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Papazachariou V, Fernández-Juárez V, Parfrey LW, Riemann L. Nitrogen Fixation and Microbial Communities Associated with Decomposing Seagrass Leaves in Temperate Coastal Waters. MICROBIAL ECOLOGY 2024; 87:106. [PMID: 39141097 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-024-02424-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2024] [Accepted: 08/05/2024] [Indexed: 08/15/2024]
Abstract
Seagrass meadows play pivotal roles in coastal biochemical cycles, with nitrogen fixation being a well-established process associated with living seagrass. Here, we tested the hypothesis that nitrogen fixation is also associated with seagrass debris in Danish coastal waters. We conducted a 52-day in situ experiment to investigate nitrogen fixation (proxied by acetylene reduction) and dynamics of the microbial community (16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing) and the nitrogen fixing community (nifH DNA/RNA amplicon sequencing) associated with decomposing Zostera marina leaves. The leaves harboured distinct microbial communities, including distinct nitrogen fixers, relative to the surrounding seawater and sediment throughout the experiment. Nitrogen fixation rates were measurable on most days, but highest on days 3 (dark, 334.8 nmol N g-1 dw h-1) and 15 (light, 194.6 nmol N g-1 dw h-1). Nitrogen fixation rates were not correlated with the concentration of inorganic nutrients in the surrounding seawater or with carbon:nitrogen ratios in the leaves. The composition of nitrogen fixers shifted from cyanobacterial Sphaerospermopsis to heterotrophic genera like Desulfopila over the decomposition period. On the days with highest fixation, nifH RNA gene transcripts were mainly accounted for by cyanobacteria, in particular by Sphaerospermopsis and an unknown taxon (order Nostocales), alongside Proteobacteria. Our study shows that seagrass debris in temperate coastal waters harbours substantial nitrogen fixation carried out by cyanobacteria and heterotrophic bacteria that are distinct relative to the surrounding seawater and sediments. This suggests that seagrass debris constitutes a selective environment where degradation is affected by the import of nitrogen via nitrogen fixation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vasiliki Papazachariou
- Marine Biological Section, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Helsingør, Denmark
- Center for Volatile Interactions, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Victor Fernández-Juárez
- Marine Biological Section, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Helsingør, Denmark
| | - Laura Wegener Parfrey
- Biodiversity Research Centre, Department of Botany, and Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Lasse Riemann
- Marine Biological Section, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Helsingør, Denmark.
- Center for Volatile Interactions, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
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Wang X, Pecoraro L, Chen J, Tang Y, Lee S, Chen S, Liu H. Halophilomyces hongkongensis, a Novel Species and Genus in the Lulworthiaceae with Antibacterial Potential, Colonizing the Roots and Rhizomes of the Seagrass Halophila ovalis. J Fungi (Basel) 2024; 10:474. [PMID: 39057359 PMCID: PMC11278098 DOI: 10.3390/jof10070474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2024] [Revised: 07/06/2024] [Accepted: 07/08/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Seagrass serves as a quintessential reservoir for obligate marine Lulworthiaceae fungi. Our current knowledge of the mycological diversity associated with seagrass in Hong Kong remains poor. We analyzed the diversity of fungi associated with the most widely distributed seagrass species in Hong Kong Halophila ovalis (Hydrocharitaceae), using a combination of culture-based methods and high-throughput amplicon sequencing. Halophilomyces hongkongensis, a novel fungal species in a newly proposed genus within the Lulworthiaceae family, was isolated from H. ovalis roots and rhizomes. The novel fungus showed distinct morphological characteristics, while both combined 18S-28S and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) phylogenetic trees based on maximum likelihood and Bayesian methods supported its discrimination from other existing Lulworthiaceae members. The ITS2 region in the Illumina sequencing results of multiple H. ovalis compartments, water, and adjacent non-seagrass sediments revealed continuous recruitment of H. hongkongensis by H. ovalis throughout the year despite dramatically fluctuating environmental conditions, with remarkably high proportions of this taxon found in root and rhizome internal tissues, possibly indicating a strong and specialized relationship established between the Lulworthiaceae fungal partner and its seagrass host. The inhibitory abilities exhibited by H. hongkongensis against Staphylococcus aureus SA29213 and ATCC 43300 (methicillin-resistant) may imply its capacity in producing (novel) antibacterial compounds. The discovery of H. hongkongensis as the first novel Lulworthiaceae taxon in Hong Kong, along with its distributional pattern in the seagrass meadow, provides valuable insights into the systematics and ecology of this strictly marine fungal family.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Wang
- Department of Ocean Science, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong; (X.W.)
