Metagenomic Characterization of Bacterial Diversity and Succession in Shedd Aquarium Marine Display and Filtration Systems from the Wild Reef Shark Exhibit Setup
Type of Presentation
Event
Location
D1497
Start Date
4-7-2017 1:50 PM
End Date
4-7-2017 2:20 PM
Abstract
The work described here involves the metagenomic characterization of bacterial diversity from a series of samples taken during set up and implementation of the Wild Reef Shark Exhibit at the Shedd Aquarium. This study takes advantage of the use of previously collected samples from the quarantine tanks for the sharks, the filter systems used to continuously remove toxic nitrogenous waste from the water, and sand filters used for each tank system. The previous work focused on only the ammonia oxidizer bacterial populations. That work showed distinct patterns of Nitrosomonas and Nitrosopira genus types succession Shifts from Nitrosospira-like to Nitrosomonas-like sequences in one enrichment tank, and succession to predominantly Nitrosospira-like species after the support media was transferred to the aquarium’s life support system’s filters. The Nitrosospira-like sequences persisted as the dominant phylotype through the end of the study. The metagenomics work has confirmed the patterns shown earlier, but also focuses on the entire complement of bacterial types present in each. These sample DNA sets from the Wild Reef Exhibit show drastic changes in the diversity species in all but the Philippines water samples when comparing early to late sample collections. It appears that many species are lost as new bacteria become dominant during the 80 week study describing bacteria in Lake Michigan freshwater succession to more marine-like bacteria in the aquaria water and filter systems. Not surprisingly, the nitrogen cycle related bacteria dominate by the end of the setup period.
Metagenomic Characterization of Bacterial Diversity and Succession in Shedd Aquarium Marine Display and Filtration Systems from the Wild Reef Shark Exhibit Setup
D1497
The work described here involves the metagenomic characterization of bacterial diversity from a series of samples taken during set up and implementation of the Wild Reef Shark Exhibit at the Shedd Aquarium. This study takes advantage of the use of previously collected samples from the quarantine tanks for the sharks, the filter systems used to continuously remove toxic nitrogenous waste from the water, and sand filters used for each tank system. The previous work focused on only the ammonia oxidizer bacterial populations. That work showed distinct patterns of Nitrosomonas and Nitrosopira genus types succession Shifts from Nitrosospira-like to Nitrosomonas-like sequences in one enrichment tank, and succession to predominantly Nitrosospira-like species after the support media was transferred to the aquarium’s life support system’s filters. The Nitrosospira-like sequences persisted as the dominant phylotype through the end of the study. The metagenomics work has confirmed the patterns shown earlier, but also focuses on the entire complement of bacterial types present in each. These sample DNA sets from the Wild Reef Exhibit show drastic changes in the diversity species in all but the Philippines water samples when comparing early to late sample collections. It appears that many species are lost as new bacteria become dominant during the 80 week study describing bacteria in Lake Michigan freshwater succession to more marine-like bacteria in the aquaria water and filter systems. Not surprisingly, the nitrogen cycle related bacteria dominate by the end of the setup period.
Other Presentation Disciplines:
Dr. Timothy Gsell is Professor of Biology and Environmental Biology, with student Sandy Emme; College of Arts and Sciences; and Allen Lapointe, Vice-President Overseeing Environmental Quality at The Shedd Aquarium, Chicago.