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Phylotype resolved spatial variation and association patterns of planktonic
Jiwen Liu1,2,3, Fuyan Huang1, Jiao Liu1
1Frontiers Science Center for Deep Ocean Multispheres and Earth System, and College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266100 China.
Marine Life Science & Technology
|June 5, 2023
Summary
Marine ammonia oxidizers, Thaumarchaeota, show distinct spatial patterns in the Yellow Sea and East China Sea. Their distribution varies by depth and size, revealing niche partitioning among different phylotypes.
Area of Science:
- Marine microbiology
- Archaea
- Ammonia oxidation
Background:
- Thaumarchaeota are key marine ammonia oxidizers, distributed throughout the water column.
- Distinct thaumarchaeotal phylotypes exist in surface waters versus the deep ocean.
- Spatial dynamics of surface-associated marine Thaumarchaeota remain largely unresolved.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the spatial distribution and association patterns of thaumarchaeotal phylotypes in the eastern Chinese marginal seas.
- To understand the heterogeneity of Thaumarchaeota across horizontal, vertical, and size dimensions.
- To explore niche partitioning and microbial associations within the Thaumarchaeota community.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 120 seawater samples from the Yellow Sea (YS) and East China Sea (ECS).
- Phylogenetic and abundance analysis of free-living and particle-attached Thaumarchaeota.
- Comparison of microbial communities in surface waters, surface microlayers, and at various depths (up to 90 m).
Main Results:
- Contrasting horizontal distribution of Nitrosopumilus-like and Nitrosopelagicus-like phylotypes in YS and ECS surface waters.
- Increased abundance of free-living Thaumarchaeota observed in the ECS surface waters and microlayer.
- Vertical increase in Nitrosopelagicus-like phylotypes in ECS, indicating depth-related niche partitioning, particularly in the free-living fraction.
- Size-fractionated niche partitioning was more pronounced at deeper levels than in surface waters/microlayers.
- Thaumarchaeota associations with other microbes varied significantly by phylotype and size fraction.
Conclusions:
- Phylotype-resolved and size-fractionated spatial heterogeneity of marine Thaumarchaeota is evident in surface oceanic waters.
- A distinct vertical variation of the Nitrosopelagicus-like phylotype was identified in shallow shelf waters.
- Niche partitioning among marine ammonia oxidizers is influenced by both spatial dimensions and size fractions.
Keywords:
Association patternChinese marginal seasPhylotypeSpatial variationSurface microlayerThaumarchaeotaMore Related Videos
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