| | - Lorenzo Pecoraro
- College of Pharmaceutical Science & Moganshan Research Institute at Deqing County, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, China
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Tianjin University, 92 Weijin Road, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Jiawei Chen
- Department of Ocean Science, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong; (X.W.)
| | - Yang Tang
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Public Health, Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Sangwook Lee
- Department of Ocean Science, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong; (X.W.)
| | - Sheng Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Department of Food Science and Nutrition, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong
| | - Hongbin Liu
- Department of Ocean Science, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong; (X.W.)
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Aires T, Cúcio C, Brakel J, Weinberger F, Wahl M, Teles A, Muyzer G, Engelen AH. Impact of persistently high sea surface temperatures on the rhizobiomes of Zostera marina in a Baltic Sea benthocosms. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2024; 30:e17337. [PMID: 38771026 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.17337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 04/18/2024] [Accepted: 04/28/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
Persistently high marine temperatures are escalating and threating marine biodiversity. The Baltic Sea, warming faster than other seas, is a good model to study the impact of increasing sea surface temperatures. Zostera marina, a key player in the Baltic ecosystem, faces susceptibility to disturbances, especially under chronic high temperatures. Despite the increasing number of studies on the impact of global warming on seagrasses, little attention has been paid to the role of the holobiont. Using an outdoor benthocosm to replicate near-natural conditions, this study explores the repercussions of persistent warming on the microbiome of Z. marina and its implications for holobiont function. Results show that both seasonal warming and chronic warming, impact Z. marina roots and sediment microbiome. Compared with roots, sediments demonstrate higher diversity and stability throughout the study, but temperature effects manifest earlier in both compartments, possibly linked to premature Z. marina die-offs under chronic warming. Shifts in microbial composition, such as an increase in organic matter-degrading and sulfur-related bacteria, accompany chronic warming. A higher ratio of sulfate-reducing bacteria compared to sulfide oxidizers was found in the warming treatment which may result in the collapse of the seagrasses, due to toxic levels of sulfide. Differentiating predicted pathways for warmest temperatures were related to sulfur and nitrogen cycles, suggest an increase of the microbial metabolism, and possible seagrass protection strategies through the production of isoprene. These structural and compositional variations in the associated microbiome offer early insights into the ecological status of seagrasses. Certain taxa/genes/pathways may serve as markers for specific stresses. Monitoring programs should integrate this aspect to identify early indicators of seagrass health. Understanding microbiome changes under stress is crucial for the use of potential probiotic taxa to mitigate climate change effects. Broader-scale examination of seagrass-microorganism interactions is needed to leverage knowledge on host-microbe interactions in seagrasses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tânia Aires
- Centro de Ciências Do Mar (CCMAR), Centro de Investigação Marinha e Ambiental (CIMAR), Universidade Do Algarve, Faro, Portugal
| | - Catarina Cúcio
- Microbial Systems Ecology, Department of Freshwater and Marine Ecology, Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Janina Brakel
- GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research, Kiel, Germany
| | | | - Martin Wahl
- GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research, Kiel, Germany
| | - Ana Teles
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology, Ploen, Germany
| | - Gerard Muyzer
- Microbial Systems Ecology, Department of Freshwater and Marine Ecology, Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Aschwin H Engelen
- Centro de Ciências Do Mar (CCMAR), Centro de Investigação Marinha e Ambiental (CIMAR), Universidade Do Algarve, Faro, Portugal
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Masawa J, Winters G, Kaminer M, Szitenberg A, Gruntman M, Ashckenazi-Polivoda S. A matter of choice: Understanding the interactions between epiphytic foraminifera and their seagrass host Halophila stipulacea. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 196:106437. [PMID: 38479296 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2024.106437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2023] [Revised: 01/28/2024] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
In sub/tropical waters, benthic foraminifera are among the most abundant epiphytic organisms inhabiting seagrass meadows. This study explored the nature of the association between foraminifera and the tropical seagrass species H. stipulacea, aiming to determine whether these interactions are facilitative or random. For this, we performed a "choice" experiment, where foraminifera could colonize H. stipulacea plants or plastic "seagrasses" plants. At the end of the experiment, a microbiome analysis was performed to identify possible variances in the microbial community and diversity of the substrates. Results show that foraminifera prefer to colonize H. stipulacea, which had a higher abundance and diversity of foraminifera than plastic seagrass plants, which increased over time and with shoot age. Moreover, H. stipulacea leaves have higher epiphytic microbial community abundance and diversity. These results demonstrate that seagrass meadows are important hosts of the foraminifera community and suggest the potential facilitative effect of H. stipulacea on epiphytic foraminifera, which might be attributed to a greater diversity of the microbial community inhabiting H. stipulacea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenipher Masawa
- Dead Sea and Arava Science Center, Masada National Park, Mount Masada, 869100, Israel; School of Plant Sciences and Food Security, Porter School of the Environment and Earth Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Gidon Winters
- Dead Sea and Arava Science Center, Masada National Park, Mount Masada, 869100, Israel; Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Eilat Campus, Eilat, 881000, Israel.
