Marine mammal skin microbiotas are influenced by host phylogeny
Skin-associated microorganisms have been shown to play a role in immune function and disease of humans, but are understudied in marine mammals, a diverse animal group that serve as sentinels of ocean health. We examined the microbiota associated with 75 epidermal samples opportunistically collected...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
The Royal Society
2020-05-01
|
| Series: | Royal Society Open Science |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/pdf/10.1098/rsos.192046 |
| _version_ | 1818267595716952064 |
|---|---|
| author | Amy Apprill Carolyn A. Miller Amy M. Van Cise Jana M. U'Ren Matthew S. Leslie Laura Weber Robin W. Baird Jooke Robbins Scott Landry Andrea Bogomolni Gordon Waring |
| author_facet | Amy Apprill Carolyn A. Miller Amy M. Van Cise Jana M. U'Ren Matthew S. Leslie Laura Weber Robin W. Baird Jooke Robbins Scott Landry Andrea Bogomolni Gordon Waring |
| author_sort | Amy Apprill |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Skin-associated microorganisms have been shown to play a role in immune function and disease of humans, but are understudied in marine mammals, a diverse animal group that serve as sentinels of ocean health. We examined the microbiota associated with 75 epidermal samples opportunistically collected from nine species within four marine mammal families, including: Balaenopteridae (sei and fin whales), Phocidae (harbour seal), Physeteridae (sperm whales) and Delphinidae (bottlenose dolphins, pantropical spotted dolphins, rough-toothed dolphins, short-finned pilot whales and melon-headed whales). The skin was sampled from free-ranging animals in Hawai‘i (Pacific Ocean) and off the east coast of the United States (Atlantic Ocean), and the composition of the bacterial community was examined using the sequencing of partial small subunit (SSU) ribosomal RNA genes. Skin microbiotas were significantly different among host species and taxonomic families, and microbial community distance was positively correlated with mitochondrial-based host genetic divergence. The oceanic location could play a role in skin microbiota variation, but skin from species sampled in both locations is necessary to determine this influence. These data suggest that a phylosymbiotic relationship may exist between microbiota and their marine mammal hosts, potentially providing specific health and immune-related functions that contribute to the success of these animals in diverse ocean ecosystems. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T20:25:06Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-356b4834e8334eeabee0fe7c4185d7c9 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2054-5703 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T20:25:06Z |
| publishDate | 2020-05-01 |
| publisher | The Royal Society |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Royal Society Open Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-356b4834e8334eeabee0fe7c4185d7c92022-12-22T00:13:09ZengThe Royal SocietyRoyal Society Open Science2054-57032020-05-017510.1098/rsos.192046192046Marine mammal skin microbiotas are influenced by host phylogenyAmy ApprillCarolyn A. MillerAmy M. Van CiseJana M. U'RenMatthew S. LeslieLaura WeberRobin W. BairdJooke RobbinsScott LandryAndrea BogomolniGordon WaringSkin-associated microorganisms have been shown to play a role in immune function and disease of humans, but are understudied in marine mammals, a diverse animal group that serve as sentinels of ocean health. We examined the microbiota associated with 75 epidermal samples opportunistically collected from nine species within four marine mammal families, including: Balaenopteridae (sei and fin whales), Phocidae (harbour seal), Physeteridae (sperm whales) and Delphinidae (bottlenose dolphins, pantropical spotted dolphins, rough-toothed dolphins, short-finned pilot whales and melon-headed whales). The skin was sampled from free-ranging animals in Hawai‘i (Pacific Ocean) and off the east coast of the United States (Atlantic Ocean), and the composition of the bacterial community was examined using the sequencing of partial small subunit (SSU) ribosomal RNA genes. Skin microbiotas were significantly different among host species and taxonomic families, and microbial community distance was positively correlated with mitochondrial-based host genetic divergence. The oceanic location could play a role in skin microbiota variation, but skin from species sampled in both locations is necessary to determine this influence. These data suggest that a phylosymbiotic relationship may exist between microbiota and their marine mammal hosts, potentially providing specific health and immune-related functions that contribute to the success of these animals in diverse ocean ecosystems.https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/pdf/10.1098/rsos.192046marine mammalmicroorganismphylogenyssu ribosomal rna genebacteria |
| spellingShingle | Amy Apprill Carolyn A. Miller Amy M. Van Cise Jana M. U'Ren Matthew S. Leslie Laura Weber Robin W. Baird Jooke Robbins Scott Landry Andrea Bogomolni Gordon Waring Marine mammal skin microbiotas are influenced by host phylogeny Royal Society Open Science marine mammal microorganism phylogeny ssu ribosomal rna gene bacteria |
| title | Marine mammal skin microbiotas are influenced by host phylogeny |
| title_full | Marine mammal skin microbiotas are influenced by host phylogeny |
| title_fullStr | Marine mammal skin microbiotas are influenced by host phylogeny |
| title_full_unstemmed | Marine mammal skin microbiotas are influenced by host phylogeny |
| title_short | Marine mammal skin microbiotas are influenced by host phylogeny |
| title_sort | marine mammal skin microbiotas are influenced by host phylogeny |
| topic | marine mammal microorganism phylogeny ssu ribosomal rna gene bacteria |
| url | https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/pdf/10.1098/rsos.192046 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT amyapprill marinemammalskinmicrobiotasareinfluencedbyhostphylogeny AT carolynamiller marinemammalskinmicrobiotasareinfluencedbyhostphylogeny AT amymvancise marinemammalskinmicrobiotasareinfluencedbyhostphylogeny AT janamuren marinemammalskinmicrobiotasareinfluencedbyhostphylogeny AT matthewsleslie marinemammalskinmicrobiotasareinfluencedbyhostphylogeny AT lauraweber marinemammalskinmicrobiotasareinfluencedbyhostphylogeny AT robinwbaird marinemammalskinmicrobiotasareinfluencedbyhostphylogeny AT jookerobbins marinemammalskinmicrobiotasareinfluencedbyhostphylogeny AT scottlandry marinemammalskinmicrobiotasareinfluencedbyhostphylogeny AT andreabogomolni marinemammalskinmicrobiotasareinfluencedbyhostphylogeny AT gordonwaring marinemammalskinmicrobiotasareinfluencedbyhostphylogeny |