The microbiome of the pelagic tunicate Dolioletta gegenbauri: a potential link between the grazing and microbial food web

Doliolids often form massive blooms during upwelling conditions in sub-tropical shelves. However, their trophic role, including their nutritious fecal pellets, in pelagic marine food webs remains poorly investigated. In this study, we performed three independent feeding experiments of cultured Dolioletta gegenbauri and used qPCR analysis and 16S rRNA metabarcoding to characterize the microbial community associated with full gut (FG) and empty (EG) doliolids, fresh (FP2Hrs) and senescing (FP24Hrs) fecal pellets, and the surrounding natural seawater (SW). Bacterial abundance (i.e., 16S rRNA gene copies) in EG samples was an order of magnitude lower than in SW and three orders lower than in FP24Hrs. Diversity analyses, based on the 16S rRNA metabarcoding data, supported a richer microbial community in SW, FP2Hrs, FP24Hrs, and FG samples. Furthermore, microbial community structure was determined by sample type, with FG samples appearing more similar to either FP2Hrs or FP24Hrs. These patterns resulted from the higher number of shared ASVs and consequently the contribution of similar major bacterial taxa (e.g., Rhodobacteraceae, Pirellulaceae). These observations support the hypothesis that there are significant ecological and trophic interactions between D. gegenbauri and the ocean microbiome. Predicted gene function recovered many genes related to key processes in the marine environment and supported greater similarity between FP2Hrs, FP24Hrs, and FG samples. These observations suggest that pelagic marine bacteria are utilized by D. gegenbauri to digest captured prey particles, and the subsequent release of fecal pellets supports the rapid proliferation of distinct microbial communities which likely influence key biogeochemical processes in the ocean.

COPROLITES FROM CALVERT CLIFFS: MIOCENE FECAL PELLETS AND BURROWED CROCODILIAN DROPPINGS FROM THE CHESAPEAKE GROUP OF MARYLAND, U.S.A.

New finds of remarkable coprolites (fossilized feces) are here reported from the famous Miocene marine sediments of the Chesapeake Group exposed along Calvert Cliffs (Maryland, U.S.A.). Although vertebrate coprolites have been described from these deposits, here we provide the first description of tiny invertebrate fecal pellets. Thus far, these fecal pellets have only been found in the upper Miocene (Tortonian) St. Marys Formation. The micro-coprolites represent the coprulid ichnospecies Coprulus oblongus. The fecal pellets are found in small clusters or strings of dozens to masses of many hundreds. Pellets range in size from approximately 0.4 – 2.0 mm wide by 1.0 – 5.0 mm long, and range in color from gray to brownish black. Their length/diameter ratio is always very nearly 2. These coprulids have been found in a variety of Miocene fossils/concretions including a uranoscopid neurocranium, naticid gastropod, bivalve shells, barnacle tests, and in pellet-backfilled sinuous burrows through sediment. Because the fecal pellets are often found in tiny spaces or spaces thought to be inaccessible to shelled invertebrates, the coprulids are attributed to small and soft-bodied polychaetes or other annelids. Some coprolites attributed to crocodilians from the lower-middle Miocene Calvert Formation were tunneled into, presumably the result of coprophagy, by some unknown kind of organism(s). These compound trace fossils are in the form of burrows that excavate the coprolites, the sides of which are sculptured by scratch/gouge marks.

Seasonal variability in carbon:234thorium ratios of suspended and sinking particles in coastal Antarctic waters: Field data and modeling synthesis

238U-234Th disequilibrium is a powerful tool for investigating particle cycling and carbon export associated with the ocean's biological carbon pump. However, the interpretation of this method is complicated by multiple processes that can modify carbon:thorium ratios over small spatial scales. We investigated seasonal variability in the thorium and carbon cycles at a coastal site in the Western Antarctic Peninsula. Throughout the ice-free summer season, we quantified carbon and 234Th vertical flux, total water column 234Th, particulate 234Th, and the C:234Th ratios of sinking material and bulk suspended material. Simultaneous identification and separation of fecal pellets from sinking material showed that fecal pellets (primarily from krill) contributed 56% of carbon flux and that as a result of lower C:234Th ratios than suspended particles, these fecal pellets were primary drivers of variability in the C:234Th ratios of sinking material. Bulk suspended particles had highly variable C:234Th ratios and were consistently elevated in the euphotic zone relative to deeper waters. The fraction of 234Th adsorbed onto particles was positively correlated with chlorophyll and particulate organic carbon (POC) concentrations. The C:234Th ratios of suspended particles were positively correlated with POC, although during the spring diatom bloom C:234Th ratios were lower than would have been predicted based on POC concentrations alone. We hypothesize that diatom production of transparent exopolymers may have led to enhanced rates of thorium adsorption during the bloom, thus decreasing the C:234Th ratios. We used a Bayesian model selection approach to develop and parameterize mechanistic models to simulate thorium sorption dynamics. The best model incorporated one slowly-sinking POC pool and rapidly-sinking fecal pellets, with second-order sorption kinetics. The model accurately simulated temporal patterns in the C:234Th ratios of sinking and suspended particles and the fraction of 234Th adsorbed to particles. However, it slightly over-estimated C:234Th ratios during the spring (diatom-dominated) bloom and underestimated C:234Th ratios during the fall (mixed-assemblage) bloom. Optimized model parameters for thorium sorption and desorption were 0.0047 +/- 0.0002 m3 mmol C-1 d-1 and 0.017 +/- 0.008 d-1, respectively. Our results highlight the important role that specific taxa can play in modifying the C:234Th ratio of sinking and suspended particles and provide guidance for future studies that use 234Th measurements to investigate the functional relationships driving the efficiency of the biological pump.