| | - Moran Kaminer
- Dead Sea and Arava Science Center, Masada National Park, Mount Masada, 869100, Israel
| | - Amir Szitenberg
- Dead Sea and Arava Science Center, Masada National Park, Mount Masada, 869100, Israel
| | - Michal Gruntman
- School of Plant Sciences and Food Security, Porter School of the Environment and Earth Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Sarit Ashckenazi-Polivoda
- Dead Sea and Arava Science Center, Masada National Park, Mount Masada, 869100, Israel; Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Eilat Campus, Eilat, 881000, Israel.
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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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Tasdemir D, Scarpato S, Utermann-Thüsing C, Jensen T, Blümel M, Wenzel-Storjohann A, Welsch C, Echelmeyer VA. Epiphytic and endophytic microbiome of the seagrass Zostera marina: Do they contribute to pathogen reduction in seawater? THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 908:168422. [PMID: 37956849 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2023] [Revised: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
Seagrass meadows provide crucial ecosystem services for coastal environments and were shown to reduce the abundance of waterborne pathogens linked to infections in humans and marine organisms in their vicinity. Among potential drivers, seagrass phenolics released into seawater have been linked to pathogen suppression, but the potential involvement of the seagrass microbiome has not been investigated. We hypothesized that the microbiome of the eelgrass Zostera marina, especially the leaf epiphytes that are at direct interface between the seagrass host and the surrounding seawater, inhibit waterborne pathogens thereby contributing to their removal. Using a culture-dependent approach, we isolated 88 bacteria and fungi associated with the surfaces and inner tissues of the eelgrass leaves (healthy and decaying) and the roots. We assessed the antibiotic activity of microbial extracts against a large panel of common aquatic, human (fecal) and plant pathogens, and mined the metabolome of the most active extracts. The healthy leaf epibiotic bacteria, particularly Streptomyces sp. strain 131, displayed broad-spectrum antibiotic activity superior to some control drugs. Gram-negative bacteria abundant on healthy leaf surfaces, and few endosphere-associated bacteria and fungi also displayed remarkable activities. UPLC-MS/MS-based untargeted metabolomics analyses showed rich specialized metabolite repertoires with low annotation rates, indicating the presence of many undescribed antimicrobials in the extracts. This study contributes to our understanding on microbial and chemical ecology of seagrasses, implying potential involvement of the seagrass microbiome in suppression of pathogens in seawater. Such effect is beneficial for the health of ocean and human, especially in the context of climate change that is expected to exacerbate all infectious diseases. It may also assist future seagrass conservation and management strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deniz Tasdemir
- GEOMAR Centre for Marine Biotechnology (GEOMAR-Biotech), Research Unit Marine Natural Products Chemistry, GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Kiel 24106, Germany; Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Kiel University, Kiel 24118, Germany.
