The green seaweed Ulva depends on associated bacteria for its development and is a key model for studying algal-bacterial interactions. These bacterial communities undergo significant taxonomic shifts across environmental gradients, raising the question of whether they play a role in the host’s acclimation to changing conditions. Our latest study sheds light on this dynamic, revealing that while Ulva’s microbiome experiences high taxonomic turnover along a 2000-km Atlantic–Baltic Sea salinity gradient, its functional potential remains remarkably stable.
To better understand how environmental changes shape Ulva’s microbial community, we analyzed 91 Ulva samples collected along a broad salinity gradient using state-of-the-art metagenomic sequencing. From this dataset, we reconstructed 639 metagenome-assembled genomes, uncovering widespread genetic potential for carbon, nitrogen, sulfur, and vitamin metabolism.
Interestingly, while salinity explained 70% of taxonomic variation, it accounted for only 17% of functional variation. This suggests that despite shifts in bacterial composition, the core metabolic functions required to support Ulva remain conserved. A closer look at the data revealed that high-salinity bacterial communities were enriched in genes responsible for thiamine, pyridoxal, and betaine biosynthesis—key compounds that likely help mitigate stress and maintain osmotic balance in fluctuating salinity conditions.
These findings emphasize the resilience of Ulva’s microbiome in maintaining essential functions despite changes in bacterial composition. This stability could be a crucial factor in the adaptability of Ulva to different environments, reinforcing the importance of functional profiling in understanding seaweed holobionts.
By integrating cutting-edge genomic techniques with ecological studies, this research advances our knowledge of host-microbe interactions in marine ecosystems and provides valuable insights for applications in aquaculture, biotechnology, and environmental monitoring.
This study was made possible through the collaboration of an incredible team of researchers, and we extend our deepest gratitude to all partners involved. A special thanks goes to Luna M. van der Loos, whose innovative approaches and expertise were instrumental in bringing this research to fruition. Her state-of-the-art ideas and dedication played a pivotal role in uncovering these fascinating microbial dynamics.
We look forward to further exploring the intricate relationships between Ulva and its microbiome, paving the way for future discoveries in marine science.
Sophie Steinhagen - Seaweed Research 
Our latest article “Low functional change despite high taxonomic turnover characterizes the Ulva microbiome across a 2000-km salinity gradient ” is now available with open access at Science Advances.
The green seaweed Ulva depends on associated bacteria for its development and is a key model for studying algal-bacterial interactions. These bacterial communities undergo significant taxonomic shifts across environmental gradients, raising the question of whether they play a role in the host’s acclimation to changing conditions. Our latest study sheds light on this dynamic, revealing that while Ulva’s microbiome experiences high taxonomic turnover along a 2000-km Atlantic–Baltic Sea salinity gradient, its functional potential remains remarkably stable.
To better understand how environmental changes shape Ulva’s microbial community, we analyzed 91 Ulva samples collected along a broad salinity gradient using state-of-the-art metagenomic sequencing. From this dataset, we reconstructed 639 metagenome-assembled genomes, uncovering widespread genetic potential for carbon, nitrogen, sulfur, and vitamin metabolism.
Interestingly, while salinity explained 70% of taxonomic variation, it accounted for only 17% of functional variation. This suggests that despite shifts in bacterial composition, the core metabolic functions required to support Ulva remain conserved. A closer look at the data revealed that high-salinity bacterial communities were enriched in genes responsible for thiamine, pyridoxal, and betaine biosynthesis—key compounds that likely help mitigate stress and maintain osmotic balance in fluctuating salinity conditions.
These findings emphasize the resilience of Ulva’s microbiome in maintaining essential functions despite changes in bacterial composition. This stability could be a crucial factor in the adaptability of Ulva to different environments, reinforcing the importance of functional profiling in understanding seaweed holobionts.
By integrating cutting-edge genomic techniques with ecological studies, this research advances our knowledge of host-microbe interactions in marine ecosystems and provides valuable insights for applications in aquaculture, biotechnology, and environmental monitoring.
This study was made possible through the collaboration of an incredible team of researchers, and we extend our deepest gratitude to all partners involved. A special thanks goes to Luna M. van der Loos, whose innovative approaches and expertise were instrumental in bringing this research to fruition. Her state-of-the-art ideas and dedication played a pivotal role in uncovering these fascinating microbial dynamics.
We look forward to further exploring the intricate relationships between Ulva and its microbiome, paving the way for future discoveries in marine science.
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