Microbial community structure of sea spray aerosols at three California beaches
Graham, K.E.; Prussin, A.J.; Marr, L.C.; Sassoubre, L.M.; Boehm, A.B. (2018). Microbial community structure of sea spray aerosols at three California beaches. FEMS Microbiol. Ecol. 94(3): fiy005. https://dx.doi.org/10.1093/femsec/fiy005
In: FEMS Microbiology Ecology. Federation of European Microbiological Societies: Amsterdam. ISSN 0168-6496; e-ISSN 1574-6941, more
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| Author keywords |
sea spray aerosols, bioaerosols, microbiome, beach sand, marine, coastal |
| Authors | | Top |
- Graham, K.E.
- Prussin, A.J.
- Marr, L.C.
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- Sassoubre, L.M.
- Boehm, A.B.
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| Abstract |
We characterized the microbial communities in sea spray aerosols (SSA), water and sand of three beaches in central California (Cowell Beach, Baker Beach and Lovers Point) by sequencing the V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene. Average concentrations of 16S rRNA genes in SSA ranged from 2.4 × 104 to 1.4 × 105 gene copies per m3 of air. A total of 9781 distinct OTUs were identified in SSA and of these, 1042 OTUs were found in SSA of all beaches. SSA microbial communities included marine taxa, as well as some associated with the terrestrial environment. SSA taxa included organisms that play important roles in biogeochemical cycling of elements such as Planctomyces and Synechococcus, as well as those representing potential pathogens and fecal indicator bacteria including Staphylococcus epidermidis and Enterococcus spp. There were a large number of shared OTUs among SSA and water, and there was relatively high similarity between SSA and water communities. Results are consistent with a conceptual model where SSA is generated by breaking waves and bubble bursting in marine waters and that enables the transport of microorganisms from the sea to sand or other environments. |
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