| | - Silvia Scarpato
- GEOMAR Centre for Marine Biotechnology (GEOMAR-Biotech), Research Unit Marine Natural Products Chemistry, GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Kiel 24106, Germany
| | - Caroline Utermann-Thüsing
- GEOMAR Centre for Marine Biotechnology (GEOMAR-Biotech), Research Unit Marine Natural Products Chemistry, GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Kiel 24106, Germany
| | - Timo Jensen
- GEOMAR Centre for Marine Biotechnology (GEOMAR-Biotech), Research Unit Marine Natural Products Chemistry, GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Kiel 24106, Germany
| | - Martina Blümel
- GEOMAR Centre for Marine Biotechnology (GEOMAR-Biotech), Research Unit Marine Natural Products Chemistry, GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Kiel 24106, Germany
| | - Arlette Wenzel-Storjohann
- GEOMAR Centre for Marine Biotechnology (GEOMAR-Biotech), Research Unit Marine Natural Products Chemistry, GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Kiel 24106, Germany
| | - Claudia Welsch
- GEOMAR Centre for Marine Biotechnology (GEOMAR-Biotech), Research Unit Marine Natural Products Chemistry, GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Kiel 24106, Germany
| | - Vivien Anne Echelmeyer
- GEOMAR Centre for Marine Biotechnology (GEOMAR-Biotech), Research Unit Marine Natural Products Chemistry, GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Kiel 24106, Germany
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Rotini A, Conte C, Winters G, Vasquez MI, Migliore L. Undisturbed Posidonia oceanica meadows maintain the epiphytic bacterial community in different environments. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:95464-95474. [PMID: 37548791 PMCID: PMC10482771 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-28968-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023]
Abstract
Seagrasses harbour different and rich epiphytic bacterial communities. These microbes may establish intimate and symbiotic relationships with the seagrass plants and change according to host species, environmental conditions, and/or ecophysiological status of their seagrass host. Although Posidonia oceanica is one of the most studied seagrasses in the world, and bacteria associated with seagrasses have been studied for over a decade, P. oceanica's microbiome remains hitherto little explored. Here, we applied 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing to explore the microbiome associated with the leaves of P. oceanica growing in two geomorphologically different meadows (e.g. depth, substrate, and turbidity) within the Limassol Bay (Cyprus). The morphometric (leaf area, meadow density) and biochemical (pigments, total phenols) descriptors highlighted the healthy conditions of both meadows. The leaf-associated bacterial communities showed similar structure and composition in the two sites; core microbiota members were dominated by bacteria belonging to the Thalassospiraceae, Microtrichaceae, Enterobacteriaceae, Saprospiraceae, and Hyphomonadaceae families. This analogy, even under different geomorphological conditions, suggest that in the absence of disturbances, P. oceanica maintains characteristic-associated bacterial communities. This study provides a baseline for the knowledge of the P. oceanica microbiome and further supports its use as a putative seagrass descriptor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Rotini
- ISPRA Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale, Via Vitaliano Brancati, 48, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Chiara Conte
- Department of Biology, Laboratory of Ecology and Ecotoxicology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133, Rome, Italy
| | - Gidon Winters
- Dead Sea and Arava Science Center (DSASC), Masada National Park, 86910, Masada, Israel
- Eilat Campus, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Hatmarim Blv., 8855630, Eilat, Israel
| | - Marlen I Vasquez
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Cyprus University of Technology, 30 Archbishop Kyprianos Str.t, 3036, Limassol, Cyprus
- European University of Technology, 30 Archbishop Kyprianos Str.t, 3036, Limassol, Cyprus
| | - Luciana Migliore
- Department of Biology, Laboratory of Ecology and Ecotoxicology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133, Rome, Italy.
- eCampus University, Via Isimbardi 10, 22060, Novedrate, CO, Italy.
