AME 65:207-219 (2012)  -  DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/ame01546

ABSTRACT: Two mesoscale cyclonic eddies (CEI and CEII) occurred along the Vietnam coast in the South China Sea during summer 2007; CEI was in the decaying stage and CEII was in the intensifying stage. CEII was also influenced by the Mekong River plume. The upwelling effect of the 2 eddies on the phylogenetic diversity of Prochlorococcus and Synechococcus was investigated by clone library construction based on sequences of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region, with station SEATS in the oligotrophic basin as a comparison. Phylogenetic analysis revealed the presence of sequences affiliated with 3 Prochlorococcus clades (HLI, HLII & LLIV) and 7 Synechococcus clades (II, III, VII, X, XV, XVI, and sub-cluster 5.2) from the various water bodies, with HLII Prochlorococcus and clade II Synechococcus being the dominant phylotypes. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that spatial distribution of the 2 genera was mostly explained by temperature, but also affected by salinity and chlorophyll a concentration. Upwelling of the nutrient-rich subsurface water at the center of the cold eddy resulted in a significant increase in the abundance of Synechococcus in the young and intensifying CEII, whereas Prochlorococcus dominated in the old and decaying CEI and the surrounding oligotrophic waters. It is intriguing that Synechococcus clades III, XV and XVI, which are known to contain chromatically adapting members, were most numerous in eddy and river plume influenced waters, where light quality changes might be expected, compared to the oligotrophic basin waters. The disparity in cyanobacterial phylogenetic composition between the 2 eddies clearly reflected the differing hydrographic dynamics and developmental stages of these eddy systems.

KEY WORDS: Prochlorococcus · Synechococcus · Cold eddy · South China Sea

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Cite this article as: Jing H, Liu H (2012) Phylogenetic composition of Prochlorococcus and Synechococcus in cold eddies of the South China Sea. Aquat Microb Ecol 65:207-219. https://doi.org/10.3354/ame01546 Export citation Share:    Facebook - - linkedIn