Impacts of radiation exposure on the bacterial and fungal microbiome of small mammals in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone

Antwis, Rachael E.; Beresford, Nicholas A.; Jackson, Joe; Fawkes, Ross; Barnett, C.L.; Potter, E.D.; Walker, Lee A.; Gaschak, Sergey P.

doi:10.1111/1365-2656.13507

Cited by 18 publications

(66 citation statements)

References 87 publications

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“…We have estimated total absorbed dose rates for relevant organism types rather than simply using ambient dose rate as a marker of comparative radiation levels across our study sites. In agreement with previous observations [ 44 , 75 , 76 ] we demonstrated that ambient dose rate underestimated total absorbed dose rates to organisms. We recommend that, when relating observations to radiation exposure, total absorbed dose rates are used.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

Current ionising radiation doses in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone do not directly impact on soil biological activity

2022

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Although soil organisms are essential for ecosystem function, the impacts of radiation on soil biological activity at highly contaminated sites has been relatively poorly studied. In April-May 2016, we conducted the first largescale deployment of bait lamina to estimate soil organism (largely soil invertebrate) feeding activity in situ at study plots in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone (CEZ). Across our 53 study plots, estimated weighted absorbed dose rates to soil organisms ranged from 0.7 μGy h-1 to 1753 μGy h-1. There was no significant relationship between soil organism feeding activity and estimated weighted absorbed dose rate. Soil biological activity did show significant relationships with soil moisture content, bulk density (used as a proxy for soil organic matter) and pH. At plots in the Red Forest (an area of coniferous plantation where trees died because of high radiation exposure in 1986) soil biological activity was low compared to plots elsewhere in the CEZ. It is possible that the lower biological activity observed in the Red Forest is a residual consequence of what was in effect an acute high exposure to radiation in 1986.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

Current ionising radiation doses in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone do not directly impact on soil biological activity

2022

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“…In Antwis et al (2021), we make a comment that 'any study that uses the Red Forest as a location for radiation effect studies on wildlife needs to consider the historical impacts of radiation and other stressors (e.g. wildfires) on this area'.…”

Section: Con S Ider Ati On S On S Tud Ie S In R Adiolog Ic Ally Conta...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Some observations on meaningful and objective inference in radioecological field studies

Jackson

Antwis

Beresford

2022

Journal of Animal Ecology

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1. Anthropogenic releases of radiation are of ongoing importance for environmental protection, but the radiation doses at which natural systems begin to show effects are controversial. More certainty is required in this area to achieve optimal regulation for radioactive substances. We recently carried out a large survey (268 sampled animals and 20 sites) of the association between environmental radiation exposures and small mammal gut-associated microbiomes (fungal and bacterial) in the Chornobyl Exclusion zone (CEZ). Using individual measurements of total absorbed dose rates and a study design and analyses that accounted for spatial non-independence, we found no, or only limited, association.2. Watts et al. have criticised our study: for not filtering candidate non-resident components prior to our fungal microbiome analyses, for our qualified speculations on the relative merits of faecal and gut samples, and for the design of our study which they felt lacked sufficient replication.3. The advantage of filtering non-resident-fungal taxa is not clear and it would not have changed the null (spatially adjusted) association we found between radioactive dose and mycobiome composition because the most discriminatory fungal taxa with regard to dose were non-resident taxa.4. We maintain that it was legitimate for us to make qualified discussion comments on the differences in results between our faecal and gut microbiome analyses and on the relative merits of these sample types. 5. Most importantly, the criticism of our study design by Watts et al. and the designs and analysis of their recent studies in the CEZ show a misunderstanding of the true nature of independent replication in field studies. Recognising the importance of spatial non-independence is essential in the design and analysis of radioecological field surveys.

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“…Similarly, gut mycobiota in two species of wild mice were dominated by yeasts assigned to the genus Kazachstania , but contained SV groups assigned to a polypore, Trametes versicolor [ 33 ]. Further, SV groups assigned to macrofungi ( Steccherinaceae and Strophariaceae , which include polyporoid and mushroom-forming species, respectively) form an abundant component of the apparent gut mycobiota of small rodents [ 34 ]. Indeed, SV groups assigned to macrofungi and plant pathogens or endophytes occur in analyses of gut mycobiota of diverse wild animal taxa, including macaques [ 35 ], bats [ 18 ], zebrafish [ 36 ], and birds [ 33 , 37 ].…”

Section: Separating the Wheat From The Chaff: Non-resident Fungi Are Present In Analyses Of Wild Animal ‘Gut Mycobiota’mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For example, one response of the fungal community in fecal samples from yellow-necked mice inhabiting ecosystems that had experienced different levels of burning was a change in abundance of Gelatoporia sp. [ 34 ]. Since Gelatoporia is a genus of poroid crust fungi producing white rot that inhabits dead wood [ 38 ], these data may reflect the condition of the host’s environment and diet rather than an effect of environment on the resident gut mycobiota per se.…”

Section: Separating the Wheat From The Chaff: Non-resident Fungi Are Present In Analyses Of Wild Animal ‘Gut Mycobiota’mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…To illustrate the potential effect of filtering of sequence variant (SV) groups assigned to wild animal gut mycobiota we examined the data in Antwis et al [ 34 ]. This study characterised the gut mycobiota of four species of rodent (bank vole, Myodes glareolus n = 152, wood mouse, Apodemus sylvaticus n = 24, striped field mouse, A. agrarius n = 25, and yellow-necked mouse, A. flavicollis n = 54) inhabiting the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, Ukraine.…”

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Defining gut mycobiota for wild animals: a need for caution in assigning authentic resident fungal taxa

et al. 2021

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Animal gut mycobiota, the community of fungi that reside within the gastrointestinal tract, make an important contribution to host health. Accordingly, there is an emerging interest to quantify the gut mycobiota of wild animals. However, many studies of wild animal gut mycobiota do not distinguish between the fungi that likely can reside within animal gastrointestinal tracts from the fungal taxa that are non-residents, such as macrofungi, lichens or plant symbionts/pathogens that can be ingested as part of the host’s diet. Confounding the non-resident and resident gut fungi may obscure attempts to identify processes associated with the authentic, resident gut mycobiota per se. To redress this problem, we propose some strategies to filter the taxa identified within an apparent gut mycobiota based on an assessment of host ecology and fungal traits. Consideration of the different sources and roles of fungi present within the gastrointestinal tract should facilitate a more precise understanding of the causes and consequences of variation in wild animal gut mycobiota composition.

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Impacts of radiation exposure on the bacterial and fungal microbiome of small mammals in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone

Abstract: This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Cited by 18 publications

References 87 publications

Current ionising radiation doses in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone do not directly impact on soil biological activity

Current ionising radiation doses in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone do not directly impact on soil biological activity

Some observations on meaningful and objective inference in radioecological field studies

Defining gut mycobiota for wild animals: a need for caution in assigning authentic resident fungal taxa

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