Open AccessDiversity of planktonic photoautotrophic microorganisms along a salinity gradient as depicted by microscopy, flow cytometry, pigment analysis and DNA‐based methods
Author(s) -
Estrada Marta,
Henriksen Peter,
Gasol Josep M.,
Casamayor Emilio O.,
PedrósAlió Carlos
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
fems microbiology ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.377
H-Index - 155
eISSN - 1574-6941
pISSN - 0168-6496
DOI - 10.1016/j.femsec.2004.04.002
Subject(s) - biology , picoplankton , salinity , botany , plankton , phytoplankton , cyanobacteria , diversity index , phototroph , 16s ribosomal rna , ribosomal rna , ecology , bacteria , photosynthesis , nutrient , gene , biochemistry , genetics , species richness
The diversity of prokaryotic and eukaryotic phytoplankton was studied along a gradient of salinity in the solar salterns of Bras del Port in Santa Pola (Alacant, Spain) using different community descriptors. Chlorophyll a , HPLC pigment composition, flow cytometrically‐determined picoplankton concentration, taxonomic composition of phytoplankton (based on optical microscopy) and genetic fingerprint patterns of 16S (cyanobacteria‐ and chloroplast‐specific primers) and 18S rRNA genes were determined for samples from ponds with salinities ranging from 4% to 37%. Both morphological and genetical descriptors of taxonomic composition showed a good agreement and indicated a major discontinuity at salinities between 15% and 22%. The number of classes and the Shannon diversity index corresponding to the different descriptors showed a consistent decreasing trend with increasing salinity. The results indicate a selective effect of extremely high salinities on phytoplanktonic assemblages.