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Temporal and depth-related differences in prokaryotic communities in abyssal sediments associated with particulate organic carbon flux

Temporal and depth-related differences in prokaryotic communities in abyssal sediments associated with particulate organic carbon flux
Temporal and depth-related differences in prokaryotic communities in abyssal sediments associated with particulate organic carbon flux
Particulate organic carbon (POC) flux is hypothesized to be the most important parameter influencing activity and biomass of prokaryotic and faunal communities in the abyssal seafloor, but there is little evidence of POC-related changes in community composition of prokaryotes. This hypothesis was tested by 16S rRNA-gene-based analysis of prokaryotic DNA and RNA extracted from abyssal seafloor sediments during periods of low and high POC flux. Fingerprint analysis of prokaryotic communities indicated that approximately 50% of the phylotypes were identical at each sediment horizon, regardless of the temporal variations in POC flux. However, phylotypes were also detected that represented a relatively dynamic component of these communities and were probably strongly influenced by the prevalent POC flux regime. These patterns were also detected in deeper sediment horizons. DNA- and RNA-based community profiles differed, although both approaches had similar community dynamics. Crenarchaeota showed the strongest shift in community composition in response to availability of labile POC, indicating that POC flux may have a more pronounced impact on crenarchaeal communities than on bacterial communities. The high number of phylotypes common to each sample time suggests that both standing stock and active prokaryotic communities are stable.
Bacterial and crenarchaeal community composition, POC flux, Benthic–pelagic coupling
0967-0637
26-35
Moeseneder, M.M.
50eb77b6-21c8-497f-8f99-7bbc8c043fb7
Smith, K.L.
a5d7bde4-722a-4989-92dc-86dd85d26786
Ruhl, H.A.
177608ef-7793-4911-86cf-cd9960ff22b6
Jones, D.O.B.
44fc07b3-5fb7-4bf5-9cec-78c78022613a
Witte, U.
11050d87-974b-4596-8545-68dcc675704e
Prosser, J.I.
ac6f4082-1f28-4f7d-af8a-9ed5ff2c3769
Moeseneder, M.M.
50eb77b6-21c8-497f-8f99-7bbc8c043fb7
Smith, K.L.
a5d7bde4-722a-4989-92dc-86dd85d26786
Ruhl, H.A.
177608ef-7793-4911-86cf-cd9960ff22b6
Jones, D.O.B.
44fc07b3-5fb7-4bf5-9cec-78c78022613a
Witte, U.
11050d87-974b-4596-8545-68dcc675704e
Prosser, J.I.
ac6f4082-1f28-4f7d-af8a-9ed5ff2c3769

Moeseneder, M.M., Smith, K.L., Ruhl, H.A., Jones, D.O.B., Witte, U. and Prosser, J.I. (2012) Temporal and depth-related differences in prokaryotic communities in abyssal sediments associated with particulate organic carbon flux. Deep Sea Research Part I: Oceanographic Research Papers, 70, 26-35. (doi:10.1016/j.dsr.2012.07.010).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Particulate organic carbon (POC) flux is hypothesized to be the most important parameter influencing activity and biomass of prokaryotic and faunal communities in the abyssal seafloor, but there is little evidence of POC-related changes in community composition of prokaryotes. This hypothesis was tested by 16S rRNA-gene-based analysis of prokaryotic DNA and RNA extracted from abyssal seafloor sediments during periods of low and high POC flux. Fingerprint analysis of prokaryotic communities indicated that approximately 50% of the phylotypes were identical at each sediment horizon, regardless of the temporal variations in POC flux. However, phylotypes were also detected that represented a relatively dynamic component of these communities and were probably strongly influenced by the prevalent POC flux regime. These patterns were also detected in deeper sediment horizons. DNA- and RNA-based community profiles differed, although both approaches had similar community dynamics. Crenarchaeota showed the strongest shift in community composition in response to availability of labile POC, indicating that POC flux may have a more pronounced impact on crenarchaeal communities than on bacterial communities. The high number of phylotypes common to each sample time suggests that both standing stock and active prokaryotic communities are stable.

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More information

Published date: 2012
Keywords: Bacterial and crenarchaeal community composition, POC flux, Benthic–pelagic coupling
Organisations: Marine Biogeochemistry

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 346168
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/346168
ISSN: 0967-0637
PURE UUID: 85cb78d6-c99d-4d0b-9725-9ac5267a3701

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Date deposited: 13 Dec 2012 10:14
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 12:34

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Contributors

Author: M.M. Moeseneder
Author: K.L. Smith
Author: H.A. Ruhl
Author: D.O.B. Jones
Author: U. Witte
Author: J.I. Prosser

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