Marine Group Research Articles

Taxonomy and phylogeny of the genus Melita (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Melitidae) from the West Pacific Islands, with descriptions of four new species

The amphipod genus MelitaLeach, 1814 (Amphipoda: Melitidae) is a predominantly marine group with a cosmopolitan distribution in both circumtropical and temperate waters. However, records of Melita from inland waters such as fresh and brackish waters are limited. In this study, four new species of Melita are described from inland waters in the Ogasawara and Ryukyu Islands, West Pacific: M. nunomurai sp. nov. from Hahajima Island, Ogasawara Islands; M. ogasawaraensis sp. nov. from Anijima, Chichijima, and Hahajima Islands, Ogasawara Islands; M. miyakoensis sp. nov. from Miyakojima Island, Ryukyu Islands; and M. okinawaensis sp. nov. from Okinawajima Island, Ryukyu Islands. Molecular phylogenetic analyses based on nuclear and mitochondrial DNA sequences reveal that M. ogasawaraensis sp. nov. and M. nunomurai sp. nov. are recovered as the sister taxon of M. miyakoensis sp. nov. and M. choshigawaensis, respectively. These results suggest multiple colonisations of the Ogasawara Islands by Melita species. The present study revealed a high species diversity of Melita in the inland waters of the islands of West Pacific. We further discuss the phylogeny among genera of Melitidae.

Archaeal tetraether lipids and their biphytane carbon isotope composition in sediments along an estuarine biogeochemical gradient

The stable carbon isotopic composition of Thaumarchaeota-produced crenarchaeol (δ13Ccren) is thought to reflect the δ13C of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) and is valuable in carbon cycle research. Recently, an isotope flux-balance model was proposed that δ13Ccren is dependent on passive CO2 uptake and a slow rate of intracellular conversion to HCO3−, which has been validated in open ocean environments. However, further studies are required in environments with larger ranges of aqueous CO2 and diverse archaeal communities to examine whether the δ13Ccren value could still be predicted by the model. Here, we report δ13C values of biphytanes chemically released from the archaeal tetraether lipids (i.e., GDGTs) in sediments along a transect exhibiting shifts in the archaeal community and showing gradients of salinity, pH, and CO2 in the Pearl River Estuary, South China. Methanogenic and methanotrophic Euryarchaeota are present in the upper estuary, although not significant, as revealed by the elevated relative abundances of GDGT-0 and higher values of methane index in suspended particulate matter (SPM) and surface sediments, as well as the more 13C-depleted C40:0, C40:1, and C40:2 biphytanes than the C40:3 biphytane released from sedimentary GDGTs. Toward the lower estuary and coastal sea, GDGT distributions in SPM and sediments tend to indicate archaeal communities under normal marine conditions. However, there are still differences in δ13C values between C40:0 and C40:3 biphytanes by up to 2.4‰ in sediments, although C40:1, C40:2, and C40:3 were similar in δ13C, likely due to the existence of marine group II Euryarchaeota. Along such a physicochemical and biogeochemical gradient, the values of sedimentary δ13C40:3 increase monotonically with the increase of mean annual pH and the decrease of mean annual CO2. This phenomenon resembles the reported δ13CGDGT profiles, along with the variations in pH and CO2, in water column in the open ocean, and hence consistent in direction with the isotope flux-balance model for Thaumarchaeota lipids. However, our estimated apparent biosynthetic isotope effect (εAr) of crenarchaeol, ranging from 15.2‰ to 19.7‰, is mostly lower than those estimated in the open ocean. With the constraints of thaumarchaeal growth rates in such a dynamic estuarine environment as well as those in the open ocean, we suggest slight reductions in catalytic efficiency and intracellular kinetic isotope effect of intracellular CO2 hydration relative to previously employed values. Such modifications would slightly change the sensitivities of εAr to archaeal growth rate and ambient CO2 concentration but might be more suitable for variable hydrology and community environments.

Classification and Identification of Archaea Using Single-Cell Raman Ejection and Artificial Intelligence: Implications for Investigating Uncultivated Microorganisms.