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de la Garza Varela A, Aguirre-Macedo ML, García-Maldonado JQ. Changes in the Rhizosphere Prokaryotic Community Structure of Halodule wrightii Monospecific Stands Associated to Submarine Groundwater Discharges in a Karstic Costal Area. Microorganisms 2023; 11:microorganisms11020494. [PMID: 36838457 PMCID: PMC9963909 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11020494] [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: 01/25/2023] [Revised: 02/11/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Belowground seagrass associated microbial communities regulate biogeochemical dynamics in the surrounding sediments and influence seagrass physiology and health. However, little is known about the impact of environmental stressors upon interactions between seagrasses and their prokaryotic community in coastal ecosystems. Submerged groundwater discharges (SGD) at Dzilam de Bravo, Yucatán, Mexico, causes lower temperatures and salinities with higher nutrient loads in seawater, resulting in Halodule wrightii monospecific stands. In this study, the rhizospheric archaeal and bacterial communities were characterized by 16S rRNA Illumina sequencing along with physicochemical determinations of water, porewater and sediment in a 400 m northwise transect from SGD occurring at 300 m away from coastline. Core bacterial community included Deltaproteobacteria, Bacteroidia and Planctomycetia, possibly involved in sulfur metabolism and organic matter degradation while highly versatile Bathyarchaeia was the most abundantly represented class within the archaeal core community. Beta diversity analyses revealed two significantly different clusters as result of the environmental conditions caused by SGD. Sites near to SGD presented sediments with higher redox potentials and sand contents as well as lower organic matter contents and porewater ammonium concentrations compared with the furthest sites. Functional profiling suggested that denitrification, aerobic chemoheterotrophy and environmental adaptation processes could be better represented in these sites, while sulfur metabolism and genetic information processing related profiles could be related to SGD uninfluenced sites. This study showed that the rhizospheric prokaryotic community structure of H. wrightii and their predicted functions are shaped by environmental stressors associated with the SGD. Moreover, insights into the archaeal community composition in seagrasses rhizosphere are presented.
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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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10
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Sandoval-Gil JM, Ruiz JM, Marín-Guirao L. Advances in understanding multilevel responses of seagrasses to hypersalinity. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 183:105809. [PMID: 36435174 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2022.105809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2022] [Revised: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Human- and nature-induced hypersaline conditions in coastal systems can lead to profound alterations of the structure and vitality of seagrass meadows and their socio-ecological benefits. In the last two decades, recent research efforts (>50 publications) have contributed significantly to unravel the physiological basis underlying the seagrass-hypersalinity interactions, although most (∼70%) are limited to few species (e.g. Posidonia oceanica, Zostera marina, Thalassia testudinum, Cymodocea nodosa). Variables related to photosynthesis and carbon metabolism are among the most prevalent in the literature, although other key metabolic processes such as plant water relations and responses at molecular (i.e. gene expression) and ultrastructure level are attracting attention. This review emphasises all these latest insights, offering an integrative perspective on the interplay among biological responses across different functional levels (from molecular to clonal structure), and their interaction with biotic/abiotic factors including those related to climate change. Other issues such as the role of salinity in driving the evolutionary trajectory of seagrasses, their acclimation mechanisms to withstand salinity increases or even the adaptive properties of populations that have historically lived under hypersaline conditions are also included. The pivotal role of the costs and limits of phenotypic plasticity in the successful acclimation of marine plants to hypersalinity is also discussed. Finally, some lines of research are proposed to fill the remaining knowledge gaps.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jose Miguel Sandoval-Gil
- Universidad Autónoma de Baja California (UABC), Instituto de Investigaciones Oceanológicas (IIO), Marine Botany Research Group, Ensenada, Baja California, 22860, Mexico
| | - Juan M Ruiz
- Seagrass Ecology Group, Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO-CSIC), C/ Varadero s/n, 30740 San Pedro del Pinatar, Murcia, Spain
| | - Lázaro Marín-Guirao
- Seagrass Ecology Group, Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO-CSIC), C/ Varadero s/n, 30740 San Pedro del Pinatar, Murcia, Spain.
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11
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Soto W. Emerging Research Topics in the Vibrionaceae and the Squid- Vibrio Symbiosis. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10101946. [PMID: 36296224 PMCID: PMC9607633 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10101946] [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: 08/28/2022] [Revised: 09/22/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The Vibrionaceae encompasses a cosmopolitan group that is mostly aquatic and possesses tremendous metabolic and genetic diversity. Given the importance of this taxon, it deserves continued and deeper research in a multitude of areas. This review outlines emerging topics of interest within the Vibrionaceae. Moreover, previously understudied research areas are highlighted that merit further exploration, including affiliations with marine plants (seagrasses), microbial predators, intracellular niches, and resistance to heavy metal toxicity. Agarases, phototrophy, phage shock protein response, and microbial experimental evolution are also fields discussed. The squid-Vibrio symbiosis is a stellar model system, which can be a useful guiding light on deeper expeditions and voyages traversing these "seas of interest". Where appropriate, the squid-Vibrio mutualism is mentioned in how it has or could facilitate the illumination of these various subjects. Additional research is warranted on the topics specified herein, since they have critical relevance for biomedical science, pharmaceuticals, and health care. There are also practical applications in agriculture, zymology, food science, and culinary use. The tractability of microbial experimental evolution is explained. Examples are given of how microbial selection studies can be used to examine the roles of chance, contingency, and determinism (natural selection) in shaping Earth's natural history.
