Evolution: bacteria's' role in animal biomes (Introduction)

by David Turell , Tuesday, August 22, 2023, 17:09 (457 days ago) @ David Turell

A study of whale shark skin microbiome:

https://phys.org/news/2023-08-whale-shark-health-habitat-dietand.html

"Loss of habitat and human activities such as fishing and shipping pose a grave threat to wildlife but diseases driven by the smallest organisms in the ocean are a less understood side of marine conservation.

"These diverse and abundant microbiome communities perform complex processes on skin and tissue of marine wildlife—and Flinders University scientists are breaking ground by understanding their role in an endangered shark species and to describe new marine microbes for the first time.

"In a new article, scientists from around the world have collaborated to sample microbes on the skin surface of the world's largest fish—the whale shark (Rhincodon typus)—at five of the most famous diving sites around the world,

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"'While microbial species differ across the world, they work together to form a balanced network that contributes to the health of the sharks.

"'It is important to measure and analyze the distinct and diverse epidermal microbiome of the global whale shark populations to work towards understanding how the microbes affect the well-being and survival of this amazing animal.

"'The characteristics of a balanced microbial community are not well described for any species, but especially for sharks, which form a vital link in ocean food chains and ecosystems.

"'The microbes form a complex network pattern on the skin surface, which is consistent across sharks from each location, revealing characteristics of what comprises a balanced or unbalanced microbiome."

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"Professor Dinsdale says the right balance of microbes are critical to the well-being and survival of the host with which they live.

"'In humans, for example, skin microbes are always present, and when these communities are 'healthy,' they go unnoticed; however, when they are unbalanced, they cause skin conditions such as dermatitis, or skin infections," she says.

"'As microbes are too small to see, it is important to gain an understanding of how these complex network patterns fit together for a healthy microbiome balance. Unbalanced interactions can lead to a loss of benefits for the host and can result in disease.

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"Microscopic organisms conduct important processes including nitrogen and oxygen production in oceans, consuming organic matter and metabolizing carbohydrates."

Comment: more evidence of the important work microbiomes do. Only a tiny percentage of bacteria act badly.