Archaea can produce special cellular components such as polyhydroxyalkanoates, carotenoids, rhodopsin, and ether lipids, which have valuable applications in medicine and green energy production. Most of the archaeal species are uncultivated, posing challenges to investigating their biomarker components and biochemical properties. In this study, we applied Raman spectroscopy to examine the biological characteristics of nine archaeal isolates, including halophilic archaea (Haloferax larsenii, Haloarcula argentinensis, Haloferax mediterranei, Halomicrobium mukohataei, Halomicrobium salinus, Halorussus sp., Natrinema gari), thermophilic archaea (Sulfolobus acidocaldarius), and marine group I (MGI) archaea (Nitrosopumilus maritimus). Linear discriminant analysis of the Raman spectra allowed visualization of significant separations among the nine archaeal isolates. Machine-learning classification models based on support vector machine achieved accuracies of 88-100% when classifying the nine archaeal species. The predicted results were validated by DNA sequencing analysis of cells isolated from the mixture by Raman-activated cell sorting. Raman spectra of uncultured archaea (MGII) were also obtained based on Raman spectroscopy and fluorescence in situ hybridization. The results combining multiple Raman-based techniques indicated that MGII may have the ability to produce lipids distinct from other archaeal species. Our study provides a valuable approach for investigating and classifying archaea, especially uncultured species, at the single-cell level.

Metabolism of chiral sulfonate compound 2,3-dihydroxypropane-1-sulfonate (DHPS) by Roseobacter bacteria in marine environment.

The sulfonate compound 2,3-dihydroxypropane-1-sulfonate (DHPS) is one of the most abundant organic sulfur compounds in the biosphere. DHPS derived from dietary intake could be transformed into sulfide by intestinal microbiota and thus impacts human health. However, little is known about its sulfur transformation and subsequent impacts in marine environment. In this study, laboratory-culturing was combined with targeted metabolomic, chemical fluorescence probing, and comparative proteomic methods to examine the bioavailability of chiral DHPS (R and S isomers) for bacteria belonging to the marine Roseobacter clade. The metabolic potential of DHPS in bacteria was further assessed based on genomic analysis. Roseobacter members Ruegeria pomeroyi DSS-3, Dinoroseobacter shibae DFL 12, and Roseobacter denitrificans OCh 114 could utilize chiral DHPS for growth, producing sulfite. They all contained a similar gene cluster for DHPS metabolism but differed in the genes encoding enzymes for desulfonation. There was no significant difference in the growth rate and DHPS consumption rate for R. pomeroyi DSS-3 between R- and S-DHPS cultures, with few proteins expressed differentially were found. Proteomic data suggested that a series of hydrogenases oxidized DHPS, after which desulfonation could proceed via three distinct enzymatic pathways. Strain R. pomeroyi DSS-3 completed the desulfonation via L-cysteate sulfo-lyase, while D. shibae DFL 12 and R. denitrificans OCh 114 primarily utilized sulfolactate sulfo-lyase, and sulfopyruvate decarboxylase followed by sulfoacetaldehyde acetyltransferase, respectively, to complete desulfonation releasing the sulfonate-moiety. The sulfite could be further oxidized or incorporated into sulfate assimilation, indicated by the proteomic data. Furthermore, DHPS metabolic pathways were found primarily in marine bacterial groups, including the majority of sequenced Roseobacter genomes. Our results suggest that chiral DHPS, as a vital reduced sulfur reservoir, could be metabolized by marine bacteria, providing a resource for bacterial growth, rather than acting as a source of toxic sulfide within the marine ecosystem.

Estuarine gradients dictate spatiotemporal variations of microbiome networks in the Chesapeake Bay

