13 May 2025 New Study on Vibrio Ecology in Hong Kong Waters
Our lab has published a new research paper: “Environmental heterogeneity drives ecological differentiation in Vibrio populations across subtropical marine habitats.” This year-long study compared Vibrio communities between Clear Water Bay (coastal) and Deep Bay (estuarine) sites in Hong Kong. Key findings include higher Vibrio abundance and diversity in the estuarine environment, with salinity driving community differentiation between sites and temperature governing seasonal patterns. We identified three distinct ecological groups adapted to specific temperature-salinity conditions, with evidence of habitat-specific thermal adaptations even among genetically similar strains. This research enhances our understanding of how environmental factors shape bacterial communities in dynamic marine environments and provides insights into mechanisms of microbial adaptation across different coastal habitats. (https://doi.org/10.1111/1462-2920.70107)
