Effects of heavy metals (Pb, Cu, Zn) on algal food uptake by Elphidium excavatum (Foraminifera)

<p><span><span>Foraminifera are unicellular organisms which are important for marine C and N processing. Feeding experiments showed that the food uptake and thus the turnover of organic matter are influenced by changes of physical parameters (e.g., temperature, salinity). Since many areas of the Baltic Sea are strongly affected by anthropogenic activity and therefore contaminated by heavy metals from shipping in the past, this study examined the effect of heavy metal pollution on the food uptake of the most common foraminiferal species of the Baltic Sea, </span></span><span><span><em>E</em></span></span><span><span><em>lphidium</em></span></span><span><span><em> excavatum</em></span></span><span><span>. </span></span><span><span>In 2019, we collected water and sediment containing living </span></span><span><span><em>E</em></span></span><span><span><em>.</em></span></span><span><span><em> excavatum</em></span></span><span><span> in </span></span><span><span>the Kiel Fjord</span></span><span><span>. In laboratory experiments,</span></span><span><span> Baltic Sea seawater was enriched with metals at various levels above normal seawater: Zn (9.2-, 144- and 1044-fold), Pb (2.4-, 48.5- and 557-fold) and Cu (5.6- and 24.3-fold), and the </span></span><span><span>foraminiferal </span></span><span><span>uptake of </span></span><span><sup><span>13</span></sup></span><span><span>C- and </span></span><span><sup><span>15</span></sup></span><span><span>N-labelled phytodetritus was measured by isotope ratio mass spectrometry. Significant differences in food uptake were observable at different types and levels of heavy metals in sea water. An increase in the Pb concentration did not affect food uptake, whereas strong negative effects were found for high levels of Zn and especially for Cu. Interestingly, experiments with short incubation periods (1 and 5 days) showed greater differences in food uptake </span></span><span><span>from undisturbed conditions </span></span><span><span>than those of longer incubation times (10 and 15 days). In summary, an increase in the heavy metal pollution in the Kiel Fjord will likely lead to a significant reduction in the turnover of organic matter by foraminifera such as </span></span><span><span><em>E. excavatum</em></span></span><span><span>.</span></span></p>

The effect of the salinity, light regime and food source on carbon and nitrogen uptake in a benthic foraminifer

Foraminifera are unicellular organisms that play an important role in marine organic matter cycles. Some species are able to isolate chloroplasts from their algal food source and incorporate them as kleptoplasts into their own metabolic pathways, a phenomenon known as kleptoplastidy. One species showing this ability is Elphidium excavatum, a common foraminifer in the Kiel Fjord, Germany. The Kiel Fjord is fed by several rivers and thus forms a habitat with strongly fluctuating salinity. Here, we tested the effects of the food source, salinity and light regime on the food uptake (via 15N and 13C algal uptake) in this kleptoplast-bearing foraminifer. In our study E. excavatum was cultured in the lab at three salinity levels (15, 20 and 25) and uptake of C and N from the food source Dunaliella tertiolecta (Chlorophyceae) and Leyanella arenaria (Bacillariophyceae) were measured over time (after 3, 5 and 7 d). The species was very well adapted to the current salinity of the sampling region, as both algal N and C uptake was highest at a salinity of 20. It seems that E. excavatum coped better with lower than with higher salinities. The amount of absorbed C from the green algae D. tertiolecta showed a tendency effect of salinity, peaking at a salinity of 20. Nitrogen uptake was also highest at a salinity of 20 and steadily increased with time. In contrast, C uptake from the diatom L. arenaria was highest at a salinity of 15 and decreased at higher salinities. We found no overall significant differences in C and N uptake from green algae vs. diatoms. Furthermore, the food uptake at a light–dark rhythm of 16:8 h was compared to continuous darkness. Darkness had a negative influence on algal C and N uptake, and this effect increased with incubation time. Starving experiments showed a stimulation of food uptake after 7 d. In summary, it can be concluded that E. excavatum copes well with changes of salinity to a lower level. For changes in light regime, we showed that light reduction caused a decrease of C and N uptake by E. excavatum.

Microplastic abundance in beach sediments of the Kiel Fjord, Western Baltic Sea

We assessed the abundance of microplastics (0.2–5 mm) in drift line sediments from three sites in Kiel Fjord, Western Baltic Sea. The first site is intensively used by beach visitors, the second is in close proximity to a sewage plant and the third is polluted with large-sized plastic litter. Samples were split into three grain size classes (0.2–0.5, 0.5–1, 1–5 mm), washed with calcium chloride solution, and filtered at 0.2 mm. Filters were then visually inspected, and a total of 180 fragments was classified as microplastics, of which 39% were analyzed using Raman spectroscopy. At the site that is close to a sewage plant as well as at the site with intense beach use, 1.8 and 4.5 particles (fibers plus fragments) per kg of dry sediment were found, respectively, while particle abundances reached 30.2 per kg of dry sediment at the site with high litter loads. Our data suggest that the fragmentation of large plastic debris at site seems to be a relevant source for microplastics in Western Baltic Sea beach sediments.