BackgroundAnnually reoccurring microbial populations with strong spatial and temporal variations have been identified in estuarine environments, especially in those with long residence time such as the Chesapeake Bay (CB). However, it is unclear how microbial taxa cooccurr and how the inter-taxa networks respond to the strong environmental gradients in the estuaries.ResultsHere, we constructed co-occurrence networks on prokaryotic microbial communities in the CB, which included seasonal samples from seven spatial stations along the salinity gradients for three consecutive years. Our results showed that spatiotemporal variations of planktonic microbiomes promoted differentiations of the characteristics and stability of prokaryotic microbial networks in the CB estuary. Prokaryotic microbial networks exhibited a clear seasonal pattern where microbes were more closely connected during warm season compared to the associations during cold season. In addition, microbial networks were more stable in the lower Bay (ocean side) than those in the upper Bay (freshwater side). Multivariate regression tree (MRT) analysis and piecewise structural equation modeling (SEM) indicated that temperature, salinity and total suspended substances along with nutrient availability, particulate carbon and Chl a, affected the distribution and co-occurrence of microbial groups, such as Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Cyanobacteria, Planctomycetes, Proteobacteria, and Verrucomicrobia. Interestingly, compared to the abundant groups (such as SAR11, Saprospiraceae and Actinomarinaceae), the rare taxa including OM60 (NOR5) clade (Gammaproteobacteria), Micrococcales (Actinobacteria), and NS11-12 marine group (Bacteroidetes) contributed greatly to the stability of microbial co-occurrence in the Bay. Modularity and cluster structures of microbial networks varied spatiotemporally, which provided valuable insights into the ‘small world’ (a group of more interconnected species), network stability, and habitat partitioning/preferences.ConclusionOur results shed light on how estuarine gradients alter the spatiotemporal variations of prokaryotic microbial networks in the estuarine ecosystem, as well as their adaptability to environmental disturbances and co-occurrence network complexity and stability.

Heme auxotrophy in abundant aquatic microbial lineages

Heme, a porphyrin ring complexed with iron, is a metalloprosthetic group of numerous proteins involved in diverse metabolic and respiratory processes across all domains of life, and is thus considered essential for respiring organisms. Several microbial groups are known to lack the de novo heme biosynthetic pathway and therefore require exogenous heme from the environment. These heme auxotroph groups are largely limited to pathogens, symbionts, or microorganisms living in nutrient-replete conditions, whereas the complete absence of heme biosynthesis is extremely rare in free-living organisms. Here, we show that the acI lineage, a predominant and ubiquitous free-living bacterial group in freshwater habitats, is auxotrophic for heme, based on the experimental or genomic evidence. We found that two recently cultivated acI isolates require exogenous heme for their growth. One of the cultured acI isolates also exhibited auxotrophy for riboflavin. According to whole-genome analyses, all (n = 20) isolated acI strains lacked essential enzymes necessary for heme biosynthesis, indicating that heme auxotrophy is a conserved trait in this lineage. Analyses of >24,000 representative genomes for species clusters of the Genome Taxonomy Database revealed that heme auxotrophy is widespread across abundant but not-yet-cultivated microbial groups, including Patescibacteria, Marinisomatota (SAR406), Actinomarinales (OM1), and Marine groups IIb and III of Euryarchaeota Our findings indicate that heme auxotrophy is a more common phenomenon than previously thought, and may lead to use of heme as a growth factor to increase the cultured microbial diversity.

Potential lineage transmission within the active microbiota of the eggs and the nauplii of the shrimp Litopenaeus stylirostris: possible influence of the rearing water and more.

BackgroundMicrobial communities associated with animals are known to be key elements in the development of their hosts. In marine environments, these communities are largely under the influence of the surrounding water. In aquaculture, understanding the interactions existing between the microbiotas of farmed species and their rearing environment could help establish precise bacterial management.MethodIn light of these facts, we studied the active microbial communities associated with the eggs and the nauplii of the Pacific blue shrimp (Litopenaeus stylirostris) and their rearing water. All samples were collected in September 2018, November 2018 and February 2019. After RNA extractions, two distinct Illumina HiSeq sequencings were performed. Due to different sequencing depths and in order to compare samples, data were normalized using the Count Per Million method.ResultsWe found a core microbiota made of taxa related to Aestuariibacter, Alteromonas, Vibrio, SAR11, HIMB11, AEGEAN 169 marine group and Candidatus Endobugula associated with all the samples indicating that these bacterial communities could be transferred from the water to the animals. We also highlighted specific bacterial taxa in the eggs and the nauplii affiliated to Pseudomonas, Corynebacterium, Acinetobacter, Labrenzia, Rothia, Thalassolituus, Marinobacter, Aureispira, Oleiphilus, Profundimonas and Marinobacterium genera suggesting a possible prokaryotic vertical transmission from the breeders to their offspring. This study is the first to focus on the active microbiota associated with early developmental stages of a farmed shrimp species and could serve as a basis to comprehend the microbial interactions involved throughout the whole rearing process.

