Examining pathogenic Vibrio abundance and environmental controls across macroalgae, sediment, and oysters

Pathogenic Vibrio bacteria are ubiquitous in marine and estuarine environments and can cause severe human illness, yet ecological understanding and risk assessments often focus primarily on oysters in Vibrio monitoring due to their relevance in seafood safety. However, oysters represent only one of the many environmental niches of Vibrio in coastal ecosystems. This study revealed that within this coastal system, macroalgae harbored higher Vibrio concentrations. Additionally, we demonstrate that pathogenic Vibrio abundance on macroalgae, oysters, and sediments is each related to distinct environmental conditions.