DOI: 10.1093/femsle/fnz057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2018] [Accepted: 03/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
This review shows that the presence of seagrass microbial community is critical for the development of seagrasses; from seed germination, through to phytohormone production and enhanced nutrient availability, and defence against pathogens and saprophytes. The tight seagrass-bacterial relationship highlighted in this review supports the existence of a seagrass holobiont and adds to the growing evidence for the importance of marine eukaryotic microorganisms in sustaining vital ecosystems. Incorporating a micro-scale view on seagrass ecosystems substantially expands our understanding of ecosystem functioning and may have significant implications for future seagrass management and mitigation against human disturbance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Flavia Tarquinio
- Centre for Marine Ecosystems Research, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, Western Australia, Australia.,Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, Crawley, 6009, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Glenn A Hyndes
- Centre for Marine Ecosystems Research, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Bonnie Laverock
- Plant Functional Biology and Climate Change Cluster, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, 2007, Australia.,School of Science, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, 1010, New Zealand
| | - Annette Koenders
- Centre for Ecosystem Management, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, 6027, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Christin Säwström
- Centre for Marine Ecosystems Research, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, Western Australia, Australia
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23
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Escalas A, Hale L, Voordeckers JW, Yang Y, Firestone MK, Alvarez‐Cohen L, Zhou J. Microbial functional diversity: From concepts to applications. Ecol Evol 2019; 9:12000-12016. [PMID: 31695904 PMCID: PMC6822047 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.5670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2019] [Revised: 08/27/2019] [Accepted: 08/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Functional diversity is increasingly recognized by microbial ecologists as the essential link between biodiversity patterns and ecosystem functioning, determining the trophic relationships and interactions between microorganisms, their participation in biogeochemical cycles, and their responses to environmental changes. Consequently, its definition and quantification have practical and theoretical implications. In this opinion paper, we present a synthesis on the concept of microbial functional diversity from its definition to its application. Initially, we revisit to the original definition of functional diversity, highlighting two fundamental aspects, the ecological unit under study and the functional traits used to characterize it. Then, we discuss how the particularities of the microbial world disallow the direct application of the concepts and tools developed for macroorganisms. Next, we provide a synthesis of the literature on the types of ecological units and functional traits available in microbial functional ecology. We also provide a list of more than 400 traits covering a wide array of environmentally relevant functions. Lastly, we provide examples of the use of functional diversity in microbial systems based on the different units and traits discussed herein. It is our hope that this paper will stimulate discussions and help the growing field of microbial functional ecology to realize a potential that thus far has only been attained in macrobial ecology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arthur Escalas
- MARBECCNRSIfremerIRDUniversity of MontpellierMontpellier Cedex 5France
- Institute for Environmental Genomics and Department of Microbiology and Plant BiologyUniversity of OklahomaNormanOKUSA
| | - Lauren Hale
- Water Management Research UnitSJVASCUSDA‐ARSParlierCAUSA
| | | | - Yunfeng Yang
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution ControlSchool of EnvironmentTsinghua UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Mary K. Firestone
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and ManagementUniversity of CaliforniaBerkeleyCAUSA
| | - Lisa Alvarez‐Cohen
- Department of Civil and Environmental EngineeringUniversity of CaliforniaBerkeleyCAUSA
| | - Jizhong Zhou
- Institute for Environmental Genomics and Department of Microbiology and Plant BiologyUniversity of OklahomaNormanOKUSA
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution ControlSchool of EnvironmentTsinghua UniversityBeijingChina
- Earth and Environmental SciencesLawrence Berkeley National LaboratoryBerkeleyCAUSA
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24
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The Macroalgal Holobiont in a Changing Sea. Trends Microbiol 2019; 27:635-650. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2019.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2018] [Revised: 03/01/2019] [Accepted: 03/12/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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25
