title: Redox-specialized bacterioplankton metacommunity in a temperate estuary.
abstract: This study explored the spatiotemporal dynamics of the bacterioplankton community composition in the Gulf of Finland (easternmost sub-basin of the Baltic Sea) based on phylogenetic analysis of 16S rDNA sequences acquired from community samples via pyrosequencing. Investigations of bacterioplankton in hydrographically complex systems provide good insight into the strategies by which microbes deal with spatiotemporal hydrographic gradients, as demonstrated by our research. Many ribotypes were closely affiliated with sequences isolated from environments with similar steep physiochemical gradients and/or seasonal changes, including seasonally anoxic estuaries. Hence, one of the main conclusions of this study is that marine ecosystems where oxygen and salinity gradients co-occur can be considered a habitat for a cosmopolitan metacommunity consisting of specialized groups occupying niches universal to such environments throughout the world. These niches revolve around functional capabilities to utilize different electron receptors and donors (including trace metal and single carbon compounds). On the other hand, temporal shifts in the bacterioplankton community composition at the surface layer were mainly connected to the seasonal succession of phytoplankton and the inflow of freshwater species. We also conclude that many relatively abundant populations are indigenous and well-established in the area.
authors: Marine Systems Institute at Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn, Estonia.
authors: Peeter
authors: P
authors: Laas
authors: Department of Electrical Engineering (ESAT), STADIUS Center for Dynamical Systems, Signal Processing, and Data Analytics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; iMinds Medical IT, Leuven, Belgium; Department of Gene Technology, Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn, Estonia.
authors: Jaak
authors: J
authors: Simm
authors: Marine Systems Institute at Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn, Estonia.
authors: Inga
authors: I
authors: Lips
authors: Marine Systems Institute at Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn, Estonia.
authors: Urmas
authors: U
authors: Lips
authors: Institute of Technology at University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia.
authors: Veljo
authors: V
authors: Kisand
authors: Institute of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Tallinn University, Tallinn, Estonia.
authors: Madis
authors: M
authors: Metsis
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D017753:Ecosystem; D063366:Estuaries; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010802:Phylogeny; D010933:Plankton / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000032:analysis; D012623:Seawater / Q000382:microbiology; D017423:Sequence Analysis, RNA
chemical_list: D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S