La influencia de la materia orgánica y pigmentos de fitoplancton sobre la distribución de bacterias en sedimentos de la Bahía de Kaštela (mar Adriático)

Bacterial abundance, biomass, volume and morphological diversity were studied in sediments collected in the eastern Adriatic Sea (Kaštela Bay) in order to investigate their relationship with changes in environmental parameters. To asses the changes in the investigated parameters on a temporal scale and between sediment layers, the sediment samples were collected monthly in 2002 with a piston corer from the sediment surface to a depth of 10 cm. The concentrations of organic matter (OM), chloroplastic pigment equivalents (CPE), chlorophyll a (chl a) and phaeopigments (PHAEO) were used as indicators of substrate concentrations in sediments. Sediment depth was a significant factor influencing the distribution of bacterial abundance, biomass and volume. Granulometric properties of the sediment had no effect on the distribution of bacteria. Bacterial abundance, biomass and volume were strongly related to the indicators of substrate concentrations on both scales. The accumulation of labile OM in deeper layers also had a profound effect on the size and structure of bacteria. High amounts of OM and the low proportion of labile organic fraction (CPE; chl a and PHAEO) indicate that this environment acts as a sink for accumulation of detrital material.La abundancia, biomasa volumen y la diversidad morfologica bacteriana fueron estudiadas en sedimentos recogidos del este del mar Adriático (bahía de Kaštela) con el objeto de investigar su relación con los cambios de diferentes parámetros ambientales. Para establecer los cambios de los parámetros investigados a escala temporal y entre capas de sedimentos, las muestras de sedimento fueron recogidas mensualmente durante 2002, con un corer de pistón desde la superficie del sedimento hasta la profundidad de 10 cm. La concentración de materia orgánica, pigmentos cloroplastídicos equivalentes (CPE), clorofila a (chl a) y feopigmentos (PHAEO) fueron utilizados como indicadores de la concentración de sustrato en el sedimento. La profundidad del sedimento era un factor significativo en la influencia de la distribución del número de bacterias, biomasa y volumen. Las propiedades granulométricas del sedimento no tenían efecto sobre la distribución de bacterias. La abundancia, la biomasa y el volumen bacteriano estaban fuertemente relacionadas con los indicadores de sustrato en ambas escalas. La acumulación de la materia orgánica lábil en las capas más profundas tambien tenían un gran efecto sobre el tamaño y la estructura bacteriana. Una alta cantidad de materia orgánica y baja proporción de la fracción orgánica lábil (CPE; chl a y PHAEO) indica que estos ambientes actúan como sumideros para la acumulación de material detrítico

Volume, abundance and biomass of sediment bacteria in the eastern mid Adriatic Sea

Bacterial abundance, biomass, cell volume, and morphological diversity were studied in sediment samples collected from the coastal area of the eastern mid Adriatic Sea. Samples from the topmost 10 cm of sediment were taken monthly from January to December 2002. The number of bacteria varied from 3.54 x 109 cells g–1 in July to 8.08 x 109 cells g–1 in September. Biomass was lowest in May (78 µg C g-1) and highest in December (378 µg C g-1). The volume of the bacteria varied markedly with season, fluctuating from 3.87 x 108 µm3 g-1 in May to 3.12 x 109 µm3 g-1 in December. Cells with a volume smaller than 0.1 µm3 accounted for the largest number of bacteria (62%) and cocci comprised 93% of these cells. More than 80% of all rod cells had a volume smaller than 0.5 µm3. The majority of filamentous cells (63%) belonged to the 0.32 µm3 volume class. Rodshaped cells were dominant in terms of volume (45-72%) and biomass (42-72%) and cocci in terms of abundance (52-70%). Cells smaller than 0.5 µm3 made up 88-94% of the bacteria and 68-84% of the biomass in the summer and 6-44% of the bacteria and and 21-81% biomass in the winter

Struktura mikrobne zajednice u anhialinim špiljama na otoku Mljetu (Jadransko more)

The microbial abundances, including bacteria, viruses, and heterotrophic nanoflagellates, were determined for two anchialine caves located on the Island of Mljet (Adriatic Sea): Bjejajka Cave and Lenga Pit. Both caves are situated approximately 100 m from the coast with extensive subterranean connections to the sea, resulting in noticeable marine and terrestrial, influences. Because of the shallow settings of the studied caves, they represent habitats with a minimal light or complete darkness where photosynthesis is minimal or not possible. Thus, during the surveys there was no evidence of cyanobacterial cells in either caves, but the presence of bacteria, viruses and heterotrophic nanoflagellates (HNF) was established. Further, bacterial abundance was higher in caves in comparison to surrounding open seawater. In the surrounding seawater the predominance of the LNA group over HNA is determined, which also indicates the differences in relation to the studied caves. In fact, the dominance of HNA group of bacteria in caves together with higher total bacterial abundance indicates that the caves are of higher trophic level than the surrounding seawater. With regard to bacterial diversity, both caves had a unique makeup of bacterial populations and low diversity, with the chemolithoautotrophic Epsilonproteobacteria representing the most abundant taxonomic group. To examine the mechanisms regulating bacterial abundance in these habitats, we observed the relationship between bacteria and heterotrophic nanoflagellates (HNF) and between bacteria and viruses. The importance of predation in controlling bacteria (top down control) and, consequently, the domination of bottom up control of HNF were observed in both caves.Istraživanja abundancije mikroorganizama, uključujući bakterije, viruse i heterotrofne nanoflagelate (HNF) su provedena u anhialinim špiljama Bjejajka i Lenga na otoku Mljetu. Špilje su smještene na oko 100 m udaljenosti od obalne linije s podzemnom vezom s morem te su pod znatnim utjecajem mora kao i kopnenih staništa. S obzirom na položaj istraživane špilje predstavljaju staništa s minimalnim prodorom svjetlosti ili potpunim mrakom što ukazuje na izostanak procesa fotosinteze. Tijekom istraživanja ni u jednoj špilji nije utvrđeno prisustvo cijanobakterija odgovornih za procese fotosinteze, ali je utvrđena značajna brojnost bakterija, virusa i heterotrofnih nanoflagelata. Štoviše brojnost bakterija u špiljama je bila veća od brojnosti bakterija u okolnom moru. Jednako i odnosi HNA i LNA bakterija ukazuju na razlike između špilja i okolnog mora. U okolnom moru je utvrđena dominacija LNA bakterija u odnosu na HNA dok je u špiljama utvrđeno prevladavanje HNA bakterija što zajedno s većom ukupnom brojnošću bakterija ukazuje na viši trofički stupanj u špiljama u odnosu na okolno more. Preliminarnim ispitivanjem raznolikosti bakterija u špiljama je utvrđeno najbrojnije prisustvo kemolitoautotrofnih bakterija taksonomske skupine Epsilonproteobacteria. U svrhu studiranja mehanizama regulacije bakterijske abundancije u istraživanim su špiljama analizirani odnosi između bakterija i heterotrofnih nanoflagelata i između bakterija i virusa. Važnost predacije u kontroli bakterija (top down kontrola) je utvđena u obje ispitivane špilje

