Characteristics of long-term changes in microbial communities from contaminated sediments along the west coast of South Korea: Ecological assessment with eDNA and physicochemical analyses. (November 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lee, Aslan Hwanhwi; Lee, Junghyun; Noh, Junsung; Lee, Changkeun; Hong, Seongjin; Kwon, Bong-Oh; Kim, Jae-Jin; Khim, Jong Seong
• Is Part Of: Marine pollution bulletin. Volume 160(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-11
• Subjects: Environmental DNA -- In situ microbial community -- Next-generation sequencing -- Persistent toxic substance -- In vitro bioassay -- Sediment pollution; Marine pollution -- Periodicals; Marine Biology -- Periodicals; Water Pollution -- Periodicals; Mer -- Pollution -- Périodiques; Publications périodiques; Pollution des mers; Lutte antipollution; Electronic journals; 363.7394
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111592
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0025-326X

Abstract

Abstract: The environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding was applied to assess benthic ecological health in the west coast of South Korea by investigating a long-term microbial community change (2015–17). The ecological interaction among microorganisms, from phylum to family level, and their associations to environmental variables across the five regions were highlighted. As part of the study, the available chemistry and toxicological data in the regions during the monitoring periods were incorporated into an integrated sediment triad assessment. The bacterial communities were dominated by Proteobacteria (34.2%), Bacteroidetes (13.8%), and Firmicutes (10.8%). Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes dominated consistently across regions and years, while Firmicutes and Cyanobacteria significantly varied by region and years ( p < 0.05). The abundance of this phylum declined over time with the increasing abundance of Cyanobacteria, indicating their independent interactions to certain environmental changes. Planctomycetes and Gemmatimonadetes linked to some contaminants (ΣPAHs and Cu), implying indicator taxa. Overall, eDNA-based microbial community analysis combined with exposures of contaminants and responses of microorganisms is a promising strategy for the assessment of benthic ecological health in contaminated sediments from coastal waters. Graphical abstract: Unlabelled Image Highlights: eDNA successfully demonstrated long-term changes of benthic bacterial communities. Bacterial community changes broadly, but specifically, reflected region, salinity, and years. Firmicutes communities & Cyanobacteria shifted most significantly in time and space. Planctomycetes & Gemmatimonadetes linked to some contaminants, implying indicator taxa Sediment eDNA was useful to complement typical assessment for contaminated sediments.