<i>Eukarya</i> 18S rRNA gene diversity in the sea surface microlayer: implications for the structure of the neustonic microbial loop

Cunliffe, Michael; Murrell, J. Colin

doi:10.1038/ismej.2009.133

Cited by 19 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…Replicate samples collected from the surface microlayer (sampling depth $400 mm) and subsurface water (sampling depth 0.75 m) during a phytoplankton bloom experiment in a fjord mesocosm were analyzed using DGGE of Eukarya 18S rRNA gene amplicons. Protist community structure in the surface microlayer samples was different from that in subsurface water, with two taxa appearing to dominate the microlayer samples: Cercozoa and, to a lesser extent, Ciliophora (Cunliffe & Murrell, 2010). This study implies that the protist components of the microbial loop in the fjord surface microlayer are significantly different from those in subsurface water.…”

Section: Food Webs In Surface Microlayersmentioning

confidence: 64%

Microbiology of aquatic surface microlayers

Cunliffe¹,

Upstill‐Goddard²,

Murrell³

2011

FEMS Microbiol Rev

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144

141

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Aquatic surface microlayers are unique microbial ecosystems found at the air-water interface of all open water bodies and are often referred to as the neuston. Unambiguous interpretation of the microbiology of aquatic surface microlayers relies on robust sampling, for which several methods are available. All have particular advantages and disadvantages that make them more or less suited to this task. A key feature of surface microlayers is their role in regulating air-water gas exchange, which affords them a central role in global biogeochemistry that is only now being fully appreciated. The microbial populations in surface microlayers can impact air-water gas exchange through specific biogeochemical processes mediated by particular microbial groups such as methanotrophs or through more general metabolic activity such as the balance of primary production vs. heterotrophy. There have been relatively few studies of surface microlayers that have utilized molecular ecology techniques. The emerging consensus view is that aquatic surface microlayers are aggregate-enriched biofilm environments containing complex microbial communities that are ecologically distinct from those present in the subsurface water immediately below. Future research should focus on unravelling the complex interactions between microbial diversity and the ecosystem function of surface microlayers in order to better understand the important but complex role of microorganisms in Earth system processes.

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Section: Food Webs In Surface Microlayersmentioning

confidence: 64%

Microbiology of aquatic surface microlayers

Cunliffe¹,

Upstill‐Goddard²,

Murrell³

2011

FEMS Microbiol Rev

Self Cite

144

141

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…, Montes‐Hugo and Alvarez‐Borrego ). Only one previous mesocosm‐based study has used molecular techniques (DGGE analysis of 18S rRNA genes) to characterize neustonic protist diversity (Cunliffe and Murrell ). The study sequenced 19 excised DGGE bands, only two of which were important in the neuston assemblage.…”

Section: Environmental Parameters Water Column Phytoplankton Cell Comentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Studies aiming to determine the diversity of protists in the neuston have almost exclusively relied upon microscope-based observations, pigment analysis and flow cytometry (Hardy and Valett 1981, De Souza Limaa and Chretiennot-Dinet 1984, Hardy and Apts 1984, 1989, Joux et al 2006, Montes-Hugo and Alvarez-Borrego 2007. Only one previous mesocosm-based study has used molecular techniques (DGGE analysis of 18S rRNA genes) to characterize neustonic protist diversity (Cunliffe and Murrell 2010). The study sequenced 19 excised DGGE bands, only two of which were important in the neuston assemblage.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

High‐throughput sequencing reveals neustonic and planktonic microbial eukaryote diversity in coastal waters

Taylor

Cunliffe

2014

Journal of Phycology

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Neustonic organisms inhabit the sea surface microlayer (SML) and have important roles in marine ecosystem functioning. Here, we use high-throughput 18S rRNA gene sequencing to characterize protist and fungal diversity in the SML at a coastal time-series station and compare with underlying plankton assemblages. Protist diversity was higher in February (pre-bloom) compared to April (spring bloom), and was lower in the neuston than in the plankton. Major protist groups, including Stramenopiles and Alveolata, dominated both neuston and plankton assemblages. Chrysophytes and diatoms were enriched in the neuston in April, with diatoms showing distinct changes in community composition between the sampling periods. Pezizomycetes dominated planktonic fungi assemblages, whereas fungal diversity in the neuston was more varied. This is the first study to utilize a molecular-based approach to characterize neustonic protist and fungal assemblages, and provides the most comprehensive diversity assessment to date of this ecosystem. Variability in the SML microeukaryote assemblage structure has potential implications for biogeochemical and food web processes at the air-sea interface.

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“…Aller et al (2005) found that the EF for bacteria and virus abundances were 10 and 7, respectively. Protistan community composition in the SML is different from the underlying waters and is enriched in some taxa (Joux et al, 2006;Cunliffe and Murrell, 2010;Taylor and Cunliffe, 2014). Joux et al (2006) proposed that buoyant particles and bubbles play a role in the enrichment of the SML with specific taxa.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Protein and Carbohydrate Exopolymer Particles in the Sea Surface Microlayer (SML)

2016

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Exchanges of matter and energy between ocean and atmosphere occur through the sea surface microlayer (SML). The SML is the thin surface layer of the ocean at the ocean-atmosphere interface that has distinctive physical, chemical and biological properties compared with the underlying water. We measured the concentration of two types of exopolymer particles in the SML and underlying water in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Oregon (United States) during July 2011. Transparent exopolymer particles (TEP) are defined by their acidic polysaccharide content, whereas Coomassie staining particles (CSP) are composed of protein. TEP and CSP were ubiquitous in the SML. TEP were not significantly enriched in the SML compared with the underlying water. CSP were significantly enriched in the SML, with an enrichment factor (EF) of 1.4-2.4. The distribution of exopolymer particles in the water and microscopic imaging indicated that TEP and CSP are distinct populations of particles rather than different chemical components of the same particles. Dissolved polysaccharides were not enriched in the SML, whereas monosaccharides had an EF of 1.2-1.8. Sampling occurred during the collapse of a diatom bloom, and diatoms were found both in the water column and SML. While there were living diatoms in the samples, most of the diatoms were dead and there were abundant empty frustules covered in layer of TEP. The collapsing diatom bloom was probably the source of exopolymer particles to both the SML and underlying water. Exopolymer particles are a component of the SML that may play a significant role in the marine carbon and nitrogen cycles, and the exchange of material between ocean and atmosphere.

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Eukarya 18S rRNA gene diversity in the sea surface microlayer: implications for the structure of the neustonic microbial loop

Cited by 19 publications

References 17 publications

Microbiology of aquatic surface microlayers

Microbiology of aquatic surface microlayers

High‐throughput sequencing reveals neustonic and planktonic microbial eukaryote diversity in coastal waters

Protein and Carbohydrate Exopolymer Particles in the Sea Surface Microlayer (SML)

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