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Marine mammals harbor unique microbiotas shaped by and yet distinct from the sea

Author

Listed:
  • Elisabeth M. Bik

    (Stanford University School of Medicine
    Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System)

  • Elizabeth K. Costello

    (Stanford University School of Medicine)

  • Alexandra D. Switzer

    (Stanford University School of Medicine)

  • Benjamin J. Callahan

    (Stanford University)

  • Susan P. Holmes

    (Stanford University)

  • Randall S. Wells

    (Sarasota Dolphin Research Program, Chicago Zoological Society, c/o Mote Marine Laboratory)

  • Kevin P. Carlin

    (Translational Medicine and Research Program, National Marine Mammal Foundation)

  • Eric D. Jensen

    (Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Pacific)

  • Stephanie Venn-Watson

    (Translational Medicine and Research Program, National Marine Mammal Foundation)

  • David A. Relman

    (Stanford University School of Medicine
    Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System
    Stanford University School of Medicine)

Abstract

Marine mammals play crucial ecological roles in the oceans, but little is known about their microbiotas. Here we study the bacterial communities in 337 samples from 5 body sites in 48 healthy dolphins and 18 healthy sea lions, as well as those of adjacent seawater and other hosts. The bacterial taxonomic compositions are distinct from those of other mammals, dietary fish and seawater, are highly diverse and vary according to body site and host species. Dolphins harbour 30 bacterial phyla, with 25 of them in the mouth, several abundant but poorly characterized Tenericutes species in gastric fluid and a surprisingly paucity of Bacteroidetes in distal gut. About 70% of near-full length bacterial 16S ribosomal RNA sequences from dolphins are unique. Host habitat, diet and phylogeny all contribute to variation in marine mammal distal gut microbiota composition. Our findings help elucidate the factors structuring marine mammal microbiotas and may enhance monitoring of marine mammal health.

Suggested Citation

  • Elisabeth M. Bik & Elizabeth K. Costello & Alexandra D. Switzer & Benjamin J. Callahan & Susan P. Holmes & Randall S. Wells & Kevin P. Carlin & Eric D. Jensen & Stephanie Venn-Watson & David A. Relman, 2016. "Marine mammals harbor unique microbiotas shaped by and yet distinct from the sea," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 7(1), pages 1-13, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:7:y:2016:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms10516
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms10516
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    Cited by:

    1. Natasha K. Dudek & Jesus G. Galaz-Montoya & Handuo Shi & Megan Mayer & Cristina Danita & Arianna I. Celis & Tobias Viehboeck & Gong-Her Wu & Barry Behr & Silvia Bulgheresi & Kerwyn Casey Huang & Wah C, 2023. "Previously uncharacterized rectangular bacterial structures in the dolphin mouth," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-15, December.

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