Aquatic Microbial Ecology
AME is a hybrid research journal on all aspects of aquatic microbial dynamics, in particular viruses, prokaryotes and eukaryotes (planktonic and benthic, autotrophic and heterotrophic) in marine, freshwater and brackish habitats.
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Article Acceptance Rate20% (2024)
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/ame048241
copiedEffect of phytoplankton bloom deposition on benthic bacterial communities in two contrasting sediments in the southern North Sea
- M. A. Franco
- I. De Mesel
- M. Demba Diallo
- K. Van der Gucht
- D. Van Gansbeke
- P. van Rijswijk
- M. J. Costa
- M. Vincx
- J. Vanaverbeke
ABSTRACT: The response of benthic bacterial community composition, diversity, and biomass to phytoplankton deposition was investigated in 2 different sediment horizons at 2 contrasting sites in the southern North Sea. Differences in bacterial community composition between stations were observed. Seasonal differences in bacterial community composition were significant and were stronger in fine sediments, probably related to stronger fluctuations in food availability. Variation in community composition over the vertical sediment profile was different for both stations. In coarser sediment, the difference was mostly due to the absence of certain operational taxonomic units (OTUs) at the surface, while in fine sediment, 2 distinct communities were present. A RELATE test revealed that bacterial community composition was influenced by the amount of labile organic matter (estimated through chl a concentration in the sediment). Diversity in terms of OTU richness and Shannon-Weaver diversity index was higher in finer grained sediments. In coarser sediments, diversity at the surface layer was lower, which might be related to stronger hydrodynamic pressure at this station. These differences were not observed at the other station. Seasonal changes in diversity were not detected at either station. Bacterial biomass was slightly higher in finer sediments and was not correlated with either chl a or temperature. Seasonal differences in bacterial biomass followed those observed for community composition, while no vertical differences were detected.
KEYWORDS
M. A. Franco (Co-author)
- Marine Biology Section, Biology Department, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281 (S8), 9000 Ghent, Belgium
- Instituto de Oceanografia, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisbon, Portugal
I. De Mesel (Co-author)
- Marine Biology Section, Biology Department, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281 (S8), 9000 Ghent, Belgium
M. Demba Diallo (Co-author)
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Ghent University, KL Ledeganckstraat 35, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
K. Van der Gucht (Co-author)
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Ghent University, KL Ledeganckstraat 35, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
D. Van Gansbeke (Co-author)
- Marine Biology Section, Biology Department, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281 (S8), 9000 Ghent, Belgium
P. van Rijswijk (Co-author)
- NIOO-KNAW Centre for Estuarine and Marine Ecology, Korringaweg 7, 4401 NT Yerseke, The Netherlands
M. J. Costa (Co-author)
- Instituto de Oceanografia, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisbon, Portugal
M. Vincx (Co-author)
- Marine Biology Section, Biology Department, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281 (S8), 9000 Ghent, Belgium
J. Vanaverbeke (Co-author)
- Marine Biology Section, Biology Department, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281 (S8), 9000 Ghent, Belgium