Dataset Information

Diverse and highly recombinant anelloviruses associated with Weddell seals in Antarctica.

ABSTRACT: The viruses circulating among Antarctic wildlife remain largely unknown. In an effort to identify viruses associated with Weddell seals (Leptonychotes weddellii) inhabiting the Ross Sea, vaginal and nasal swabs, and faecal samples were collected between November 2014 and February 2015. In addition, a Weddell seal kidney and South Polar skua (Stercorarius maccormicki) faeces were opportunistically sampled. Using high throughput sequencing, we identified and recovered 152 anellovirus genomes that share 63-70% genome-wide identities with other pinniped anelloviruses. Genome-wide pairwise comparisons coupled with phylogenetic analysis revealed two novel anellovirus species, tentatively named torque teno Leptonychotes weddellii virus (TTLwV) -1 and -2. TTLwV-1 (n?=?133, genomes encompassing 40 genotypes) is highly recombinant, whereas TTLwV-2 (n?=?19, genomes encompassing three genotypes) is relatively less recombinant. This study documents ubiquitous TTLwVs among Weddell seals in Antarctica with frequent co-infection by multiple genotypes, however, the role these anelloviruses play in seal health remains unknown.

SUBMITTER: Fahsbender E

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5518176 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Diverse and highly recombinant anelloviruses associated with Weddell seals in Antarctica.

Fahsbender Elizabeth E Burns Jennifer M JM Kim Stacy S Kraberger Simona S Frankfurter Greg G Eilers Alice A AA Shero Michelle R MR Beltran Roxanne R Kirkham Amy A McCorkell Robert R Berngartt Rachel K RK Male Maketalena F MF Ballard Grant G Ainley David G DG Breitbart Mya M Varsani Arvind A

Virus evolution 20170101 1

The viruses circulating among Antarctic wildlife remain largely unknown. In an effort to identify viruses associated with Weddell seals (<i>Leptonychotes weddellii</i>) inhabiting the Ross Sea, vaginal and nasal swabs, and faecal samples were collected between November 2014 and February 2015. In addition, a Weddell seal kidney and South Polar skua (<i>Stercorarius maccormicki</i>) faeces were opportunistically sampled. Using high throughput sequencing, we identified and recovered 152 anellovirus ...[more]

PMID: 28744371

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Project description:The impacts of climate change in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean are not uniform and ice-obligate species with dissimilar life-history characteristics will likely respond differently to their changing ecosystems. We use a unique data set of Weddell Leptonychotes weddellii and crabeater seals' (CESs) Lobodon carcinophaga breeding season distribution in the Weddell Sea, determined from satellite imagery. We contrast the theoretical climate impacts on both ice-obligate predators who differ in life-history characteristics: CESs are highly specialized Antarctic krill Euphausia superba predators and breed in the seasonal pack ice; Weddell seals (WESs) are generalist predators and breed on comparatively stable fast ice. We used presence-absence data and a suite of remotely sensed environmental variables to build habitat models. Each of the environmental predictors is multiplied by a 'climate change score' based on known responses to climate change to create a 'change importance product'. Results show CESs are more sensitive to climate change than WESs. Crabeater seals prefer to breed close to krill, and the compounding effects of changing sea ice concentrations and sea surface temperatures, the proximity to krill and abundance of stable breeding ice, can influence their post-breeding foraging success and ultimately their future breeding success. But in contrast to the Ross Sea, here WESs prefer to breed closer to larger colonies of emperor penguins (Aptenodytes forsteri). This suggests that the Weddell Sea may currently be prey-abundant, allowing the only two air-breathing Antarctic silverfish predators (Pleuragramma antarctica) (WESs and emperor penguins) to breed closer to each other. This is the first basin-scale, region-specific comparison of breeding season habitat in these two key Antarctic predators based on real-world data to compare climate change responses. This work shows that broad-brush, basin-scale approaches to understanding species-specific responses to climate change are not always appropriate, and regional models are needed-especially when designing marine protected areas.

Dataset Information

Diverse and highly recombinant anelloviruses associated with Weddell seals in Antarctica.

Publications

Diverse and highly recombinant anelloviruses associated with Weddell seals in Antarctica.

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