Review
Oceanography
Sergio M. Vallina, Charlie Gaborit, Celia Marrase, Josep M. Gasol, Nixon Bahamon, Michael J. Follows, Guillaume Le Gland, Pedro Cermeno
Summary: This study investigates the seasonal dynamics of eight major phytoplankton groups over a 12 year period in the North Western Mediterranean Sea. The results show that phytoplankton community composition exhibits seasonal variations, with different groups dominating at different times throughout the year. The seasonal succession tends to repeat itself every year, and the seasonal variability of phytoplankton groups is greater than their year-to-year variability. The findings suggest that phytoplankton groups fill distinct environmental niches and have different functional roles in marine ecosystems.
PROGRESS IN OCEANOGRAPHY
(2023)
Article
Soil Science
S. Maranon-Jimenez, D. Asensio, J. Sardans, P. Zuccarini, R. Ogaya, S. Mattana, J. Penuelas
Summary: Intensification of droughts in Mediterranean regions can negatively affect soil nutrient availability and biogeochemical functioning through its impact on soil microbial biomass and activity. Long-term chronic drought reduces microbial biomass and nutrient content, increasing the risk of nitrogen loss, while seasonal drought affects microbial biomass content of C, N, and P.
SOIL BIOLOGY & BIOCHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Kevin A. Grace, John M. Juston, Thomas A. DeBusk, Tracey Piccone
Summary: This study evaluates the removal of wetland phosphorus (P) in extremely low concentrations. It investigates the concept of scraping P-enriched muck soil from the discharge region of Stormwater Treatment Areas (STAs) to expose the underlying limerock substrate, which promotes the growth of periphyton and submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) communities. The study also examines the impact of external and internal P inputs on P discharges in low-P wetlands.
ECOLOGICAL ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Ecology
V. R. Kumari, V. R. D. Ghosh, D. N. Rao, M. S. Krishna, V. V. S. S. Sarma
Summary: N2 fixation rates were measured in the western coastal Bay of Bengal to evaluate its contribution to external nitrogen sources. The study found that the presence of nutrient-poor and warm waters in the upper layer may trigger N2 fixation in the upper ocean. Additionally, phosphate limitation was observed, which may hinder N2 fixation in the region.
REGIONAL STUDIES IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Oceanography
Anne-Sophie Pavaux, Flora Drouet, Jean-Louis Jamet, Jean -Marc Ginoux, Christophe Brach -Papa, Yanis Sindt-Baret, Veronique Lenoble, Dominique Jamet
Summary: The long-term evolution of pico-and nanophytoplanktonic communities was studied in two contrasting coastal sites from the bay of Toulon using monthly flow cytometry analyses over a seven-year period. The more eutrophic site showed higher abundance of both pico-and nanophytoplanktonic communities. Despite the dominance of Synechococcus spp. population in both sites, it accounted for over 90% of the population during summer in the Large Bay. The use of diversity indices and rank frequency diagrams revealed that the more polluted site had a paradoxically more diversified and mature community compared to the less diversified and juvenile community in the Large Bay, which was attributed to the dominance of Synechococcus spp.
CONTINENTAL SHELF RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Theo Garcia, Daniela Banaru, Loic Guilloux, Veronique Cornet, Gerald Gregori, Francois Carlotti
Summary: Sixteen years of zooplankton monitoring in the Bay of Marseille (N-W Mediterranean Sea) were analyzed. The study examined the relationship between physical, meteorological, climatic and biotic data. The results showed that there were significant changes in phytoplankton metrics, winter conditions, zooplankton community structure, and zooplankton phenology. These changes suggest a bottom-up control of the pelagic ecosystem.
Article
Microbiology
Sukriye Celikkol, Nathalie Fortin, Nicolas Tromas, Herinandrianina Andriananjamanantsoa, Charles W. Greer
Summary: This study investigated the sources of nitrogen and phosphorus nutrients, as well as the impact of runoff on cyanobacterial blooms. The results showed that peaks in nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations were associated with intense cumulative precipitation events, and that nitrogen and phosphorus had a significant influence on cyanobacterial population dynamics.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Rita B. Domingues, Patricia Nogueira, Ana B. Barbosa
Summary: The goal of this study was to evaluate the occurrence, type, and effects of nutrient limitation on phytoplankton community in the Ria Formosa coastal lagoon. It was found that the most common type of phytoplankton limitation was simultaneous co-limitation by N and P, with diatoms being the most frequently limited group. Nutrient ratios and concentrations in the environment did not predict phytoplankton nutrient limitation.
ESTUARIES AND COASTS
(2023)
Article
Oceanography
Tal Ben Ezra, Michael D. Krom, Anat Tsemel, Ilana Berman-Frank, Barak Herut, Yoav Lehahn, Eyal Rahav, Tom Reich, T. Frede Thingstad, Daniel Sher
Summary: The Eastern Mediterranean Sea is an ultra-oligotrophic region with seasonal changes in nutrient limitation, leading to variations in phytoplankton species dominance and abundance. Prochlorococcus dominates during summer when nutrient concentrations are lowest, while larger picoeukaryotes and eukaryotes dominate during winter. The seasonal switch in DIN:DIP ratio indicates a transition from P limitation in winter to N or N&P limitation in summer.
