Niche selection in bacterioplankton: A study of taxonomic composition and single-cell characteristics in an acidic reservoir.

Niche selection and microbial dispersal are key factors that shape microbial communities. However, their relative significance varies across different environments and spatiotemporal scales. While most studies focus on the impact of these forces on community composition, few consider other structural levels such as the physiological stage of the microbial community and single-cell characteristics. To understand the relative influence of microbial dispersal and niche selection on various community structural levels, we concurrently examined the taxonomic composition, abundance and single-cell characteristics of bacterioplankton in an acidic reservoir (El Sancho, Spain) during stratification and mixing periods. A cluster analysis based on environmental variables identified five niches during stratification and one during mixing. Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) revealed that communities within each niche differed in both, taxonomic and single-cell characteristics. The environmental variables that explained the variation in class-based ordination differed from those explaining the ordination based on single-cell characteristics. However, a Procrustes analysis indicated a high correlation between the CCA ordinations based on both structural levels, suggesting simultaneous changes in the microbial community at multiple structural levels. Our findings underscore the dominant role of environmental selection in occupying different microbial niches, given that microbial dispersal was not restricted.

Tidal elevation is the key factor modulating burial rates and composition of organic matter in a coastal wetland with multiple habitats.

This study examines long-term burial rates of organic carbon (OC), organic nitrogen (ON), and total sulphur (TS) in a tidal-dominated coastal wetland with a high spatial heterogeneity and habitat diversity, and long history of human impacts, Cádiz Bay (SW Spain). Using replicate sediment cores, we quantified fluxes of these elements over a transect, extending from the lower saltmarsh (Spartina maritima, ~0.3 m mean sea level, MSL) to the lower intertidal region (Zostera noltei, ~ - 0.7 m MSL). Potential organic matter (OM) sources to the sediment were examined using an extensive dataset on carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes, and C:N molar ratios of primary producers in the region. OC burial rates decreased from the sites below MSL (~80 gC·m-2·y-1) to the lower saltmarsh (~50 gC·m-2·y-1), whereas ON burial rates showed an opposite pattern (~3 gN·m-2·y-1 and ~4 gN·m-2·y-1 observed below and above MSL, respectively). TS burial rates (0.5-46 gS·m-2·y-1) did not show any trend along the sea-land gradient. Hence, (tidal) elevation appeared to be an important determinant of sediment biogeochemical properties, and predictor of OM burial rates. The Bayesian mixing model suggested a well-mixed combination of subtidal and terrestrial/high-marsh OM sources to the surface sediments, with no clear indication of an increased contribution from the particular vegetation species inhabiting the sediments. The indication that there is substantial transport, remineralization and cycling of OM between habitats, suggests diversity may play an important role in maintaining this function, reinforcing the idea that a holistic, catchment-scale view is appropriate for understanding and preserving the long-term burial of OM in coastal wetlands.

Water column dissolved silica concentration limits microphytobenthic primary production in intertidal sediments.

Primary production of microphytobenthos (MPB) contributes significantly to the total production in shallow coastal environments. MPB is a diverse community in which diatoms are usually the main microalgal group. Diatoms require N, P, and other nutrients as with other autotrophs, but in addition require silicate to create their outer cell wall. Therefore, dissolved silica (DSi) might be a potential limiting factor for benthic primary production in areas with reduced freshwater input. To test this hypothesis, a microcosm experiment was conducted using intact sediment cores collected from an intertidal mudflat in the Bay of Cádiz and supplied with increasing concentrations of DSi (0, 5, 10, 25, and 45 µmol · L-1 ). After 7 d of enrichment, we determined chlorophyll a and c (Chl a, c) contents, metabolic rates (Net [Pn ] and Areal Gross [PgA ] Production and Light [RL ] and Dark [RD ] Respiration), as well as fluxes of inorganic nutrients across the sediment-water interface. Chl a and c contents increased significantly with respect to the initial conditions but no differences between treatments were found. Both Pn and PgA showed a saturating-like pattern with silicate concentration, reaching maximum rates at a DSi concentration of 45 µmol · L-1 . The addition of DSi also resulted in an increase of DSi and ammonium uptake by the sediment, which was significantly higher in light than in darkness. Our results clearly show that water column DSi concentrations have a direct impact on benthic primary production, also controlling other related processes such as inorganic nutrient fluxes.