Anadromous Arctic Char Microbiomes: Bioprospecting in the High Arctic
Northern populations of Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus) can be anadromous, migrating annually from the ocean to freshwater lakes and rivers in order to escape sub-zero temperatures. Such seasonal behavior demands that these fish and their associated microbiomes adapt to changes in salinity, tempera...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2019-02-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fbioe.2019.00032/full |
| _version_ | 1818310376411889664 |
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| author | Erin F. Hamilton Geraint Element Peter van Coeverden de Groot Katja Engel Josh D. Neufeld Vishal Shah Virginia K. Walker |
| author_facet | Erin F. Hamilton Geraint Element Peter van Coeverden de Groot Katja Engel Josh D. Neufeld Vishal Shah Virginia K. Walker |
| author_sort | Erin F. Hamilton |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Northern populations of Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus) can be anadromous, migrating annually from the ocean to freshwater lakes and rivers in order to escape sub-zero temperatures. Such seasonal behavior demands that these fish and their associated microbiomes adapt to changes in salinity, temperature, and other environmental challenges. We characterized the microbial community composition of anadromous S. alpinus, netted by Inuit fishermen at freshwater and seawater fishing sites in the high Arctic, both under ice and in open water. Bacterial profiles were generated by DNA extraction and high-throughput sequencing of PCR-amplified 16S ribosomal RNA genes. Results showed that microbial communities on the skin and intestine of Arctic char were statistically different when sampled from freshwater or saline water sites. This association was tested using hierarchical Ward's linkage clustering, showing eight distinct clusters in each of the skin and intestinal microbiomes, with the clusters reflecting sampling location between fresh and saline environments, confirming a salinity-linked turnover. This analysis also provided evidence for a core composition of skin and intestinal bacteria, with the phyla Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Cyanobacteria presenting as major phyla within the skin-associated microbiomes. The intestine-associated microbiome was characterized by unidentified genera from families Fusobacteriaceae, Comamonadaceae, Pseudomonadaceae, and Vibrionaceae. The salinity-linked turnover was further tested through ordinations that showed samples grouping based on environment for both skin- and intestine-associated microbiomes. This finding implies that core microbiomes between fresh and saline conditions could be used to assist in regulating optimal fish health in aquaculture practices. Furthermore, identified taxa from known psychrophiles and with nitrogen cycling properties suggest that there is additional potential for biotechnological applications for fish farm and waste management practices. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T07:45:05Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-45a993c4058e4e8da56f4ec84b20bca5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-4185 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T07:45:05Z |
| publishDate | 2019-02-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology |
| spelling | doaj.art-45a993c4058e4e8da56f4ec84b20bca52022-12-21T23:54:51ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology2296-41852019-02-01710.3389/fbioe.2019.00032430740Anadromous Arctic Char Microbiomes: Bioprospecting in the High ArcticErin F. Hamilton0Geraint Element1Peter van Coeverden de Groot2Katja Engel3Josh D. Neufeld4Vishal Shah5Virginia K. Walker6Department of Biology, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, CanadaDepartment of Biology, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, CanadaDepartment of Biology, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, CanadaDepartment of Biology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, CanadaDepartment of Biology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, CanadaCollege of the Sciences and Mathematics, West Chester University, West Chester, PA, United StatesDepartment of Biology, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, CanadaNorthern populations of Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus) can be anadromous, migrating annually from the ocean to freshwater lakes and rivers in order to escape sub-zero temperatures. Such seasonal behavior demands that these fish and their associated microbiomes adapt to changes in salinity, temperature, and other environmental challenges. We characterized the microbial community composition of anadromous S. alpinus, netted by Inuit fishermen at freshwater and seawater fishing sites in the high Arctic, both under ice and in open water. Bacterial profiles were generated by DNA extraction and high-throughput sequencing of PCR-amplified 16S ribosomal RNA genes. Results showed that microbial communities on the skin and intestine of Arctic char were statistically different when sampled from freshwater or saline water sites. This association was tested using hierarchical Ward's linkage clustering, showing eight distinct clusters in each of the skin and intestinal microbiomes, with the clusters reflecting sampling location between fresh and saline environments, confirming a salinity-linked turnover. This analysis also provided evidence for a core composition of skin and intestinal bacteria, with the phyla Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Cyanobacteria presenting as major phyla within the skin-associated microbiomes. The intestine-associated microbiome was characterized by unidentified genera from families Fusobacteriaceae, Comamonadaceae, Pseudomonadaceae, and Vibrionaceae. The salinity-linked turnover was further tested through ordinations that showed samples grouping based on environment for both skin- and intestine-associated microbiomes. This finding implies that core microbiomes between fresh and saline conditions could be used to assist in regulating optimal fish health in aquaculture practices. Furthermore, identified taxa from known psychrophiles and with nitrogen cycling properties suggest that there is additional potential for biotechnological applications for fish farm and waste management practices.https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fbioe.2019.00032/fullArctic charsalmonid fishanadromousmicrobiomesbioprospectingaquaculture |
| spellingShingle | Erin F. Hamilton Geraint Element Peter van Coeverden de Groot Katja Engel Josh D. Neufeld Vishal Shah Virginia K. Walker Anadromous Arctic Char Microbiomes: Bioprospecting in the High Arctic Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology Arctic char salmonid fish anadromous microbiomes bioprospecting aquaculture |
| title | Anadromous Arctic Char Microbiomes: Bioprospecting in the High Arctic |
| title_full | Anadromous Arctic Char Microbiomes: Bioprospecting in the High Arctic |
| title_fullStr | Anadromous Arctic Char Microbiomes: Bioprospecting in the High Arctic |
| title_full_unstemmed | Anadromous Arctic Char Microbiomes: Bioprospecting in the High Arctic |
| title_short | Anadromous Arctic Char Microbiomes: Bioprospecting in the High Arctic |
| title_sort | anadromous arctic char microbiomes bioprospecting in the high arctic |
| topic | Arctic char salmonid fish anadromous microbiomes bioprospecting aquaculture |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fbioe.2019.00032/full |
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