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New Study Reveals Viral Links to Red Tide Blooms
A recent investigation spearheaded by researchers at the University of South Florida delves into the environmental factors contributing to red tide blooms.
Findings from this research, published in the journal mSphere by the American Society for Microbiology, represent a pioneering effort to document viruses linked to Karenia brevis, the unicellular organism responsible for red tide occurrences. Through analysis of water samples extracted from red tide blooms along the southwest coast of Florida, the team identified multiple viruses, including a newly discovered viral species, that coexist with K. brevis.
Recognizing the viruses associated with red tide blooms can enhance the ability of researchers to predict when these blooms will arise and understand the environmental elements that might lead to their decline. This study serves as a foundational step toward investigating viruses as potential biocontrol agents for red tides.
Lead author Jean Lim, a postdoctoral researcher at the USF College of Marine Science (CMS), remarked, “While we have acknowledged the significant role viruses play in harmful algal blooms, the specific viruses related to Karenia brevis blooms remained unidentified until now. With the discovery of these viruses, we can explore their possible effects on bloom events.”
To facilitate this research, Lim collaborated with experts from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (FWRI), which monitors and collects samples during red tide incidents.
Utilizing a technique known as viral metagenomics, Lim and her team were able to reveal the viral entities present in water samples associated with the blooms. This methodology was first developed over two decades ago by Mya Breitbart, a Distinguished University Professor at CMS and the study’s senior author.
“Considering the severe effects of red tide occurrences, it’s surprising that viruses capable of infecting K. brevis have not been documented until now,” explained Breitbart. “Viral metagenomics offers a valuable approach for investigating the viruses accompanying these harmful algal phenomena.”
Red tide blooms pose a multifaceted challenge, resulting from natural processes influenced by ocean currents, nutrient levels, and climate change. The neurotoxins released by K. brevis can prove lethal to marine life, trigger respiratory problems among beach visitors, and adversely affect coastal economies reliant on tourism and fishing.
Current detection methods hinge on satellite imagery that assesses chlorophyll concentration, as well as field samples collected by FWC-FWRI. Researchers at CMS employ ocean circulation models to predict the trajectory of red tide blooms. A deeper understanding of the viral dynamics involved could enhance monitoring and forecasting capabilities, potentially offering early signals about the onset or cessation of blooms.
“There could be a relationship between viral quantities and bloom behavior,” Lim stated. “For instance, a rise in the number of viruses in a sample might indicate the impending onset of a red tide bloom or its conclusion. Utilizing data about viral populations could help forecast bloom patterns.”
As viruses specifically target individual organisms, they might also offer an eco-friendly strategy for managing blooms.
“It’s possible that certain viruses only infect Karenia brevis,” Lim noted. “If we can pinpoint and isolate these viruses, they could serve as biocontrol agents that do not adversely affect the broader marine ecosystem.”
Looking ahead, Lim and her team will work to ascertain whether the viruses identified in this study exert influence over K. brevis or other organisms that coexist with red tide blooms.
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