Echinoderm research perspectives: A Central American bibliometric review

Introduction: Central America, a narrow strip of land dividing the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, has a high diversity of marine and terrestrial species. Echinoderms are one of the most diverse marine groups with 420 reported species. Objective: To summarize echinoderm research in Central America. Methods: We compiled the literature from SCOPUS, Web of Science, SciELO, Google Scholar, Biodiversity Heritage Library, the Internet Archive and the Smithsonian Library. Results: We found 324 publications dating from 1840 to 2020; the early studies had a strong taxonomic focus, but after the 1970s, ecology, evolution and reproduction gained prominence. Echinoidea is the most studied class (38% of publications) due to its use in evolutionary studies as well as the importance of the genus Diadema in reef ecology and dynamics. Conclusion: We recommend more research on fisheries management, conservation and environmental education; and greater integration of local and international research.

Ecological Dynamics and Co-occurrences Among Prokaryotes and Microeukaryotes in a Diatom Bloom Process in Xiangshan Bay, China.

Diatom blooms can significantly affect the succession of microbial communities, yet little is known about the assembly processes and interactions of microbial communities during autumn bloom events. In this study, we investigated the ecological effects of an autumn diatom bloom on prokaryotic communities (PCCs) and microeukaryotic communities (MECs), focusing on their assembly processes and interactions. The PCCs were largely dominated by Alphaproteobacteria, Gammaproteobacteria, Cyanobacteria, and Flavobacteria, while the MECs primarily included Diatomea, Dinoflagellata, and Chlorophyta. The succession of both PCCs and MECs was mainly driven by thisdiatom bloom and environmental factors, such as nitrate and silicate. Null modeling revealed that homogeneous selection had a more pronounced impact on the structure of PCCs compared with that of MECs. In particular, drift and dispersal limitation cannot be neglected in the assembly processes of MECs. Co-occurrence network analyses showed that Litorimicrobium, Cercozoa, Marine Group I (MGI), Cryptomonadales, Myrionecta, and Micromonas may affect the bloom process. In summary, these results elucidated the complex, robust interactions and obviously distinct assembly mechanisms of PCCs and MECs during a diatom bloom and extend our current comprehension of the ecological mechanisms and microbial interactions involved in an autumn diatom bloom process.

Behavioral and anatomical evidence for electroreception in the bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus).

In the order of cetacean, the ability to detect bioelectric fields has, up to now, only been demonstrated in the Guiana dolphin (Sotalia guianensis) and is suggested to facilitate benthic feeding. As this foraging strategy has also beenreported for bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), we studied electroreceptionin this species by combining an anatomical analysis of "vibrissal crypts" as potential electroreceptors from neonate and adult animals with a behavioral experiment. In the latter, four bottlenose dolphins were trained on a go/no-go paradigm with acoustic stimuli and afterward tested for stimulus generalization within and across modalities using acoustic, optical, mechanical, and electric stimuli. While neonates still possess almost complete vibrissal follicles including a hair shaft, hair papilla, and cavernous sinus, adult bottlenose dolphins lack these features. Thus, their "vibrissal crypts" show a similar postnatal morphological transformation from a mechanoreceptor to an electroreceptor as in Sotalia. However, innervation density was high and almost equal in both, neonate as well as adult animals. In the stimulus generalization tests the dolphins transferred the go/no-go response within and across modalities. Although all dolphins responded spontaneously to the first presentation of a weak electric field, only three of them showed perfect transfer in this modality by responding continuously to electric field amplitudes of 1.5mV cm-1 , successively reduced to 0.5mV cm-1 . Electroreception can explain short-range prey detection in crater-feeding bottlenose dolphins. The fact that this is the second odontocete species with experimental evidence for electroreception suggests that it might be widespread in this marine mammal group.

