Increased prokaryotic diversity in the Red Sea deep scattering layer

The diel vertical migration (DVM) of fish provides an active transport of labile dissolved organic matter (DOM) to the deep ocean, fueling the metabolism of heterotrophic bacteria and archaea. We studied the impact of DVM on the mesopelagic prokaryotic diversity of the Red Sea focusing on the mesopelagic deep scattering layer (DSL) between 450-600 m.

Despite the general consensus of homogeneous conditions in the mesopelagic layer, we observed variability in physico-chemical variables (oxygen, inorganic nutrients, DOC) in the depth profiles. We also identified distinct seasonal indicator prokaryotes inhabiting the DSL, representing between 2% (in spring) to over 10% (in winter) of total 16S rRNA gene sequences. The dominant indicator groups were Alteromonadales in winter, Vibrionales in spring and Microtrichales in summer. Using multidimensional scaling analysis, the DSL samples showed divergence from the surrounding mesopelagic layers and were distributed according to depth (47% of variance explained). We identified the sources of diversity that contribute to the DSL by analyzing the detailed profiles of spring, where 3 depths were sampled in the mesopelagic. On average, 7% was related to the epipelagic, 34% was common among the other mesopelagic waters and 38% was attributable to the DSL, with 21% of species being unique to this layer.

We conclude that the mesopelagic physico-chemical properties shape a rather uniform prokaryotic community, but that the 200 m deep DSL contributes uniquely and in a high proportion to the diversity of the Red Sea mesopelagic.