Project description:The St. Lawrence Estuary (SLE) beluga (Delphinapterus leucas) population in Canada is endangered, and endocrine disrupting contaminants such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and other halogenated flame retardants (HFRs) have been identified as a threat to the recovery of this population. While targeted approaches such as quantitative reverse transcription PCR (RT-qPCR) have been widely used to assess the impacts of contaminants on marine mammals, including SLE beluga, few studies have employed transcriptomics. Here, we (1) evaluate the skin transcriptome profiles of adult male SLE beluga and adult males from a Arctic population less exposed to contaminants (Eastern Beaufort Sea; EBS) used as a reference to identify gene transcripts and biological pathways associated with blubber concentrations of organic contaminants (i.e., PCBs, PBDEs and other HFRs), and (2) assess correlations between several gene transcripts previously identified as biomarkers of organic contaminants in marine mammals and organohalogen concentrations in both populations and estimate threshold values in beluga skin for potential biological effects. Results will provide new and valuable knowledge that identify biological pathways associated with organic contaminant exposure in beluga, which may serve as predictors for higher-level health effects in at-risk populations such as SLE beluga.
Project description:The St. Lawrence Estuary (SLE) beluga (Delphinapterus leucas) population in Canada is Endangered, and endocrine disrupting contaminants, such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and other halogenated flame retardants, have been identified as a threat to the recovery of this population. Here, potential impacts of these contaminants on SLE beluga were evaluated by comparing skin transcriptome profiles and biological pathways between this population and a population less exposed to contaminants (Eastern Beaufort Sea) used as a reference. Differential gene expression analysis indicated potential seasonal or geography-related (Arctic vs temperate regions) effects on the skin transcriptome. Among the gene transcripts that were associated with Σ31PCB (123 genes), Σ29PBDE (198 genes), HBB (347 genes), and PBEB (126 genes) blubber concentrations, several were related to immune response pathways. In addition, 18 toxicology-related gene transcripts selected from the literature were correlated with organohalogen concentrations and were used to derive new threshold values in beluga skin for potential biological effects of ΣPCB (1,500 ng/g lw), ΣPBDE (52 ng/g lw), and two other flame retardants, i.e., HBB (1.2 ng/g lw) and PBEB (0.04 ng/g lw). Results suggest that exposure to these organohalogens pose a risk to the immune system of SLE beluga.
| S-EPMC11823453 | biostudies-literature
Project description:St. Lawrence Estuary Beluga Skin and Water Microbiome
Project description:Changes in trophodynamics may affect trophic niche both at the individual and population levels. Using stable isotope ratios, we showed how contrasting oceanographic and trophic conditions in 1997-2003 and 2015-2020 have altered the diet and degree of individual specialization of St. Lawrence Estuary beluga (Delphinapterus leucas). The trophic niche of all sex and age classes changed over time, with beluga consuming more small pelagic prey during the first than the second period. Adult male diets differed from that of adult females and juveniles during the first period due to the other prey that were consumed. In 2015-2020, diet contributions by small pelagic prey decreased in all segments of the population and led to marginally significant differences in diet between adult males and females. These dietary changes were concomitant to a diversification of diet at the individual level and to an increase in diet heterogeneity among conspecifics and years within the 2015-2020 period. Whether these patterns emerged from an environment-driven reduction in prey biomass or from an increase in intra- and/or interspecific competition is unknown. Our findings illustrate the importance of considering individuals and not just the population when studying the foraging ecology of endangered species.
Project description:An Infinium microarray platform (GPL28271, HorvathMammalMethylChip40) was used to generate DNA methylation data from skin samples of beluga whales, Maui's dolphin, and humpback whale. Tissue: Skin
Project description:The St. Lawrence hydrographic system includes freshwater, brackish, and marine habitats, and is the largest waterway in North America by volume. The food-webs in these habitats are ultimately dependent on phytoplankton. Viral lysis is believed to be responsible for a major part of phytoplankton mortality. To better understand their role, we characterized the diversity and distribution of two viral taxa infecting phytoplankton: the picornaviruses and phycodnaviruses. Our study focused on the estuary transition zone, which is an important nursery for invertebrates and fishes. Both viral taxa were investigated by PCR amplification of conserved molecular markers and next-generation sequencing at six sites, ranging from freshwater to marine. Our results revealed few shared viral phylotypes between saltwater and freshwater sites. Salinity appeared to be the primary determinant of viral community composition. Moreover, our analysis indicated that the viruses identified in this region of the St. Lawrence diverge from classified viruses and homologous published environmental virotypes. These results suggest that DNA and RNA viruses infecting phytoplankton are likely active in the estuary transition zone, and that this region harbors its own unique viral assemblages.
Project description:This series includes 3 microarrays used to detect SWCoV1, a novel group III coronavirus in Delphinapterus leucas (Beluga whale) liver. Keywords: viral detection