Hormonal Regulation of Programmed Cell Death in Sea Urchin Metamorphosis

Programmed cell death (PCD) has been identified as a key process in the metamorphic transition of indirectly developing organisms such as frogs and insects. Many marine invertebrate species with indirect development and biphasic life cycles face the challenge of completing the metamorphic transition of the larval body into a juvenile when they settle into the benthic habitat. Some key characteristics stand out during this transition in comparison to frogs and insects: (1) the transition is often remarkably fast and (2) the larval body is largely abandoned and few structures transition into the juvenile stage. In sea urchins, a group with a drastic and fast metamorphosis, development and destruction of the larval body is regulated by endocrine signals. Here we provide a brief review of the basic regulatory mechanisms of PCD in animals. We then narrow our discussion to metamorphosis with a specific emphasis on sea urchins with indirect life histories and discuss the function of thyroid hormones and histamine in larval development, metamorphosis and settlement of the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus purpuratus. We were able to annotate the large majority of PCD related genes in the sea urchin S. purpuratus and ongoing studies on sea urchin metamorphosis will shed light on the regulatory architecture underlying this dramatic life history transition. While we find overwhelming evidence for hormonal regulation of PCD in animals, especially in the context of metamorphosis, the mechanisms in many marine invertebrate groups with indirect life histories requires more work. Hence, we propose that studies of PCD in animals requires functional studies in whole organisms rather than isolated cells. We predict that future work, targeting a broader array of organisms will not only help to reveal important new functions of PCD but provide a fundamentally new perspective on its use in a diversity of taxonomic, developmental, and ecological contexts.

Planktic foraminiferal changes in the western Mediterranean Anthropocene

The increase in anthropogenic induced warming over the last two centuries is impacting marine environment. Planktic foraminifera are a globally distributed calcifying marine zooplankton responding sensitively to changes in sea surface temperatures and interacting with the food web structure. Here, we study two high resolution multicore records from two western Mediterranean Sea regions (Alboran and Balearic basins), areas highly affected by both natural climate change and anthropogenic warming. Cores cover the time interval from the Medieval Climate Anomaly to present. Reconstructed sea surface temperatures are in good agreement with other results, tracing temperature changes through the Common Era (CE) and show a clear warming emergence at about 1850 CE. Both cores show opposite abundance fluctuations of planktic foraminiferal species ( Globigerina bulloides , Globorotalia inflata and Globorotalia truncatulinoides), a common group of marine calcifying zooplankton. The relative abundance changes of Globorotalia truncatulinoides plus Globorotalia inflata describe the intensity of deep winter mixing in the Balearic basin. In the Alboran Sea, Globigerina bulloides and Globorotalia inflata instead respond to local upwelling dynamics. In the pre-industrial era, changes in planktic foraminiferal productivity and species composition can be explained mainly by the natural variability of the North Atlantic Oscillation, and, to a lesser extent, by the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation. In the industrial era, starting from about 1800 CE, this variability is affected by anthropogenic surface warming, leading to enhanced vertical stratification of the upper water column, and resulting in a decrease of surface productivity at both sites. We found that natural planktic foraminiferal population dynamics in the western Mediterranean is already altered by enhanced anthropogenic impact in the industrial era, suggesting that in this region natural cycles are being overprinted by human influences. • Western Mediterranean planktic foraminifera and sea surface temperature records. • Planktic foraminiferal changes explained by natural variability in pre-industrial times. • Anthropogenic warming depletes marine surface production.

Склад і розподіл макрофітобентосу біля берегів півострова Тарханкут (Чорне море, Крим)