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Qiu Z, Coleman MA, Provost E, Campbell AH, Kelaher BP, Dalton SJ, Thomas T, Steinberg PD, Marzinelli EM. Future climate change is predicted to affect the microbiome and condition of habitat-forming kelp. Proc Biol Sci 2019; 286:20181887. [PMID: 30963929 PMCID: PMC6408609 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2018.1887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2018] [Accepted: 01/14/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Climate change is driving global declines of marine habitat-forming species through physiological effects and through changes to ecological interactions, with projected trajectories for ocean warming and acidification likely to exacerbate such impacts in coming decades. Interactions between habitat-formers and their microbiomes are fundamental for host functioning and resilience, but how such relationships will change in future conditions is largely unknown. We investigated independent and interactive effects of warming and acidification on a large brown seaweed, the kelp Ecklonia radiata, and its associated microbiome in experimental mesocosms. Microbial communities were affected by warming and, during the first week, by acidification. During the second week, kelp developed disease-like symptoms previously observed in the field. The tissue of some kelp blistered, bleached and eventually degraded, particularly under the acidification treatments, affecting photosynthetic efficiency. Microbial communities differed between blistered and healthy kelp for all treatments, except for those under future conditions of warming and acidification, which after two weeks resembled assemblages associated with healthy hosts. This indicates that changes in the microbiome were not easily predictable as the severity of future climate scenarios increased. Future ocean conditions can change kelp microbiomes and may lead to host disease, with potentially cascading impacts on associated ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiguang Qiu
- Centre for Marine Bio-Innovation, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia
| | - Melinda A. Coleman
- Department of Primary Industries, NSW Fisheries, PO Box 4321, Coffs Harbour, New South Wales 2450, Australia
| | - Euan Provost
- National Marine Science Centre, Southern Cross University, Coffs Harbour, New South Wales 2450, Australia
| | - Alexandra H. Campbell
- Centre for Marine Bio-Innovation, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia
- GeneCology Research Centre, University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland 4556, Australia
| | - Brendan P. Kelaher
- National Marine Science Centre, Southern Cross University, Coffs Harbour, New South Wales 2450, Australia
| | - Steven J. Dalton
- National Marine Science Centre, Southern Cross University, Coffs Harbour, New South Wales 2450, Australia
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Torsten Thomas
- Centre for Marine Bio-Innovation, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia
| | - Peter D. Steinberg
- Centre for Marine Bio-Innovation, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia
- Sydney Institute of Marine Science, 19 Chowder Bay Road, Mosman, New South Wales 2088, Australia
- Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 60 Nanyang Drive, SBS-01N-27, Singapore 637551, Republic of Singapore
| | - Ezequiel M. Marzinelli
- Centre for Marine Bio-Innovation, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia
- Sydney Institute of Marine Science, 19 Chowder Bay Road, Mosman, New South Wales 2088, Australia
- Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 60 Nanyang Drive, SBS-01N-27, Singapore 637551, Republic of Singapore
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Coastal and Marine Ecosystems, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
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26
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Lin JD, Lemay MA, Parfrey LW. Diverse Bacteria Utilize Alginate Within the Microbiome of the Giant Kelp Macrocystis pyrifera. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:1914. [PMID: 30177919 PMCID: PMC6110156 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.01914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2018] [Accepted: 07/30/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacteria are integral to marine carbon cycling. They transfer organic carbon to higher trophic levels and remineralise it into inorganic forms. Kelp forests are among the most productive ecosystems within the global oceans, yet the diversity and metabolic capacity of bacteria that transform kelp carbon is poorly understood. Here, we use 16S amplicon and metagenomic shotgun sequencing to survey bacterial communities associated with the surfaces of the giant kelp Macrocystis pyrifera and assess the capacity of these bacteria for carbohydrate metabolism. We find that Macrocystis-associated communities are distinct from the water column, and that they become more diverse and shift in composition with blade depth, which is a proxy for tissue age. These patterns are also observed in metagenomic functional profiles, though the broader functional groups—carbohydrate active enzyme families—are largely consistent across samples and depths. Additionally, we assayed more than 250 isolates cultured from Macrocystis blades and the surrounding water column for the ability to utilize alginate, the primary polysaccharide in Macrocystis tissue. The majority of cultured bacteria (66%) demonstrated this capacity; we find that alginate utilization is patchily distributed across diverse genera in the Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria, yet can also vary between isolates with identical 16S rRNA sequences. The genes encoding enzymes involved in alginate metabolism were detected in metagenomic data across taxonomically diverse bacterial communities, further indicating this capacity is likely widespread amongst bacteria in kelp forests. Overall, the M. pyrifera epibiota shifts across a depth gradient, demonstrating a connection between bacterial assemblage and host tissue state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordan D Lin
- Department of Botany, Biodiversity Research Centre, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Matthew A Lemay
- Department of Botany, Biodiversity Research Centre, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Hakai Institute, Heriot Bay, BC, Canada
| | - Laura W Parfrey
- Department of Botany, Biodiversity Research Centre, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Hakai Institute, Heriot Bay, BC, Canada.,Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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27
