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Mesoscale eddies shape Prochlorococcus community structure and dynamics in the oligotrophic open ocean
Uri Sheyn1,2, Kirsten E Poff1, John M Eppley1
1Daniel K. Inouye Center for Microbial Oceanography: Research and Education, Department of Oceanography, University of Hawai'i, Honolulu, HI 96822, United States.
The ISME Journal
|May 26, 2025
Summary
Mesoscale eddies, or "ocean weather," influence marine life. Cyclonic eddies specifically promote the growth of Prochlorococcus high-light I ecotypes by altering nutrient availability and light exposure.
Area of Science:
- Marine microbial ecology
- Oceanography
- Genomics
Background:
- Mesoscale eddies significantly impact ocean ecosystems by influencing nutrient distribution and primary production.
- The North Pacific Subtropical Gyre's stratified waters limit nutrient mixing, affecting microbial communities.
- Prochlorococcus, a key primary producer, has genetic variants with diverse adaptive traits.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how Prochlorococcus population variants respond to transient, localized environmental changes within mesoscale eddies.
- To understand the specific impact of cyclonic versus anticyclonic eddies on Prochlorococcus ecotype distribution and gene expression.
Main Methods:
- Phylogenetic analysis of microbial communities.
- Metagenomic sequencing to assess genetic potential.
- Metatranscriptomic analysis to determine gene activity.
Main Results:
- Prochlorococcus high-light I ecotypes were consistently enriched in cyclonic eddies at the deep chlorophyll maximum (DCM).
- Cyclonic eddies featured shallower DCMs with higher light, lower temperatures, and increased nutrients, favoring Prochlorococcus high-light I proliferation.
- Enriched gene transcripts in cyclonic eddies indicated enhanced nitrogen metabolism, energy production, and cell replication in Prochlorococcus.
Conclusions:
- Mesoscale eddies, particularly cyclonic ones, play a crucial role in shaping microbial community structure in oligotrophic oceans.
- Nitrogen metabolism appears vital for the proliferation of Prochlorococcus high-light I ecotypes within cyclonic eddies.
- Prochlorococcus communities exhibit dynamic responses to short-term environmental variability induced by mesoscale eddies.
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