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Affiliation(s)
- William Soto
- Integrated Science Center Rm 3035, Department of Biology, College of William & Mary, 540 Landrum Dr., Williamsburg, VA 23185, USA
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12
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Szitenberg A, Beca-Carretero P, Azcárate-García T, Yergaliyev T, Alexander-Shani R, Winters G. Teasing apart the host-related, nutrient-related and temperature-related effects shaping the phenology and microbiome of the tropical seagrass Halophila stipulacea. ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOME 2022; 17:18. [PMID: 35428367 PMCID: PMC9013022 DOI: 10.1186/s40793-022-00412-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2021] [Accepted: 03/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Halophila stipulacea seagrass meadows are an ecologically important and threatened component of the ecosystem in the Gulf of Aqaba. Recent studies have demonstrated correlated geographic patterns for leaf epiphytic community composition and leaf morphology, also coinciding with different levels of water turbidity and nutrient concentrations. Based on these observations, workers have suggested an environmental microbial fingerprint, which may reflect various environmental stress factors seagrasses have experienced, and may add a holobiont level of plasticity to seagrasses, assisting their acclimation to changing environments and through range expansion. However, it is difficult to tease apart environmental effects from host-diversity dependent effects, which have covaried in field studies, although this is required in order to establish that differences in microbial community compositions among sites are driven by environmental conditions rather than by features governed by the host. RESULTS In this study we carried out a mesocosm experiment, in which we studied the effects of warming and nutrient stress on the composition of epiphytic bacterial communities and on some phenological traits. We studied H. stipulacea collected from two different meadows in the Gulf of Aqaba, representing differences in the host and the environment alike. We found that the source site from which seagrasses were collected was the major factor governing seagrass phenology, although heat increased shoot mortality and nutrient loading delayed new shoot emergence. Bacterial diversity, however, mostly depended on the environmental conditions. The most prominent pattern was the increase in Rhodobacteraceae under nutrient stress without heat stress, along with an increase in Microtrichaceae. Together, the two taxa have the potential to maintain nitrate reduction followed by an anammox process, which can together buffer the increase in nutrient concentrations across the leaf surface. CONCLUSIONS Our results thus corroborate the existence of environmental microbial fingerprints, which are independent from the host diversity, and support the notion of a holobiont level plasticity, both important to understand and monitor H. stipulacea ecology under the changing climate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amir Szitenberg
- Dead Sea and Arava Science Center, Dead Sea Branch, 8693500, Masada, Israel.
- Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, 8858537, Eilat, Israel.
