Depth-dependent bacterial colonization on model chitin particles in the open ocean

Roberts, Cordelia ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0265-8714; Bird, Kimberley ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7244-5960; Chrismas, Nathan ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2165-3102; Hartman, Susan ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6363-1331; Cunliffe, Michael ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6716-3555. 2024 Depth-dependent bacterial colonization on model chitin particles in the open ocean. Letters in Applied Microbiology, 77 (12). 10.1093/lambio/ovae107

Before downloading, please read NORA policies.

Preview

Text © The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Applied Microbiology International. ovae107.pdf - Published Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution 4.0. Download (1MB) | Preview

Abstract/Summary

Sinking particles transport carbon from the surface to the deep ocean. Microbial colonization and remineralization are important ecosystem services constraining ocean biogeochemistry by recycling and redistributing nutrients from the surface to the deep ocean. Fragmentation of particles by zooplankton and the resulting colonization by microorganisms before ingestion, known as ‘microbial gardening’, allows for trophic upgrading and increased microbial biomass for detritivorous zooplankton. Using model chitin particles incubated with seawater collected from the surface, mesopelagic and bathypelagic depths in the Northeast Atlantic Ocean, we determined particle-attaching bacterial communities to identify general and depth-specific candidates of particle colonization. Comparison of particle-attached communities at the amplicon sequence variant level showed that bacteria found on surface particles were also colonizers in the bathypelagic, in line with sinking particles promoting vertical connectivity. Bathypelagic particle-attached communities were most diverse. We propose that some particle colonizers attach to the surface and sink out with the particle, whilst other colonizers are depth-specific. This suggests that candidates for particle colonization differ with depth, which may be important when considering the implications for the delivery of ecosystem services, including carbon cycling and the role they play for zooplankton grazers.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	10.1093/lambio/ovae107
ISSN:	1472-765X
Additional Keywords:	bacteria, environmental microbiology, biogeochemical cycles, marine microbiology, microbial diversity
Date made live:	16 Jan 2025 10:41 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/538741

Actions (login required)

View Item

Document Downloads

More statistics for this item...