The data on the composition and distribution of macrophytobenthos of marine and lagoon water areas of the Black Sea coastal zone in the west of the Tarkhankut Peninsula in the summer season are presented. It is shown that the occurrence and general characteristics of the vegetation cover are determined by the type of substrate. In the sea (where hydrological conditions are relatively homogeneous), the ratio of ecological-floristic groups and the species composition change with distance from the coast and along with it, depending on the depth and geomorphological features of coastal zone fragments. In the lagoon, the ratio of such groups changes along the complex gradient of environmental factors, formed by the groundwater runoff of fresh and marine waters. Within the surveyed area, 91 species of macrophytes were registered: Tracheophyta – 1 species (1.1%), Chlorophyta – 23 (25.3%), Ochrophyta (Phaeophyceae) – 21 (23.1%), and Rhodophyta – 46 (50.5%). Of these, 87 species were recorded in the sea (including 44 in the pseudolittoral zone and 81 – in the sublittoral zone). The macrophytobenthos has a pronounced marine oligosaprobic character. Short-vegetation Rhodophyta dominate by the number of species, and perennial Phaeophyceae dominate by biomass, reaching 1 kg∙m-2 in the pseudolittoral and almost 7 kg∙m-2 in the sublittoral. In the lagoon, 18 species of macrophytes were registered (4 exclusively in the lagoon). Mesosaprobic short-vegetation Rhodophyta dominate by the number of species; marine and brackish-water macrophytes are equally represented. Polysaprobic perennial Tracheophyta, which belong to the marine group, dominate by biomass, which is ranging from 0.04 to 1.2 kg∙m-2. It was found that at the time of the research, the macrophytobenthos of the surveyed area was characterized by high productivity, high species, and coenotic diversity. There were taxa and biotopes, which are subject to special protection under regional and international programs. In general, the nature of the vegetation, the composition of the flora and the ratio of the main ecological-floristic indicators corresponded to those indicated for the Tarkhankut-Sevastopol hydrobotanical region of the Black Sea. Considering the sozological value, the aquatic component of the territorial-aquatic complex was recommended for conservation and inclusion in the ecological networks (incl. the Emerald Network). The increased anthropogenic pressure and the threat of the coastal zone transformation actualize the problem of its conservation as one of the key reserves of the floristic and biotopic diversity of coastal-marine areas in the Northern Black Sea region.

Inorganic and organic carbon and nitrogen uptake strategies of picoplankton groups in the northwestern Atlantic Ocean

AbstractPicoplankton populations dominate the planktonic community in the surface oligotrophic ocean. Yet, their strategies in the acquisition and the partitioning of organic and inorganic sources of nitrogen (N) and carbon (C) are poorly described. Here, we measured at the single‐cell level the uptake of dissolved inorganic C (C‐fixation), C‐leucine, N‐leucine, nitrate (NO3−), ammonium (NH4+), and N‐urea in pigmented and nonpigmented picoplankton groups at six low‐N stations in the northwestern Atlantic Ocean. Our study highlights important differences in trophic strategies between Prochlorococcus, Synechococcus, photosynthetic pico‐eukaryotes, and nonpigmented prokaryotes. Nonpigmented prokaryotes were characterized by high leucine uptake rates, nonsignificant C‐fixation and relatively low NH4+, N‐urea, and NO3− uptake rates. Nonpigmented prokaryotes contributed to 7% ± 3%, 2% ± 2%, and 9% ± 5% of the NH4+, NO3−, and N‐urea community uptake, respectively. In contrast, pigmented groups displayed relatively high C‐fixation rates, NH4+ and N‐urea uptake rates, but lower leucine uptake rates than nonpigmented prokaryotes. Synechococcus and photosynthetic pico‐eukaryotes NO3− uptake rates were higher than Prochlorococcus ones. Pico‐sized pigmented groups accounted for a significant fraction of the community C‐fixation (63% ± 27%), NH4+ uptake (47% ± 27%), NO3− uptake (62% ± 49%), and N‐urea uptake (81% ± 35%). Interestingly, Prochlorococcus and photosynthetic pico‐eukaryotes showed a greater reliance on C‐ and N‐leucine than Synechococcus on average, suggesting a greater reliance on organic C and N sources. Taken together, our single‐cell results decipher the wide diversity of C and N trophic strategies between and within marine picoplankton groups, but a clear partitioning between pigmented and nonpigmented groups still remains.

