Skin microbiome of beluga whales: spatial, temporal, and health-related dynamics
Abstract Background Host-specific microbiomes play an important role in individual health and ecology; in marine mammals, epidermal microbiomes may be a protective barrier between the host and its aqueous environment. Understanding these epidermal-associated microbial communities, and their ecologic...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2020-10-01
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| Series: | Animal Microbiome |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s42523-020-00057-1 |
| _version_ | 1819063466525196288 |
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| author | Amy M. Van Cise Paul R. Wade Caroline E. C. Goertz Kathy Burek-Huntington Kim M. Parsons Tonya Clauss Roderick C. Hobbs Amy Apprill |
| author_facet | Amy M. Van Cise Paul R. Wade Caroline E. C. Goertz Kathy Burek-Huntington Kim M. Parsons Tonya Clauss Roderick C. Hobbs Amy Apprill |
| author_sort | Amy M. Van Cise |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Host-specific microbiomes play an important role in individual health and ecology; in marine mammals, epidermal microbiomes may be a protective barrier between the host and its aqueous environment. Understanding these epidermal-associated microbial communities, and their ecological- or health-driven variability, is the first step toward developing health indices for rapid assessment of individual or population health. In Cook Inlet, Alaska, an endangered population of beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas) numbers fewer than 300 animals and continues to decline, despite more than a decade of conservation effort. Characterizing the epidermal microbiome of this species could provide insight into the ecology and health of this endangered population and allow the development of minimally invasive health indicators based on tissue samples. Results We sequenced the hypervariable IV region of bacterial and archaeal SSU rRNA genes from epidermal tissue samples collected from endangered Cook Inlet beluga whales (n = 33) and the nearest neighboring population in Bristol Bay (n = 39) between 2012 and 2018. We examined the sequences using amplicon sequence variant (ASV)-based analyses, and no ASVs were associated with all individuals, indicating a greater degree of epidermal microbiome variability among beluga whales than in previously studied cetacean species and suggesting the absence of a species-specific core microbiome. Epidermal microbiome composition differed significantly between populations and across sampling years. Comparing the microbiomes of Bristol Bay individuals of known health status revealed 11 ASVs associated with potential pathogens that differed in abundance between healthy individuals and those with skin lesions or dermatitis. Molting and non-molting individuals also differed significantly in microbial diversity and the abundance of potential pathogen-associated ASVs, indicating the importance of molting in maintaining skin health. Conclusions We provide novel insights into the dynamics of Alaskan beluga whale epidermal microbial communities. A core epidermal microbiome was not identified across all animals. We characterize microbial dynamics related to population, sampling year and health state including level of skin molting. The results of this study provide a basis for future work to understand the role of the skin microbiome in beluga whale health and to develop health indices for management of the endangered Cook Inlet beluga whales, and cetaceans more broadly. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T15:15:07Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1558524b1eda4e519e8556365018888c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2524-4671 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T15:15:07Z |
| publishDate | 2020-10-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animal Microbiome |
| spelling | doaj.art-1558524b1eda4e519e8556365018888c2022-12-21T18:59:11ZengBMCAnimal Microbiome2524-46712020-10-012111610.1186/s42523-020-00057-1Skin microbiome of beluga whales: spatial, temporal, and health-related dynamicsAmy M. Van Cise0Paul R. Wade1Caroline E. C. Goertz2Kathy Burek-Huntington3Kim M. Parsons4Tonya Clauss5Roderick C. Hobbs6Amy Apprill7Woods Hole Oceanographic InstitutionMarine Mammal Laboratory, Alaska Fisheries Science Center, NOAA National Marine Fisheries ServiceAlaska SeaLife CenterAlaska Veterinary Pathology ServiceMarine Mammal Laboratory, Alaska Fisheries Science Center, NOAA National Marine Fisheries ServiceAnimal & Environmental Heath, Georgia AquariumMarine Mammal Laboratory (retired), Alaska Fisheries Science Center, NOAA National Marine Fisheries ServiceWoods Hole Oceanographic InstitutionAbstract Background Host-specific microbiomes play an important role in individual health and ecology; in marine mammals, epidermal microbiomes may be a protective barrier between the host and its aqueous environment. Understanding these epidermal-associated microbial communities, and their ecological- or health-driven variability, is the first step toward developing health indices for rapid assessment of individual or population health. In Cook Inlet, Alaska, an endangered population of beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas) numbers fewer than 300 animals and continues to decline, despite more than a decade of conservation effort. Characterizing the epidermal microbiome of this species could provide insight into the ecology and health of this endangered population and allow the development of minimally invasive health indicators based on tissue samples. Results We sequenced the hypervariable IV region of bacterial and archaeal SSU rRNA genes from epidermal tissue samples collected from endangered Cook Inlet beluga whales (n = 33) and the nearest neighboring population in Bristol Bay (n = 39) between 2012 and 2018. We examined the sequences using amplicon sequence variant (ASV)-based analyses, and no ASVs were associated with all individuals, indicating a greater degree of epidermal microbiome variability among beluga whales than in previously studied cetacean species and suggesting the absence of a species-specific core microbiome. Epidermal microbiome composition differed significantly between populations and across sampling years. Comparing the microbiomes of Bristol Bay individuals of known health status revealed 11 ASVs associated with potential pathogens that differed in abundance between healthy individuals and those with skin lesions or dermatitis. Molting and non-molting individuals also differed significantly in microbial diversity and the abundance of potential pathogen-associated ASVs, indicating the importance of molting in maintaining skin health. Conclusions We provide novel insights into the dynamics of Alaskan beluga whale epidermal microbial communities. A core epidermal microbiome was not identified across all animals. We characterize microbial dynamics related to population, sampling year and health state including level of skin molting. The results of this study provide a basis for future work to understand the role of the skin microbiome in beluga whale health and to develop health indices for management of the endangered Cook Inlet beluga whales, and cetaceans more broadly.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s42523-020-00057-1ConservationHealth assessmentBelugaMicrobiome16S rRNA gene |
| spellingShingle | Amy M. Van Cise Paul R. Wade Caroline E. C. Goertz Kathy Burek-Huntington Kim M. Parsons Tonya Clauss Roderick C. Hobbs Amy Apprill Skin microbiome of beluga whales: spatial, temporal, and health-related dynamics Animal Microbiome Conservation Health assessment Beluga Microbiome 16S rRNA gene |
| title | Skin microbiome of beluga whales: spatial, temporal, and health-related dynamics |
| title_full | Skin microbiome of beluga whales: spatial, temporal, and health-related dynamics |
| title_fullStr | Skin microbiome of beluga whales: spatial, temporal, and health-related dynamics |
| title_full_unstemmed | Skin microbiome of beluga whales: spatial, temporal, and health-related dynamics |
| title_short | Skin microbiome of beluga whales: spatial, temporal, and health-related dynamics |
| title_sort | skin microbiome of beluga whales spatial temporal and health related dynamics |
| topic | Conservation Health assessment Beluga Microbiome 16S rRNA gene |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s42523-020-00057-1 |
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