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Coastal urbanisation affects microbial communities on a dominant marine holobiont. NPJ Biofilms Microbiomes 2018; 4:1. [PMID: 29367878 PMCID: PMC5772048 DOI: 10.1038/s41522-017-0044-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2017] [Revised: 11/27/2017] [Accepted: 11/30/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Host-associated microbial communities play a fundamental role in the life of eukaryotic hosts. It is increasingly argued that hosts and their microbiota must be studied together as 'holobionts' to better understand the effects of environmental stressors on host functioning. Disruptions of host–microbiota interactions by environmental stressors can negatively affect host performance and survival. Substantial ecological impacts are likely when the affected hosts are habitat-forming species (e.g., trees, kelps) that underpin local biodiversity. In marine systems, coastal urbanisation via the addition of artificial structures is a major source of stress to habitat formers, but its effect on their associated microbial communities is unknown. We characterised kelp-associated microbial communities in two of the most common and abundant artificial structures in Sydney Harbour—pier-pilings and seawalls—and in neighbouring natural rocky reefs. The kelp Ecklonia radiata is the dominant habitat-forming species along 8000 km of the temperate Australian coast. Kelp-associated microbial communities on pilings differed significantly from those on seawalls and natural rocky reefs, possibly due to differences in abiotic (e.g., shade) and biotic (e.g., grazing) factors between habitats. Many bacteria that were more abundant on kelp on pilings belonged to taxa often associated with macroalgal diseases, including tissue bleaching in Ecklonia. There were, however, no differences in kelp photosynthetic capacity between habitats. The observed differences in microbial communities may have negative effects on the host by promoting fouling by macroorganisms or by causing and spreading disease over time. This study demonstrates that urbanisation can alter the microbiota of key habitat-forming species with potential ecological consequences. Artificial structures in the marine coastal environment, such as piers and seawalls can alter microbial interactions with seaweed hosts. Researchers in Australia, led by Ezequiel Marzinelli at the University of New South Wales, studied the microbial communities growing on kelps in Sydney Harbour. They compared this altered environment with neighbouring natural rocky reefs. The work illustrates the “holobiont” concept, which treats communities of microbes and hosts as holistic entities. Significant findings included an increase in microbes associated with algal diseases in pier piling structures. This study shows that urbanisation of the coastal environment can have ecological consequences on major habitat-forming species such as kelp. The researchers argue that the combination of abiotic factors, such as shade, and biotic factors, such as altered grazing patterns, might be involved.
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28
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Ugarelli K, Chakrabarti S, Laas P, Stingl U. The Seagrass Holobiont and Its Microbiome. Microorganisms 2017; 5:microorganisms5040081. [PMID: 29244764 PMCID: PMC5748590 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms5040081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2017] [Revised: 12/04/2017] [Accepted: 12/05/2017] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Seagrass meadows are ecologically and economically important components of many coastal areas worldwide. Ecosystem services provided by seagrasses include reducing the number of microbial pathogens in the water, providing food, shelter and nurseries for many species, and decreasing the impact of waves on the shorelines. A global assessment reported that 29% of the known areal extent of seagrasses has disappeared since seagrass areas were initially recorded in 1879. Several factors such as direct and indirect human activity contribute to the demise of seagrasses. One of the main reasons for seagrass die-offs all over the world is increased sulfide concentrations in the sediment that result from the activity of sulfate-reducing prokaryotes, which perform the last step of the anaerobic food chain in marine sediments and reduce sulfate to H2S. Recent seagrass die-offs, e.g., in the Florida and Biscayne Bays, were caused by an increase in pore-water sulfide concentrations in the sediment, which were the combined result of unfavorable environmental conditions and the activities of various groups of heterotrophic bacteria in the sulfate-rich water-column and sediment that are stimulated through increased nutrient concentrations. Under normal circumstances, seagrasses are able to withstand low levels of sulfide, probably partly due to microbial symbionts, which detoxify sulfide by oxidizing it to sulfur or sulfate. Novel studies are beginning to give greater insights into the interactions of microbes and seagrasses, not only in the sulfur cycle. Here, we review the literature on the basic ecology and biology of seagrasses and focus on studies describing their microbiome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly Ugarelli
- Ft. Lauderdale Research and Education Center, Department of Microbiology and Cell Science, UF/IFAS, University of Florida, Davie, FL 33314, USA.
| | - Seemanti Chakrabarti
- Ft. Lauderdale Research and Education Center, Department of Microbiology and Cell Science, UF/IFAS, University of Florida, Davie, FL 33314, USA.
| | - Peeter Laas
- Ft. Lauderdale Research and Education Center, Department of Microbiology and Cell Science, UF/IFAS, University of Florida, Davie, FL 33314, USA.
| | - Ulrich Stingl
- Ft. Lauderdale Research and Education Center, Department of Microbiology and Cell Science, UF/IFAS, University of Florida, Davie, FL 33314, USA.