Spatial Variation of Trace Metals between Industrial and Rural Dwelling Birds of India

A large quantity of trace metals has been continuously polluting the environment as a result of increasing urbanization and industrial processes. In 2016-2017, the metal (Cd, Cu, Cr, Ni, Pb, and Zn) levels were determined in fecal pellets of Blue Rock Pigeon (Columba livia) at Bais Godam (industrial location) in Jaipur and Chittora (rural location) in Rajasthan, India. Fecal pellets in industrial regions which are under higher anthropogenic influence exhibited higher metal concentrations when compared with the fecal pellets of the same species in rural area which have minimal anthropogenic input, with statistically significant industrial-rural differences in the metal concentrations except for Ni. Results obtained in this study, as well as the comparison with literature data, indicated that concentrations of Cr and Cu were high in fecal pellets of Blue Rock Pigeon in the industrial region of the present study. Furthermore, many significant correlations were also observed between metal levels in the industrial region which could be attributed to a similar source. Moreover, contamination levels of pigeon excrement serve as one of the most compelling indicators in terrestrial systems for the monitoring of metal pollution levels.

Catalysis of Chlorovirus Production by the Foraging of Bursaria truncatella on Paramecia bursaria Containing Endosymbiotic Algae

Chloroviruses are large viruses that replicate in chlorella-like green algae and normally exist as mutualistic endosymbionts (referred to as zoochlorellae) in protists such as Paramecium bursaria. Chlorovirus populations rise and fall in indigenous waters through time; however, the factors involved in these virus fluctuations are still under investigation. Chloroviruses attach to the surface of P. bursaria but cannot infect their zoochlorellae hosts because the viruses cannot reach the zoochlorellae as long as they are in the symbiotic phase. Predators of P. bursaria, such as copepods and didinia, can bring chloroviruses into contact with zoochlorellae by disrupting the paramecia, which results in an increase in virus titers in microcosm experiments. Here, we report that another predator of P. bursaria, Bursaria truncatella, can also increase chlorovirus titers. After two days of foraging on P. bursaria, B. truncatella increased infectious chlorovirus abundance about 20 times above the controls. Shorter term foraging (3 h) resulted in a small increase of chlorovirus titers over the controls and more foraging generated more chloroviruses. Considering that B. truncatella does not release viable zoochlorellae either during foraging or through fecal pellets, where zoochlorellae could be infected by chlorovirus, we suggest a third pathway of predator virus catalysis. By engulfing the entire protist and digesting it slowly, virus replication can occur within the predator and some of the virus is passed out through a waste vacuole. These results provide additional support for the hypothesis that predators of P. bursaria are important drivers of chlorovirus population sizes and dynamics.

Identification and Probiotic Potency Screening of Cellulolytic Bacilli Isolated from Fecal Pellets and Gastrointestinal Tract of Nypha Worm (Namalycastis rhodochorde), West Kalimantan, Indonesia

The bacterial isolates NrLtF1, NrLtF4, NrLtF5, and NrLtG2 isolated from fecal pellets and gastrointestinal tract of nypha worms (Namalycastis rhodochorde) have cellulolytic, proteolytic activity and produce organic acids. The four isolates have the potency to be developed as probiotics in nypha worm cultivation feed. This study aims to determine the probiotics potency and identify the species of NrLtF1, NrLtF4, NrLtF5, and NrLtG2 isolate based on 16srDNA sequence. The probiotic potency was carried out by the acid tolerance assays on distilled water and 0.3% acid bile media, and the antimicrobial testing against Escherichia coli (MF exp21.12). Bacterial identification was carried out by sequencing of 16sDNA sequence based on GeneBank data. The results showed that the bacterial isolates of NrLtF1, NrLtF4, NrLtF5, and NrLtG2 were able to grow on 0.3% distilled water and acid bile media. However, only the NrLtF4 and NrLtF5 inhibited E. coli (MF exp21.12) with halo zones 30 mm and 18 mm, respectively. Blasting results of the 16srDNA sequences showed that the NrLtF1, NrLtF4, NrLtF5, and NrLtG2 were closely related to Bacillus wiedmannii, Brevibacterium sediminis, Bacillus proteolyticus, and Bacillus paramycoides. The nypha worm bacterial isolates have the potency to be developed as probiotics in nypha worm culture.

Modelling the Influence from Biota and Organic Matter on the Transport Dynamics of Microplastics in the Water Column and Bottom Sediments in the Oslo Fjord

The fate of microplastics (MP) in seawater is heavily influenced by the biota: the density of MP particles can be changed due to biofouling, which affects sinking, or MP can be digested by zooplankton and transferred into fecal pellets with increased sinking rate. We hypothesize that seasonal production and degradation of organic matter, and corresponding changes in the plankton ecosystem affect the MP capacity for transportation and burying in sediments in different seasons. This is simulated with a coupled hydrodynamical-biogeochemical model that provides a baseline scenario of the seasonal changes in the planktonic ecosystem and changes in the availability of particulate and dissolved organic matter. In this work, we use a biogeochemical model OxyDep that simulates seasonal changes of phytoplankton (PHY), zooplankton (HET), dissolved organic matter (DOM) and detritus (POM). A specifically designed MP module considers MP particles as free particles (MPfree), particles with biofouling (MPbiof), particles consumed by zooplankton (MPhet) and particles in detritus, including fecal pellets (MPdet). A 2D coupled benthic-pelagic vertical transport model 2DBP was applied to study the effect of seasonality on lateral transport of MP and its burying in the sediments. OxyDep and MP modules were coupled with 2DBP using Framework for Aquatic Biogeochemical Modelling (FABM). A depletion of MP from the surface water and acceleration of MP burying in summer period compared to the winter was simulated numerically. The calculations confirm the observations that the “biological pump” can be one of the important drivers controlling the quantity and the distribution of MP in the water column.