School of Science, Engineering and Environment, University of Salford, Salford, UK.
UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Centre, Bailrigg, UK.
J Anim Ecol. 2021 Sep;90(9):2172-2187. doi: 10.1111/1365-2656.13507. Epub 2021 May 21.
Environmental impacts of the 1986 Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant accident are much debated, but the effects of radiation on host microbiomes have received little attention to date. We present the first analysis of small mammal gut microbiomes from the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone in relation to total absorbed dose rate, including both caecum and faeces samples. We provide novel evidence that host species determines fungal community composition, and that associations between microbiome (both bacterial and fungal) communities and radiation exposure vary between host species. Using ambient versus total weighted absorbed dose rates in analyses produced different results, with the latter more robust for interpreting microbiome changes at the individual level. We found considerable variation between results for faecal and gut samples of bank voles, suggesting faecal samples are not an accurate indicator of gut composition. Associations between radiation exposure and microbiome composition of gut samples were not robust against geographical variation, although we identified families of bacteria (Lachnospiraceae and Muribaculaceae) and fungi (Steccherinaceae and Strophariaceae) in the guts of bank voles that may serve as biomarkers of radiation exposure. Further studies considering a range of small mammal species are needed to establish the robustness of these potential biomarkers.
切尔诺贝利核电厂事故的环境影响备受争议，但迄今为止，辐射对宿主微生物组的影响却很少受到关注。我们首次分析了切尔诺贝利隔离区内小型哺乳动物的肠道微生物组与总吸收剂量率的关系，其中包括盲肠和粪便样本。我们提供了新的证据表明，宿主物种决定了真菌群落组成，并且微生物组（细菌和真菌）群落与辐射暴露之间的关联在宿主物种之间存在差异。在分析中使用环境与总加权吸收剂量率会产生不同的结果，后者对于解释个体水平上的微生物组变化更为稳健。我们发现，田鼠的粪便和肠道样本之间的结果存在很大差异，这表明粪便样本不是肠道组成的准确指标。肠道样本中辐射暴露与微生物组组成之间的关联在地理变异方面并不稳健，尽管我们在田鼠的肠道中发现了一些与辐射暴露相关的细菌（毛螺菌科和瘤胃球菌科）和真菌（栓菌科和丝盖伞科）家族，它们可能成为辐射暴露的生物标志物。需要进一步研究考虑一系列小型哺乳动物物种，以确定这些潜在生物标志物的稳健性。
