Exposure to airborne bacteria depends upon vertical stratification and vegetation complexity

Robinson, JM; Cando-Dumancela, C; Antwis, RE; Cameron, R; Liddicoat, C; Poudel, R; Weinstein, P; Breed, MF

Abstract

Exposure to biodiverse aerobiomes supports human health, but it is unclear which ecological factors influence exposure. Few studies have investigated near-surface green space aerobiome dynamics, and no studies have reported aerobiome vertical stratification in different urban green spaces. We used columnar sampling and next generation sequencing of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene, combined with geospatial and network analyses to investigate urban green space aerobiome spatio-compositional dynamics. We show a strong effect of habitat on bacterial diversity and network complexity. We observed aerobiome vertical stratification and network complexity that was contingent on habitat type. Tree density, closer proximity, and canopy coverage associated with greater aerobiome alpha diversity. Grassland aerobiomes exhibited greater proportions of putative pathogens compared to scrub, and also stratified vertically. We provide novel insights into the urban ecosystem with potential importance for public health, whereby the possibility of differential aerobiome exposures appears to depend on habitat type and height in the airspace. This has important implications for managing urban landscapes for the regulation of aerobiome exposure.

Citation

Robinson, J., Cando-Dumancela, C., Antwis, R., Cameron, R., Liddicoat, C., Poudel, R., …Breed, M. (2021). Exposure to airborne bacteria depends upon vertical stratification and vegetation complexity. Scientific reports, 11(1), 9516. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-89065-y

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Apr 20, 2021
• Publication Date: May 4, 2021
• Deposit Date: May 5, 2021
• Publicly Available Date: May 5, 2021
• Journal: Scientific Reports
• Print ISSN: 2045-2322
• Publisher: Nature Publishing Group
• Volume: 11
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 9516
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-89065-y
• Publisher URL: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-89065-y
• Related Public URLs: https://www.nature.com/srep
• Additional Information: Additional Information : ** From Springer Nature via Jisc Publications Router ** Licence for this article: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ **Journal IDs: eissn 2045-2322 **Article IDs: publisher-id: s41598-021-89065-y; manuscript: 89065 **History: collection 12-2021; published 04-05-2021; online 04-05-2021; registration 21-04-2021; accepted 20-04-2021; submitted 06-01-2021; Projects : White Rose ESRC Doctoral Training Centre DTG 2011;ES/J500215/1