| | - Pedro Beca-Carretero
- Department of Theoretical Ecology and Modelling, Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research, Fahrenheitstrasse 6, 28359, Bremen, Germany
- Department of Oceanography, Instituto de Investigacións Mariñas (IIM-CSIC), Vigo, Spain
- Departamento de Biología, Área de Ecología, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar Y Ambientales, Universidad de Cádiz, 11510, Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain
| | - Tomás Azcárate-García
- Department of Theoretical Ecology and Modelling, Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research, Fahrenheitstrasse 6, 28359, Bremen, Germany
- Departamento de Biología, Área de Ecología, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar Y Ambientales, Universidad de Cádiz, 11510, Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain
- Dead Sea and Arava Science Center, Central Arava Branch, 8682500, Sapir, Israel
| | - Timur Yergaliyev
- Dead Sea and Arava Science Center, Dead Sea Branch, 8693500, Masada, Israel
- Hohenheim Center for Livestock Microbiome Research (HoLMiR), Institute of Animal Science, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany
| | | | - Gidon Winters
- Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, 8858537, Eilat, Israel
- Dead Sea and Arava Science Center, Central Arava Branch, 8682500, Sapir, Israel
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13
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Quek ZBR, Zahn G, Lee NLY, Ooi JLS, Lee JN, Huang D, Wainwright BJ. Biogeographic structure of fungal communities in seagrass Halophilia ovalis across the Malay Peninsula. ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY REPORTS 2021; 13:871-877. [PMID: 34438473 DOI: 10.1111/1758-2229.13003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2021] [Revised: 08/13/2021] [Accepted: 08/13/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Distributed across both the tropical Atlantic and Pacific oceans, the seagrass Halophilia ovalis stabilizes coastal sediment, thereby preventing shoreline erosion and is also an important food source for megaherbivores such as dugongs. However, seagrass meadows globally are under severe duress due to both climate change and anthropogenic activities. We characterized the mycobiome of Halophilia ovalis at seven sites in the Malay Peninsula using ITS1 rDNA amplicon sequences and investigated differences in fungal community structure. We found that geographic location was a significant factor shaping fungal communities and that marine sediment harboured significantly higher diversity when compared to H. ovalis leaves, roots and rhizomes. Taken together, it is likely that locality rather than specific plant structure determines fungal community structure in H. ovalis. Because the plant mycobiome is known to exert a strong effect on plant health, to maximize the success of future seagrass transplantation and restoration work we propose that these efforts consider the importance of seagrass mycobiomes at all stages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Z B Randolph Quek
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore
- Yale-NUS College, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Geoffrey Zahn
- Biology Department, Utah Valley University, Orem, UT, USA
| | - Nicole Li Ying Lee
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Jillian Lean Sim Ooi
- Department of Geography, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Jen Nie Lee
- Faculty of Science and Marine Environment, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia
| | - Danwei Huang
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore
- Tropical Marine Science Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore
- Centre for Nature-based Climate Solutions, National University of Singapore, Singapore
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14
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Ling J, Zhou W, Yang Q, Yin J, Zhang J, Peng Q, Huang X, Zhang Y, Dong J. Spatial and Species Variations of Bacterial Community Structure and Putative Function in Seagrass Rhizosphere Sediment. Life (Basel) 2021; 11:life11080852. [PMID: 34440596 PMCID: PMC8401270 DOI: 10.3390/life11080852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2021] [Revised: 08/05/2021] [Accepted: 08/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Seagrasses are an important part of the coral reef ecosystem, and their rhizosphere microbes are of great ecological importance. However, variations in diversity, composition, and potential functions of bacterial communities in the seagrass rhizosphere of coral reef ecosystems remain unclear. This study employed the high-throughput sequencing based on 16S rDNA gene sequences and functional annotation of prokaryotic taxa (FAPROTAX) analysis to investigate these variations based on seagrass species and sampling locations, respectively. Results demonstrated that the seagrass rhizosphere microbial community was mainly dominated by phylum Proteobacteria (33.47%), Bacteroidetes (23.33%), and Planctomycetes (12.47%), while functional groups were mainly composed of sulfate respiration (14.09%), respiration of sulfur compounds (14.24%), aerobic chemoheterotrophy (20.87%), and chemoheterotrophy (26.85%). Significant differences were evident in alpha diversity, taxonomical composition and putative functional groups based on seagrass species and sampling locations. Moreover, the core microbial community of all investigated samples was identified, accounting for 63.22% of all obtained sequences. Network analysis indicated that most microbes had a positive correlation (82.41%), and two module hubs (phylum Proteobacteria) were investigated. Furthermore, a significant positive correlation was found between the OTUs numbers obtained and the functional groups assigned for seagrass rhizosphere microbial communities (p < 0.01). Our result would facilitate future investigation of the function of seagrass rhizosphere microbes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Ling
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-Resources and Ecology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China; (J.L.); (W.Z.); (Q.Y.); (J.Y.); (J.Z.); (Q.P.); (X.H.); (Y.Z.)
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou 511458, China
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Biotechnology of Hainan Province, Sanya Institute of Oceanology, SCSIO, Sanya National Marine Ecosystem Research Station, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya 572000, China
- Innovation Academy of South China Sea Ecology and Environmental Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 511458, China
| | - Weiguo Zhou
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-Resources and Ecology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China; (J.L.); (W.Z.); (Q.Y.); (J.Y.); (J.Z.); (Q.P.); (X.H.); (Y.Z.)