Vertical Niche Partitioning of Archaea and Bacteria Linked to Shifts in Dissolved Organic Matter Quality and Hydrography in North Atlantic Waters

Understanding the factors that modulate prokaryotic assemblages and their niche partitioning in marine environments is a longstanding challenge in marine microbial ecology. This study analyzes amplicon sequence variant (ASV) diversity and co-occurrence of prokaryotic (Archaea and Bacteria) communities through coastal-oceanic gradients in the NW Iberian upwelling system and adjacent open-ocean (Atlantic Ocean). Biogeographic patterns were investigated in relation with environmental conditions, mainly focusing on the optical signature of the dissolved organic matter (DOM). Alpha- and beta-diversity were horizontally homogeneous [with the only exception of Archaea (∼1700 m depth), attributed to the influence of Mediterranean water, MW], while beta-diversity was significantly vertically stratified. Prokaryotic communities were structured in four clusters (upper subsurface, lower subsurface, intermediate, and deep clusters). Deep (>2000 m) archaeal and bacterial assemblages, and intermediate (500-2000 m) Bacteria (mainly SAR202 and SAR406), were significantly related to humic-like DOM (FDOM-M), while intermediate Archaea were additionally related to biogeochemical attributes of the high-salinity signature of MW. Lower subsurface (100-500 m) Archaea (particularly one ASV belonging to the genus Candidatus Nitrosopelagicus) were mainly related to the imprint of high-salinity MW, while upper subsurface (≤100 m) archaeal assemblages (particularly some ASVs belonging to Marine Group II) were linked to protein-like DOM (aCDOM254). Conversely, both upper and lower subsurface bacterial assemblages were mainly linked to aCDOM254 (particularly ASVs belonging to Rhodobacteraceae, Cyanobacteria, and Flavobacteriaceae) and nitrite concentration (mainly members of Planctomycetes). Most importantly, our analysis unveiled depth-ecotypes, such as the ASVs MarG.II_1 belonging to the archaeal deep cluster (linked to FDOM-M) and MarG.II_2 belonging to the upper subsurface cluster (related to FDOM-T and aCDOM254). This result strongly suggests DOM-mediated vertical niche differentiation, with further implications for ecosystem functioning. Similarly, positive and negative co-occurrence relationships also suggested niche partitioning (e.g., between the closely related ASVs Thaum._Nit._Nit._Nit._1 and _2) and competitive exclusion (e.g., between Thaum._Nit._Nit._Nit._4 and _5), supporting the finding of non-randomly, vertically structured prokaryotic communities. Overall, differences between Archaea and Bacteria and among closely related ASVs were revealed in their preferential relationship with compositional changes in the DOM pool and environmental forcing. Our results provide new insights on the ecological processes shaping prokaryotic assembly and biogeography.

Marine biofilms on different fouling control coating types reveal differences in microbial community composition and abundance.

Marine biofouling imposes serious environmental and economic impacts on marine applications, especially in the shipping industry. To combat biofouling, protective coatings are applied on vessel hulls which are divided into two major groups: biocidal and non‐toxic fouling release. The current study aimed to explore the effect of coating type on microbial biofilm community profiles to better understand the differences between the communities developed on fouling control biocidal antifouling and biocidal‐free coatings. Biocidal (Intersmooth® 7460HS SPC), fouling release (Intersleek® 900), and inert surfaces were deployed in the marine environment for 4 months, and the biofilms that developed on these surfaces were investigated using Illumina NGS sequencing, targeting the prokaryotic 16S rRNA gene. The results confirmed differences in the community profiles between coating types. The biocidal coating supported communities dominated by Alphaproteobacteria (Loktanella, Sphingorhabdus, Erythrobacter) and Bacteroidetes (Gilvibacter), while other taxa, such as Portibacter and Sva0996 marine group, proliferated on the fouling‐release surface. Knowledge of these marine biofilm components on fouling control coatings will serve as a guide for future investigations of marine microfouling as well as informing the coatings industry of potential microbial targets for robust coating formulations.

Comparing diversification rates in lakes, rivers, and the sea.

The diversity of species inhabiting freshwater relative to marine habitats is striking, given that freshwater habitats encompass <1% of Earth's water. The most commonly proposed explanation for this pattern is that freshwater habitats are more fragmented than marine habitats, allowing more opportunities for allopatric speciation and thus increased diversification rates in freshwater. However, speciation may be generally faster in sympatry than in allopatry, as illustrated by lacustrine radiations such as African cichlids. Such differences between rivers and lakes may be important to consider when comparing diversification broadly among freshwater and marine groups. Here I compared diversification rates of teleost fishes in marine, riverine and lacustrine habitats. I found that lakes had faster speciation and net diversification rates than other aquatic habitats. However, most freshwater diversity arose in rivers. Surprisingly, riverine and marine habitats had similar rates of net diversification on average. Biogeographic models suggest that lacustrine habitats are evolutionarily unstable, explaining the dearth of lacustrine species in spite of their rapid diversification. Collectively, these results suggest that strong diversification rate differences are unlikely to explain the freshwater paradox. Instead, this pattern may be attributable to the comparable amount of time spent in riverine and marine habitats over the 200-million-year history of teleosts.