The effect of salinity, light regime and food source on C and N uptake in a kleptoplast-bearing foraminifera

Foraminifera are unicellular organisms that play an important role in marine organic matter cycles. Some species are able to isolate chloroplasts from their algal food source and incorporate them as kleptoplasts into their own metabolic pathways, a phenomenon known as kleptoplastidy. One species showing this ability is Elphidium excavatum, a common foraminifer in the Kiel fjord, Germany. The Kiel fjord is fed by several rivers and thus forms a habitat with strongly fluctuating salinity. Here, we tested the effects of food source, salinity and light regime on the food uptake (via 15N and 13C algal uptake) in this kleptoplast-bearing foraminifer. In our study E. excavatum was cultured in the lab at three salinity levels (15, 20, 25 PSU) and uptake of C and N (food source: Dunaliella tertiolecta) were measured over time (after 3, 5, 7 days). The species was very well adapted to the current salinity of the sampling region, as both, algal N and C uptake was highest at 20 PSU. It seems that E. excavatum coped better with lower than with higher salinities. The amount of absorbed C from the green algae D. tertiolecta showed a marginal significant effect of salinity, peaking at 20 PSU. Nitrogen uptake was also highest at 20 PSU and steadily increased with time. In contrast, C uptake from the diatom L. arenaria was highest at 15 PSU and decreased at higher salinities. We found no overall significant differences in C and N uptake from green algae versus diatoms. Furthermore, the food uptake at a light/dark rhythm of 16:8 h was compared to continuous darkness. Darkness had a negative influence on algal C and N uptake, and this effect increased with incubation time. Starving experiments showed a stimulation of food uptake after 7 days. In summary, it can be concluded that E. excavatum copes well with changes of salinity to a lower level. For changes in light regime, we showed that light reduction caused a decrease of C and N uptake by E. excavatum.

Genomic variation among closely related Vibrio alginolyticus strains is located on mobile genetic elements

Background Species of the genus Vibrio, one of the most diverse bacteria genera, have undergone niche adaptation followed by clonal expansion. Niche adaptation and ultimately the formation of ecotypes and speciation in this genus has been suggested to be mainly driven by horizontal gene transfer (HGT) through mobile genetic elements (MGEs). Our knowledge about the diversity and distribution of Vibrio MGEs is heavily biased towards human pathogens and our understanding of the distribution of core genomic signatures and accessory genes encoded on MGEs within specific Vibrio clades is still incomplete. We used nine different strains of the marine bacterium Vibrio alginolyticus isolated from pipefish in the Kiel-Fjord to perform a multiscale-comparative genomic approach that allowed us to investigate (1) those genomic signatures that characterize a habitat-specific ecotype and (2) the source of genomic variation within this ecotype.Results We found that the nine isolates from the Kiel-Fjord have a closed-pangenome and did not differ based on core-genomic signatures. Unique genomic regions and a unique repertoire of MGEs within the Kiel-Fjord isolates suggest that the acquisition of gene-blocks by HGT played an important role in the evolution of this ecotype. Additionally, we found that ~90% of the genomic variation among the nine isolates is encoded on MGEs, which supports ongoing theory that accessory genes are predominately located on MGEs and shared by HGT. Lastly, we could show that these nine isolates share a unique virulence and resistance profile which clearly separates them from all other investigated V. alginolyticus strains and suggests that these are habitat-specific genes, required for a successful colonization of the pipefish, the niche of this ecotype. Conclusion We conclude that all nine V. alginolyticus strains from the Kiel-Fjord belong to a unique ecotype, which we named the Kiel-alginolyticus ecotype. The low sequence variation of the core-genome in combination with the presence of MGE encoded relevant traits, as well as the presence of a suitable niche (here the pipefish), suggest, that this ecotype might have evolved from a clonal expansion following HGT driven niche-adaptation.

Genomic variation among closely related Vibrio alginolyticus strains is located on mobile genetic elements

Background Species of the genus Vibrio, one of the most diverse bacteria genera, have undergone niche adaptation followed by clonal expansion. Niche adaptation and ultimately the formation of ecotypes and speciation in this genus has been suggested to be mainly driven by horizontal gene transfer (HGT) through mobile genetic elements (MGEs). Our knowledge about the diversity and distribution of Vibrio MGEs is heavily biased towards human pathogens and our understanding of the distribution of core genomic signatures and accessory genes encoded on MGEs within specific Vibrio clades is still incomplete. We used nine different strains of the marine bacterium Vibrio alginolyticus isolated from pipefish in the Kiel-Fjord to perform a multiscale-comparative genomic approach that allowed us to investigate (1) those genomic signatures that characterize a habitat-specific ecotype and (2) the source of genomic variation within this ecotype. Results We found that the nine isolates from the Kiel-Fjord have a closed-pangenome and did not differ based on core-genomic signatures. Unique genomic regions and a unique repertoire of MGEs within the Kiel-Fjord isolates suggest that the acquisition of gene-blocks by HGT played an important role in the evolution of this ecotype. Additionally, we found that ~90% of the genomic variation among the nine isolates is encoded on MGEs, which supports ongoing theory that accessory genes are predominately located on MGEs and shared by HGT. Lastly, we could show that these nine isolates share a unique virulence and resistance profile which clearly separates them from all other investigated V. alginolyticus strains and suggests that these are habitat-specific genes, required for a successful colonization of the pipefish, the niche of this ecotype. Conclusion We conclude that all nine V. alginolyticus strains from the Kiel-Fjord belong to a unique ecotype, which we named the Kiel-alginolyticus ecotype. The low sequence variation of the core-genome in combination with the presence of MGE encoded relevant traits, as well as the presence of a suitable niche (here the pipefish), suggest, that this ecotype might have evolved from a clonal expansion following HGT driven niche-adaptation.

Complete Genome Sequence of Marinobacter sp. Strain JH2, Isolated from Seawater of the Kiel Fjord

Here, we present the genome sequence of the Gram-negative and rod-shaped Marinobacter sp. strain JH2, which was isolated from seawater of the Kiel Fjord in Germany. The draft genome consists of two replicons, including one chromosome (3.6 Mb) and a circular plasmid (36.7 kb). The genome harbors 3,347 protein-coding genes.