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou 511458, China
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Biotechnology of Hainan Province, Sanya Institute of Oceanology, SCSIO, Sanya National Marine Ecosystem Research Station, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya 572000, China
- Innovation Academy of South China Sea Ecology and Environmental Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 511458, China
| | - Qingsong Yang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-Resources and Ecology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China; (J.L.); (W.Z.); (Q.Y.); (J.Y.); (J.Z.); (Q.P.); (X.H.); (Y.Z.)
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou 511458, China
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Biotechnology of Hainan Province, Sanya Institute of Oceanology, SCSIO, Sanya National Marine Ecosystem Research Station, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya 572000, China
- Innovation Academy of South China Sea Ecology and Environmental Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 511458, China
| | - Jianping Yin
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-Resources and Ecology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China; (J.L.); (W.Z.); (Q.Y.); (J.Y.); (J.Z.); (Q.P.); (X.H.); (Y.Z.)
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou 511458, China
| | - Jian Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-Resources and Ecology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China; (J.L.); (W.Z.); (Q.Y.); (J.Y.); (J.Z.); (Q.P.); (X.H.); (Y.Z.)
- College of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Qiuying Peng
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-Resources and Ecology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China; (J.L.); (W.Z.); (Q.Y.); (J.Y.); (J.Z.); (Q.P.); (X.H.); (Y.Z.)
- College of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Xiaofang Huang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-Resources and Ecology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China; (J.L.); (W.Z.); (Q.Y.); (J.Y.); (J.Z.); (Q.P.); (X.H.); (Y.Z.)
- College of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yuhang Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-Resources and Ecology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China; (J.L.); (W.Z.); (Q.Y.); (J.Y.); (J.Z.); (Q.P.); (X.H.); (Y.Z.)
- College of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Junde Dong
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-Resources and Ecology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China; (J.L.); (W.Z.); (Q.Y.); (J.Y.); (J.Z.); (Q.P.); (X.H.); (Y.Z.)
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou 511458, China
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Biotechnology of Hainan Province, Sanya Institute of Oceanology, SCSIO, Sanya National Marine Ecosystem Research Station, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya 572000, China
- Innovation Academy of South China Sea Ecology and Environmental Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 511458, China
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +86-20-8910-7830
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15
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Nguyen HM, Ralph PJ, Marín-Guirao L, Pernice M, Procaccini G. Seagrasses in an era of ocean warming: a review. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2021; 96:2009-2030. [PMID: 34014018 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2020] [Revised: 05/06/2021] [Accepted: 05/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Seagrasses are valuable sources of food and habitat for marine life and are one of Earth's most efficient carbon sinks. However, they are facing a global decline due to ocean warming and eutrophication. In the last decade, with the advent of new technology and molecular advances, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of studies focusing on the effects of ocean warming on seagrasses. Here, we provide a comprehensive review of the future of seagrasses in an era of ocean warming. We have gathered information from published studies to identify potential commonalities in the effects of warming and the responses of seagrasses across four distinct levels: molecular, biochemical/physiological, morphological/population, and ecosystem/planetary. To date, we know that although warming strongly affects seagrasses at all four levels, seagrass responses diverge amongst species, populations, and over depths. Furthermore, warming alters seagrass distribution causing massive die-offs in some seagrass populations, whilst also causing tropicalization and migration of temperate species. In this review, we evaluate the combined effects of ocean warming with other environmental stressors and emphasize the need for multiple-stressor studies to provide a deeper understanding of seagrass resilience. We conclude by discussing the most significant knowledge gaps and future directions for seagrass research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hung Manh Nguyen
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, Napoli, 80121, Italy
| | - Peter J Ralph
- Faculty of Science, Climate Change Cluster (C3), University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2007, Australia
| | - Lázaro Marín-Guirao
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, Napoli, 80121, Italy.,Seagrass Ecology Group, Oceanographic Centre of Murcia, Spanish Institute of Oceanography, C/Varadero, San Pedro del Pinatar, Murcia, 30740, Spain
| | - Mathieu Pernice
- Faculty of Science, Climate Change Cluster (C3), University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2007, Australia
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