DIGIRAS- Optimizing land-based fish production in next generation digital recirculating aquaculture systems

Microbial communities play a crucial role in the functioning and stability of recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) and water quality. In this study, we investigated the temporal dynamics of microbial communities in two salmon RAS units over an extended yet acute exposure period to hydrogen sulfide (H2S), a notorious silent killer in RAS. We hypothesize that the presence of H2S will act as a stimulus for the microbial community, particularly for microbes involved in sulfide metabolism, which could be leveraged for prediction and the development of a decision support tool. By employing high-throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene, we analyzed the composition and functional potential of microbial communities in both tank water and biofilter water samples. Our results revealed significant temporal changes in the microbial community structures within each RAS, indicating the adaptability of the microbial communities to changing conditions. Notably, the introduction of H2S led to distinct microbial community shifts in the exposure compared to the control. This study offers significant insights into the temporal dynamics of microbial communities in RAS and their response to H2S exposure.