Dear colleagues,
We are pleased to share our new open-access publication:
Bierlich KC, Miller CA, DeForce E, Friedlaender A, Johnston DW, Apprill
A. 2018. Temporal and regional variability in the skin microbiomes of
humpback whales along the Western Antarctic Peninsula. Applied and
Environmental Microbiology. 84:e02574-17.//
Open access paper: http://aem.asm.org/content/84/5/e02574-17.full
Press release:
http://www.whoi.edu/news-release/monitoring-bacteria-on-whale-skin
Abstract: The skin is the first line of defense between an animal and
its environment, and disruptions in skin-associated microorganisms can
be linked to an animal's health and nutritional state. To better
understand the skin microbiome of large whales, high-throughput
sequencing of partial small subunit rRNA genes was used to study the
skin-associated bacteria of 89 seemingly healthy humpback whales
(Megaptera novaeangliae) sampled along the Western Antarctic Peninsula
(WAP) during early (2010) and late (2013) austral summers. Six core
groups of bacteria were present in 93% or more of all humpback skin
samples. A shift was observed in the average relative abundances of
these core bacteria over time, with the emergence of four additional
core groups of bacteria that corresponded to a decrease in water
temperature, possibly caused by season- or foraging-related changes in
skin biochemistry that influenced microbial growth, or other temporal
factors. The skin microbiome differed between whales sampled at several
regional locations along the WAP, suggesting that environmental factors
or population may also influence the whale skin microbiome. Overall, the
skin microbiome of humpback whales appears to provide insight into
animal- and environment-related factors and may serve as a useful
indicator for animal health or ecosystem alterations.
Feel free to reach out to me or the co-authors with questions.
Best wishes,
Amy
Amy Apprill
Associate Scientist
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
266 Woods Hole Road
Woods Hole, MA 02543
(508) 289-2649
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