The respiratory microbiota of three cohabiting beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas) under human care

• Published in: Frontiers in Marine Science Vol. 10
• Main Authors: Smith, Susan A., Ropati, Destiny V., Santoferrara, Luciana F., Romano, Tracy A., McManus, George B.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Lausanne Frontiers Research Foundation 14.12.2023; Frontiers Media S.A
• Subjects: Aquaria; Aquariums; Aquatic mammals; Blood; blowhole; blowhole microbiota; Carbon; Carbon sources; Cetacea; ciliate; Community composition; Delphinapterus leucas; Enumeration; Females; Genera; Immune system; Marine mammals; Metabolism; microbiome; Microbiomes; Microbiota; Mucus; Pathogens; rRNA 16S; rRNA 18S; Sampling; Seawater; Sequencing; Substrates; Taxonomy; Whales; Whales & whaling

We sampled the respiratory mucus from voluntary blowhole exhalations (“blow”) of three healthy beluga whales ( Delphinapterus leucas ) under professional human care. Blow samples were collected from three resident belugas, one adult male (M1) and two adult females (F1, F2), with voluntary behaviors...