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29
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Zozaya-Valdés E, Roth-Schulze AJ, Egan S, Thomas T. Microbial community function in the bleaching disease of the marine macroalgae Delisea pulchra. Environ Microbiol 2017; 19:3012-3024. [PMID: 28419766 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.13758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2017] [Accepted: 04/07/2017] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Disease is increasingly viewed as a major factor impacting the health of both natural and cultured populations of marine organisms, including macroalgae. The red macroalga Delisea pulchra suffers from a bleaching disease resulting from host stress and infection by opportunistic bacterial pathogens. However, how pathogens cause the disease and how the entire macro algal-associated community is involved in the process is unclear. Here, we perform a metagenomic analysis of microbial communities associated with diseased and healthy D. pulchra across multiple bleaching events. Analysis of reconstructed 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that bacteria belonging to the families Rhodobacteraceae, Saprospiraceae and Flavobacteriaceae, including bacteria previously implicated in algal bleaching, to be enriched in diseased D. pulchra. Genes with predicted functions related to chemotaxis, motility, oxidative stress response, vitamin biosynthesis and nutrient acquisition were also prevalent in microbiomes of bleached algae, which may have a role in pathogenicity. Reconstruction of genomes that were abundant on bleached samples revealed that no single organism contains all bleaching-enriched functional genes. This observation indicates that potential virulence traits are distributed across multiple bacteria and that the disease in D. pulchra may result from a consortium of opportunistic pathogens, analogous to dysbiotic or polymicrobial diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enrique Zozaya-Valdés
- Centre for Marine Bio-Innovation, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - Alexandra J Roth-Schulze
- Centre for Marine Bio-Innovation, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - Suhelen Egan
- Centre for Marine Bio-Innovation, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - Torsten Thomas
- Centre for Marine Bio-Innovation, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
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30
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Ettinger CL, Voerman SE, Lang JM, Stachowicz JJ, Eisen JA. Microbial communities in sediment from Zostera marina patches, but not the Z. marina leaf or root microbiomes, vary in relation to distance from patch edge. PeerJ 2017; 5:e3246. [PMID: 28462046 PMCID: PMC5410140 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.3246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2017] [Accepted: 03/29/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Zostera marina (also known as eelgrass) is a foundation species in coastal and marine ecosystems worldwide and is a model for studies of seagrasses (a paraphyletic group in the order Alismatales) that include all the known fully submerged marine angiosperms. In recent years, there has been a growing appreciation of the potential importance of the microbial communities (i.e., microbiomes) associated with various plant species. Here we report a study of variation in Z. marina microbiomes from a field site in Bodega Bay, CA. Methods We characterized and then compared the microbial communities of root, leaf and sediment samples (using 16S ribosomal RNA gene PCR and sequencing) and associated environmental parameters from the inside, edge and outside of a single subtidal Z. marina patch. Multiple comparative approaches were used to examine associations between microbiome features (e.g., diversity, taxonomic composition) and environmental parameters and to compare sample types and sites. Results Microbial communities differed significantly between sample types (root, leaf and sediment) and in sediments from different sites (inside, edge, outside). Carbon:Nitrogen ratio and eelgrass density were both significantly correlated to sediment community composition. Enrichment of certain taxonomic groups in each sample type was detected and analyzed in regard to possible functional implications (especially regarding sulfur metabolism). Discussion Our results are mostly consistent with prior work on seagrass associated microbiomes with a few differences and additional findings. From a functional point of view, the most significant finding is that many of the taxa that differ significantly between sample types and sites are closely related to ones commonly associated with various aspects of sulfur and nitrogen metabolism. Though not a traditional model organism, we believe that Z. marina can become a model for studies of marine plant-microbiome interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sofie E Voerman
- Climate Change Cluster, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, Australia.,School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Jenna M Lang
- Genome Center, University of California, Davis, CA, United States.,Trace Genomics, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - John J Stachowicz
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Jonathan A Eisen
- Genome Center, University of California, Davis, CA, United States.,Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California, Davis, CA, United States.,Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
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