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Recurrent seasonal changes in bacterial growth efficiency, metabolism and community composition in coastal waters
Author(s) -
Baña Zuriñe,
Abad Naiara,
Uranga Ainhoa,
Azúa Iñigo,
Artolozaga Itxaso,
Unanue Marian,
Iriberri Juan,
Arrieta Jesus M.,
Ayo Begoña
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
environmental microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.954
H-Index - 188
eISSN - 1462-2920
pISSN - 1462-2912
DOI - 10.1111/1462-2920.14853
Subject(s) - biology , phytoplankton , bloom , seasonality , ecosystem , ecology , alphaproteobacteria , bacteroidetes , annual cycle , bacterial growth , bacterioplankton , bacteria , nutrient , genetics , 16s ribosomal rna
Summary The microbial response to environmental changes in coastal waters of the eastern Cantabrian Sea was explored for four years by analysing a broad set of environmental variables along with bacterial community metabolism and composition. A recurrent seasonal cycle emerged, consisting of two stable periods, characterized by low bacterial metabolic activity (winter) from October to March, and high bacterial metabolic activity (summer) from May to August. These two contrasting periods were linked by short transition periods in April (T A ) and September (T S ). The phylogenetic groups Alphaproteobacteria and Bacteroidetes were dominant during winter and summer respectively, and their recurrent alternation was mainly driven by the bloom of eukaryotic phytoplankton before T A and the bloom of prokaryotic phytoplankton before T S . Bacterial growth efficiency remained high and stable during the winter and summer periods but dropped during the two short transition periods. Our results suggest that bacterial growth efficiency should be considered a very resilient property that reflects different stages in the adaptation of the bacterial community composition to the environmental changes occurring throughout the seasonal cycle in this coastal ecosystem.