Viral Metagenomic Content Reflects Seawater Ecological Quality in the Coastal Zone

Viruses interfere with their host’s metabolism through the expression of auxiliary metabolic genes (AMGs) that, until now, are mostly studied under large physicochemical gradients. Here, we focus on coastal marine ecosystems and we sequence the viral metagenome (virome) of samples with discrete levels of human-driven disturbances. We aim to describe the relevance of viromics with respect to ecological quality status, defined by the classic seawater trophic index (TRIX). Neither viral (family level) nor bacterial (family level, based on 16S rRNA sequencing) community structure correlated with TRIX. AMGs involved in the Calvin and tricarboxylic acid cycles were found at stations with poor ecological quality, supporting viral lysis by modifying the host’s energy supply. AMGs involved in “non-traditional” energy-production pathways (3HP, sulfur oxidation) were found irrespective of ecological quality, highlighting the importance of recognizing the prevalent metabolic paths and their intermediate byproducts. Various AMGs explained the variability between stations with poor vs. good ecological quality. Our study confirms the pivotal role of the virome content in ecosystem functioning, acting as a “pool” of available functions that may be transferred to the hosts. Further, it suggests that AMGs could be used as an ultra-sensitive metric of energy-production pathways with relevance in the vulnerable coastal zone and its ecological quality.

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Major threats of pollution and climate change to global coastal ecosystems and enhanced management for sustainability

10.5194/egusphere-egu2020-22316 ◽

2020 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Yonglong Lu ◽

Jingjing Yuan ◽

Xiaotian Lu ◽

Chao Su ◽

Yueqing Zhang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Coastal Zone ◽

Environmental Changes ◽

Integrated Management ◽

Coastal Ecosystems ◽

Observation System ◽

Human Populations ◽

Coastal Marine ◽

Large Populations ◽

Coastal Marine Ecosystems

<p>Coastal zone is of great importance in the provision of various valuable ecosystem services. However, it is also sensitive and vulnerable to environmental changes due to high human populations and interactions between the land and ocean. Major threats of pollution from over enrichment of nutrients, increasing metals and persistent organic pollutants (POPs), and climate change have led to severe ecological degradation in the coastal zone, while few studies have focused on the combined impacts of pollution and climate change on the coastal ecosystems at the global level. A global overview of nutrients, metals, POPs, and major environmental changes due to climate change and their impacts on coastal ecosystems was carried out in this study. Coasts of the Eastern Atlantic and Western Pacific were hotspots of concentrations of several pollutants, and mostly affected by warming climate. These hotspots shared the same features of large populations, heavy industry and (semi-) closed sea. Estimation of coastal ocean capital, integrated management of land-ocean interaction in the coastal zone, enhancement of integrated global observation system, and coastal ecosystem-based management can play effective roles in promoting sustainable management of coastal marine ecosystems. Enhanced management from the perspective of mitigating pollution and climate change was proposed.</p>

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Major threats of pollution and climate change to global coastal ecosystems and enhanced management for sustainability

10.31230/osf.io/8c2ks ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Yonglong Lu ◽

Jingjing Yuan

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Coastal Zone ◽

Environmental Changes ◽

Integrated Management ◽

Coastal Ecosystems ◽

Observation System ◽

Human Populations ◽

Coastal Marine ◽

Large Populations ◽

Coastal Marine Ecosystems

Coastal zone is of great importance in the provision of various valuable ecosystem services. However, it is also sensitive and vulnerable to environmental changes due to high human populations and interactions between the land and ocean. Major threats of pollution from over enrichment of nutrients, increasing metals and persistent organic pollutants (POPs), and climate change have led to severe ecological degradation in the coastal zone, while few studies have focused on the combined impacts of pollution and climate change on the coastal ecosystems at the global level. A global overview of nutrients, metals, POPs, and major environmental changes due to climate change and their impacts on coastal ecosystems was carried out in this study. Coasts of the Eastern Atlantic and Western Pacific were hotspots of concentrations of several pollutants, and mostly affected by warming climate. These hotspots shared the same features of large populations, heavy industry and (semi-) closed sea. Estimation of coastal ocean capital, integrated management of land-ocean interaction in the coastal zone, enhancement of integrated global observation system, and coastal ecosystem-based management can play effective roles in promoting sustainable management of coastal marine ecosystems. Enhanced management from the perspective of mitigating pollution and climate change was proposed.

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Seabird influence on ecological processes in coastal marine ecosystems: An overlooked role? A critical review

Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science ◽

10.1016/j.ecss.2020.107164 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 107164

Author(s):

Geraldina Signa ◽

Antonio Mazzola ◽

Salvatrice Vizzini

Keyword(s):

Critical Review ◽

Marine Ecosystems ◽

Ecological Processes ◽

Coastal Marine ◽

Coastal Marine Ecosystems

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Detection of the toxic substance dibutyl phthalate in Antarctic krill

Antarctic Science ◽

10.1017/s0954102017000281 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 29 (6) ◽

pp. 511-516 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Xiangning Han ◽

Daicheng Liu

Keyword(s):

High Performance ◽

Dibutyl Phthalate ◽

Antarctic Krill ◽

Toxic Substance ◽

Dioctyl Phthalate ◽

Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry ◽

Coastal Marine ◽

Freeze Dried ◽

Coastal Marine Ecosystems ◽

Layer Chromatography

AbstractHigh-performance thin layer chromatography was performed to investigate the potential presence of four phthalic acid esters, dimethyl phthalate (DMP), diethyl phthalate (DEP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and dioctyl phthalate (DEHP), in Antarctic krill. The results revealed that in freeze-dried Antarctic krill levels of DBP (0.1043±0.0005 mg g-1 (104.3±0.05 mg kg-1)) were high. The structure of DBP in Antarctic krill was determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Its existence is of concern based on demonstrated harmful effects to animals and plants as Antarctic krill is a key part of the food chain in Antarctic coastal marine ecosystems. The adverse effects of DBP on Antarctic krill and the source of DBP should be explored in further research.

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