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Seasonal microbial community dynamics correlate with phytoplankton-derived polysaccharides in surface coastal waters

Taylor, JD; Cottingham, SD; Billinge, J; Cunliffe, M

Authors

JD Taylor

SD Cottingham

J Billinge

M Cunliffe



Abstract

Phytoplankton produce large amounts of polysaccharide gel material known as transparent exopolymer particles (TEP). We investigated the potential links between phytoplankton-derived TEP and microbial community structure in the sea surface microlayer and underlying water at the English Channel time-series station L4 during a spring diatom bloom, and in two adjacent estuaries. Major changes in bacterioneuston and bacterioplankton community structure occurred after the peak of the spring bloom at L4, and coincided with the significant decline of microlayer and water column TEP. Increased abundance of Flavobacteriales and Rhodobacterales in bacterioneuston and bacterioplankton communities at L4 was significantly related to the TEP decline, indicating that both taxa could be responsible. The results suggest that TEP is an important factor in determining microbial diversity in coastal waters, and that TEP utilisation could be a niche occupied by Flavobacteriales and Rhodobacterales.

Citation

Taylor, J., Cottingham, S., Billinge, J., & Cunliffe, M. (2013). Seasonal microbial community dynamics correlate with phytoplankton-derived polysaccharides in surface coastal waters. ISME Journal, 8, 245-248. https://doi.org/10.1038/ismej.2013.178

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Sep 9, 2013
Online Publication Date Oct 17, 2013
Publication Date Oct 17, 2013
Deposit Date Mar 28, 2019
Journal The ISME Journal
Print ISSN 1751-7362
Publisher Nature Publishing Group
Volume 8
Pages 245-248
DOI https://doi.org/10.1038/ismej.2013.178
Publisher URL https://doi.org/10.1038/ismej.2013.178
Related Public URLs https://www.nature.com/ismej/



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