Gill microbiota sequencing of Atlantic salmon under climate change stressors

Increasing temperatures are becoming more frequent and have been implicated in the occurrence of jellyfish blooms, which is the case of Aurelia aurita, a common jellyfish in Norwegian waters. These blooms have been linked to high mortality events, likely related to their capability of causing gill and skin damage, compromising mucosal barrier functions. Nowadays, gill disorders in farmed Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) have become one of the most significant challenges for the salmon industry and are caused by a mix of infections and environmental stressors. The fish gill mucosal microbiome interacts with the environment, being the primary barrier of defense against external agents, making it useful for monitoring mucosal health. In addition, fish microbiota plays a critical role in many host functions such as stress response, immunity, and protection against pathogens. This study aims to explore how multiple climate change-related environmental stressors, such as increasing temperature and limited oxygen availability, interact with salmon gill mucosal microbiota after jellyfish (Aurelia aurita) exposure.