Brojnost i sastav pikoplanktonske zajednice u srednjem Jadranu

The abundance and structure of the picoplankton community were studied at two stations, one in coastal waters and one in offshore waters, of the middle Adriatic from December 1996 to June 1998. The abundance of prokaryotic Synechococcus cells, eukaryotic autotrophic picoplankton, and heterotrophic nanoflagellates (HNF) was determined, as were the chlorophyll a, physical and chemical factors, and nutrients of the water. Synechococcus dominated the picoplankton abundance by 96%. In offshore waters, the abundance of Synechococcus was influenced by nutrient availability and HNF abundance more than by temperature. In coastal waters, where nutrients were not a limiting factor, temperature had greater influence. Picophytoplankton contributed more to the total phytoplankton biomass in offshore (31%) than in coastal (9%) waters.Brojnost i struktura pikoplanktonske zajednice istraživana je na dvjema postajama smještenim u obalnim i otvorenim vodama srednjeg Jadranau u razdoblju od prosinca 1996 do lipnja 1998. Istraživanjem je obuhvaćena brojnost cijanobakterija Synechococcus, eukariotskog pikoplanktona i heterotrofnih nanoflagelata (HNF), koncentracija klorofila a kao i fizikalno kemijski parametri (slanost, temperatura, hranjive soli). Rezultati istraživanja pokazali su da u pikofitoplankltonskoj zajednici dominiraju cijanobakterije Synechococcus (96%). Brojnost cijanobakterija u otvorenim vodama najvećim je dijelom uvjetovana raspoloživom koncentracijom hranjivih soli kao i veličinom populacije HNF. Temperatura ima veći utjecaj na brojnost cijanobakterija u obalnim vodama gdje hranjive soli nisu ograničavajući factor. Pikofitoplankton znatno više dobrinosi ukupnoj fitoplanktonskoj biomasi u otvorenim vodama (31%) nego u obalnim vodama (9%)

Picoplankton Distribution and Activity in the Deep Waters of the Southern Adriatic Sea

Southern Adriatic (Eastern Mediterranean Sea) is a region strongly dominated by large-scale oceanographic processes and local open-ocean dense water formation. In this study, picoplankton biomass, distribution, and activity were examined during two oceanographic cruises and analyzed in relation to environmental parameters and hydrographic conditions comparing pre and post-winter phases (December 2015, April 2016). Picoplankton density with the domination of autotrophic biomasses was higher in the pre-winter phase when significant amounts of picoaoutotrophs were also found in the meso-and bathy-pelagic layers, while Synechococcus dominated the picoautotrophic group. Higher values of bacterial production and domination of High Nucleic Acid content bacteria (HNA bacteria) were found in deep waters, especially during the post-winter phase, suggesting that bacteria can have an active role in the deep-sea environment. Aerobic anoxygenic phototrophic bacteria accounted for a small proportion of total heterotrophic bacteria but contributed up to 4% of bacterial carbon content. Changes in the picoplankton community were mainly driven by nutrient availability, heterotrophic nanoflagellates abundance, and water mass movements and mixing. Our results suggest that autotrophic and heterotrophic members of the picoplankton community are an important carbon source in the food web in the deep-sea, as well as in the epipelagic layer. Besides, viral lysis may affect the activity of the picoplankton community and enrich the water column with dissolved organic carbon

Picoplankton diversity in an oligotrophic and high salinity environment in the central Adriatic Sea

Abstract By combining qualitative 16S metabarcoding and quantitative CARD-FISH methods with neural gas analysis, different patterns of the picoplankton community were revealed at finer taxonomic levels in response to changing environmental conditions in the Adriatic Sea. We present the results of a one-year study carried out in an oligotrophic environment where increased salinity was recently observed. We have shown that the initial state of community structure changes according to environmental conditions and is expressed as qualitative and quantitative changes. A general pattern of increasing diversity under harsh environmental conditions, particularly under the influence of increasing salinity at the expense of community abundance was observed. Considering the trend of changing seawater characteristics due to climate change, this study helps in understanding a possible structural change in the microbial community of the Adriatic Sea that could affect higher levels of the marine food web