PAH contamination in coastal surface sediments and associated bacterial communities.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) are semi-volatile, lipophilic, and harmful compounds that can persist for decades in a range of marine environments. There are several marine and soil microorganisms that possess enzymes involved in arene degradation. Here, we analyzed the structure (16S rRNA amplicons) and metabolic potential (inferred using phylogenetic placement) of the bacterial community in surface marine sediments from coastal waters off Concepción, Chile, and describe how microbial community patterns are shaped and altered by PAH contamination.

The Effect of Salmon Food-Derived DOM and Glacial Melting on Activity and Diversity of Free-Living Bacterioplankton in Chilean Patagonian Fjords.

Fjord ecosystems cycle and export significant amounts of carbon and appear to be extremely sensitive to climate change and anthropogenic perturbations. To identify patterns of microbial responses to ongoing natural and human-derived changes in the fjords of Chilean Patagonia, we examined the effect of organic enrichment associated with salmon aquaculture and freshening produced by glacial melting on bacterial production (BP), extracellular enzymatic activity (EEA), and community diversity of free-living bacterioplankton. We assayed the effects of salmon food-derived dissolved organic matter (SF-DOM) and meltwaters through microcosm experiments containing waters from Puyuhuapi Fjord and the proglacial fjords of the Southern Patagonia Icefield, respectively.

Water column circulation drives microplastic distribution in the Martínez-Baker channels; A large fjord ecosystem in Chilean Patagonia.

We investigated the distribution of microplastics in the water column along a large remote estuarine system located between the Northern and Southern Patagonian Ice Fields in Chilean Patagonia, and connected with the Pacific Ocean through the Gulf of Penas. Microplastic particles were found in all samples, with abundances ranging from 0.1 to 7 particles/m.

Diversity of culturable filamentous Ascomycetes in the eastern South Pacific Ocean off Chile.

Our study reports the diversity of culturable mycoplankton in the eastern South Pacific Ocean off Chile to contribute with novel knowledge on taxonomy of filamentous fungi isolated from distinct physicochemical and biological marine environments. We characterized spatial distribution of isolates, evaluated their viability and assessed the influence of organic substrate availability on fungal development. Thirty-nine Operational Taxonomic Units were identified from 99 fungal strains isolated from coastal and oceanic waters by using Automatic Barcode Gap Discovery.

Fungal parasites infect marine diatoms in the upwelling ecosystem of the Humboldt current system off central Chile.

This is the first report of fungal parasitism of diatoms in a highly productive coastal upwelling ecosystem, based on a year-round time series of diatom and parasitic Chytridiomycota abundance in the Humboldt Current System off Chile (36°30.80'S-73°07.70'W).

Melting glacier impacts community structure of Bacteria, Archaea and Fungi in a Chilean Patagonia fjord.

Jorge Montt glacier, located in the Patagonian Ice Fields, has undergone an unprecedented retreat during the past century. To study the impact of the meltwater discharge on the microbial community of the downstream fjord, we targeted Bacteria, Archaea and Fungi communities during austral autumn and winter. Our results showed a singular microbial community present in cold and low salinity surface waters during autumn, when a thicker meltwater layer was observed.

Five new species of yeasts from fresh water and marine habitats in the Florida Everglades.

Yeast populations in the Shark River Slough of the Florida Everglades, USA, were examined during a 3-year period (2002-2005) at six locations ranging from fresh water marshes to marine mangroves. Seventy-four described species (33 ascomycetes and 41 basidiomycetes) and an approximately equal number of undescribed species were isolated during the course of the investigation. Serious human pathogens, such as Candida tropicalis, were not observed, which indicates that their presence in coastal waters is due to sources of pollution.