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Sedimentation of psbA Gene‐Containing Cyanophages, Cyanobacteria, and Eukaryotes in Marine and Estuarine Sediments
Author(s) -
He Maoqiu,
Cai Lanlan,
Xu Jie,
Li Xiangfu,
Shi Zhen,
Jiao Nianzhi,
Zhang Rui
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: biogeosciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2169-8961
pISSN - 2169-8953
DOI - 10.1029/2020jg006156
Subject(s) - prochlorococcus , synechococcus , photic zone , biology , plankton , cyanobacteria , phytoplankton , oceanography , biogeochemistry , ecology , algae , botany , geology , paleontology , bacteria , nutrient
The transport of planktonic microbes from the upper ocean to sediments plays an important role in marine ecology and biogeochemistry (e.g., the downward transport of organic matter). In order to have a better understanding of this important process, we investigated the diversity of allochthonous cyanophages, cyanobacteria, and eukaryotic algae in the sediments from the Pearl River Estuary and South China Sea based on psbA , the gene encoding the D1 protein involved in photosynthesis. The psbA is prevalent and diverse in sediments regardless of water depth, revealing that the vertical export of psbA gene‐containing planktonic microbes provide an important source of sedimental microbes. Phylogenetic analysis showed the presence of Synechococcus , Synechococcus myovirus, Synechococcus podovirus, Prochlorococcus , Prochlorococcus myovirus, Prochlorococcus podovirus, and eukaryotic algae groups in the sediments. More than 80% of psbA amplicons belong to cyanophages, suggesting the potential prevalent downward transport of cyanophages from the photic zone to the seafloor. Diatoms Pseudosolenia calcar‐avis and Opephora were dominant in some sediment samples, different from planktonic community in the photic zones, indicating a potentially different vertical export efficiency among phytoplankton. The principal coordinate analysis indicated that psbA gene‐containing microbial community varied in estuarine, continental shelf and deep sea sediments. This study investigated the diversity of psbA gene‐containing microorganisms in marine sediments and could facilitate the evaluation of the output of photosynthetic organic carbon.