Dear colleagues,

We are pleased to share our new open-access publication:

Bierlich KC, Miller CA, DeForce E, Friedlaender A, Johnston DW, Apprill A. 2018. Temporal and regional variability in the skin microbiomes of humpback whales along the Western Antarctic Peninsula. Applied and Environmental Microbiology. 84:e02574-17.

Open access paper: http://aem.asm.org/content/84/5/e02574-17.full
Press release: http://www.whoi.edu/news-release/monitoring-bacteria-on-whale-skin

Abstract: The skin is the first line of defense between an animal and its environment, and disruptions in skin-associated microorganisms can be linked to an animal's health and nutritional state. To better understand the skin microbiome of large whales, high-throughput sequencing of partial small subunit rRNA genes was used to study the skin-associated bacteria of 89 seemingly healthy humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) sampled along the Western Antarctic Peninsula (WAP) during early (2010) and late (2013) austral summers. Six core groups of bacteria were present in 93% or more of all humpback skin samples. A shift was observed in the average relative abundances of these core bacteria over time, with the emergence of four additional core groups of bacteria that corresponded to a decrease in water temperature, possibly caused by season- or foraging-related changes in skin biochemistry that influenced microbial growth, or other temporal factors. The skin microbiome differed between whales sampled at several regional locations along the WAP, suggesting that environmental factors or population may also influence the whale skin microbiome. Overall, the skin microbiome of humpback whales appears to provide insight into animal- and environment-related factors and may serve as a useful indicator for animal health or ecosystem alterations.

Feel free to reach out to me or the co-authors with questions.
Best wishes,
Amy

Amy Apprill
Associate Scientist
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
266 Woods Hole Road
Woods Hole, MA 02543
(508) 289-2649