Shark Microbiomes as Indicators of Coastal Environmental Change
Presentation Type
Short presentation 10-15 minutes
In Person or Zoom Presentation
In-Person
Campus
Daytona Beach
Status
Student
Faculty/Staff Department
Graduate Studies
Student Year and Major
MS Integrated Environmental Science
Presentation Description/Abstract
Coastal sharks inhabit dynamic environments where fluctuations in temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, nutrients, and other factors can influence host health and ecosystem processes. However, little is known about how environmental variability shapes shark-associated microbial communities and host–microbe interactions. This research investigates relationships between coastal environmental conditions and shark microbiome composition along Florida’s Gulf Coast. In the central west coast of Florida, I am combining environmental surveys with microbiome sequencing to examine microbial diversity across sites that differ in environmental characteristics. Environmental data is integrated with microbiome profiles to evaluate how environmental variability influences microbial community structure. Where appropriate, host characteristics such as species, sex, health status, and diet are also considered to determine whether biological variation contributes to differences in microbiome composition. By examining the shark microbiome as an interface between the host and its surrounding environment, this research is improving the knowledge of host–microbe relationships in coastal ecosystems. Findings are helping to determine whether shark-associated microbial communities serve as indicators of environmental change and coastal ecosystem health, providing a foundation for future conservation and management efforts.
Keywords
marine biology, sharks, coastal resilience, microbiome, biology
Shark Microbiomes as Indicators of Coastal Environmental Change
Coastal sharks inhabit dynamic environments where fluctuations in temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, nutrients, and other factors can influence host health and ecosystem processes. However, little is known about how environmental variability shapes shark-associated microbial communities and host–microbe interactions. This research investigates relationships between coastal environmental conditions and shark microbiome composition along Florida’s Gulf Coast. In the central west coast of Florida, I am combining environmental surveys with microbiome sequencing to examine microbial diversity across sites that differ in environmental characteristics. Environmental data is integrated with microbiome profiles to evaluate how environmental variability influences microbial community structure. Where appropriate, host characteristics such as species, sex, health status, and diet are also considered to determine whether biological variation contributes to differences in microbiome composition. By examining the shark microbiome as an interface between the host and its surrounding environment, this research is improving the knowledge of host–microbe relationships in coastal ecosystems. Findings are helping to determine whether shark-associated microbial communities serve as indicators of environmental change and coastal ecosystem health, providing a foundation for future conservation and management efforts.