Draft Genome of the Mirrorwing Flyingfish (Hirundichthys speculiger).

Draft Genome of the Mirrorwing Flyingfish (Hirundichthys speculiger).

Characterization of the Exometabolome of Nitrosopumilus maritimus SCM1 by Liquid Chromatography-Ion Mobility Mass Spectrometry.

Marine Thaumarchaeota (formerly known as the marine group I archaea) have received much research interest in recent years since these chemolithoautotrophic organisms are abundant in the subsurface ocean and oxidize ammonium to nitrite, which makes them a major contributor to the marine carbon and nitrogen cycles. However, few studies have investigated the chemical composition of their exometabolome and their contributions to the pool of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in seawater. This study exploits the recent advances in ion mobility mass spectrometry (IM-MS) and integrates this instrumental capability with bioinformatics to reassess the exometabolome of a model ammonia-oxidizing archaeon, Nitrosopumilus maritimus strain SCM1. Our method has several advantages over the conventional approach using an Orbitrap or ion cyclotron resonance mass analyzer and allows assignments or annotations of spectral features to known metabolites confidently and indiscriminately, as well as distinction of biological molecules from background organics. Consistent with the results of a previous report, the SPE-extracted exometabolome of N. maritimus is dominated by biologically active nitrogen-containing metabolites, in addition to peptides secreted extracellularly. Cobalamin and associated intermediates, including α-ribazole and α-ribazole 5′-phosphate, are major components of the SPE-extracted exometabolome of N. maritimus. This supports the proposition that Thaumarchaeota have the capacity of de novo biosynthesizing cobalamin. Other biologically significant metabolites, such as agmatidine and medicagenate, predicted by genome screening are also detected, which indicates that Thaumarchaeota have remarkable metabolic potentials, underlining their importance in driving elemental cycles critical to biological processes in the ocean.

Different Active Microbial Communities in Two Contrasted Subantarctic Fjords.

Microorganisms play a crucial role in biogeochemical processes affecting the primary production and biogeochemical cycles of the ocean. In subpolar areas, the increment of the water temperature induced by climate change could lead to changes in the structure and activity of planktonic microbial communities. To understand how the structure of the microbial community in Chilean Patagonian fjords could be affected by climate change, we analyzed the composition of the prokaryotic community (bacteria-archaea) in two fjords (Pia and Yendegaia) with contrasting morphological and hydrological features. We targeted both the standing stock (16S rRNA genes) and the active fraction (16S rRNA transcripts) of the microbial communities during two consecutive austral winters. Our results showed that in both fjords, the active community had higher diversity and stronger biogeographic patterns when compared to the standing stock. Members of the Alpha-, Gamma-, and Deltaproteobacteria followed by archaea from the Marine Group I (Thaumarchaeota) dominated the active communities in both fjords. However, in Pia fjord, which has a marine-terminating glacier, the composition of the microbial community was directly influenced by the freshwater discharges from the adjacent glacier, and indirectly by a possible upwelling phenomenon that could bring deep sea bacteria such as SAR202 to the surface layer. In turn, in the Yendegaia, which has a land-terminating glacier, microbial communities were more similar to the ones described in oceanic waters. Furthermore, in Yendegaia fjord, inter-annual differences in the taxonomic composition and diversity of the microbial community were observed. In conclusion, Yendegaia fjord, without glacier calving, represents a fjord type that will likely be more common under future climate scenarios. Our results showing distinct Yendegaia communities, with for example more potential nitrogen-fixing microorganisms (Planctomycetes), indicate that as a result of climate change, changing planktonic communities could potentially impact biogeochemical processes and nutrient sources in subantarctic fjords.