DEEP-SEA RESEARCH PART I-OCEANOGRAPHIC RESEARCH PAPERS
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Michele Leduc, Arnaud Abadie, Christophe Viala, Alban Bouchard, Laura Iborra, Quentin Fontaine, Gilles Lepoint, Michel Marengo, Gerard Pergent, Sylvie Gobert, Pierre Lejeune, Briac Monnier
Summary: Posidonia oceanica in Mediterranean develops a complex belowground structure capable of storing large amounts of carbon over thousands of years. Mapping techniques and sediment sampling were used to assess the size and variability of carbon stocks. This study quantifies the organic and inorganic carbon stocks in the P. oceanica matte of Calvi Bay using sub-bottom profiler imagery and sediment core analysis. The data revealed the heterogeneity of blue carbon stocks in seagrass meadows and discussed the variability of carbon storage capacity influenced by substrate.
MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Huiho Jeong, Yoonja Kang, Hyeonseo Cho
Summary: A model was used to estimate the mass balances of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus in Gamak Bay, Korea, indicating severe eutrophication. The study found that organic matter deposition was decomposed, and dissolved inorganic nitrogen and phosphorus were eluted in the reducing environment. The results suggest that both freshly exported organic matter and biochemical processes under anoxic conditions play important roles as nutrient sources for eutrophication in Gamak Bay, Korea.
Article
Ecology
Adria Auladell, Albert Barberan, Ramiro Logares, Esther Garces, Josep M. Gasol, Isabel Ferrera
Summary: This study characterized the seasonal dynamics of marine bacteria and identified seasonal abundance patterns as well as environmental parameters affecting them. It found that niche similarity decreased for certain genera as nucleotide divergence in the 16S rRNA gene increased, and observed evidence of seasonal differentiation within various genera.
Article
Microbiology
Carlota R. Gazulla, Adria Auladell, Clara Ruiz-Gonzalez, Pedro C. Junger, Marta Royo-Llonch, Carlos M. Duarte, Josep M. Gasol, Olga Sanchez, Isabel Ferrera
Summary: The study revealed that the aerobic anoxygenic phototrophic bacteria in the global surface ocean are mainly composed of Halieaceae (Gammaproteobacteria) and different clades of Alphaproteobacteria, with spatial structuring within oceans. Compared to other marine microbial communities, AAP communities exhibit an idiosyncratic global biogeographical pattern.
ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Sebastian Metz, Paula Huber, Victoria Accattatis, Adriana Lopes Dos Santos, Estelle Bigeard, Fernando Unrein, Aurelie Chambouvet, Fabrice Not, Enrique Lara, Melina Devercelli
Summary: This study surveyed the protist diversity of the Parana River using metabarcoding, and found that approximately 28% of the amplicon sequence variants were classified as novel, mostly related to heterotrophic groups traditionally overlooked in freshwater systems. In addition, new deep-branching cluster sequences were identified within both well-documented and less studied groups, highlighting the lack of knowledge on freshwater planktonic protists.
ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Galina Prokopchuk, Tomas Korytar, Valeria Juricova, Jovana Majstorovic, Ales Horak, Karel Simek, Julius Lukes
Summary: Diplonemids are a common group of heterotrophic planktonic microeukaryotes in the world ocean, and they play an important role in marine ecosystems. Research has shown that they can switch dietary patterns and distinguish between food quality and edibility. They possess an opportunistic lifestyle that gives them an advantage in food-limited marine environments.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Juan Jose Pierella Karlusich, Eric Pelletier, Lucie Zinger, Fabien Lombard, Adriana Zingone, Sebastien Colin, Josep M. Gasol, Richard G. Dorrell, Nicolas Henry, Eleonora Scalco, Silvia G. Acinas, Patrick Wincker, Colomban de Vargas, Chris Bowler
Summary: Phytoplankton, accounting for over 45% of global primary production, play a significant role in aquatic food webs and the Earth System. However, current genetic surveys using PCR amplification of rRNA genes have limitations. This study introduces a PCR-free method targeting the photosynthetic gene psbO, showing improved correlations with flow cytometry and microscopy and providing new insights into the ecology of phytoplankton communities.
MOLECULAR ECOLOGY RESOURCES
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Horacio Ernesto Zagarese, Nadia R. Diovisalvi, Maria de los Angeles Gonzalez Sagrario, Irina Izaguirre, Paulina Fermani, Fernando Unrein, Manuel Castro Berman, Gonzalo Luis Perez
Summary: The size structure of phytoplankton has a significant impact on food-web organization and energy transfer. Picocyanobacteria, which are smaller than 2 μm, are a major component of autotrophic plankton in Pampean lakes. The adoption of glyphosate-resistant crops has caused outbreaks of picocyanobacteria populations, resulting in reduced water transparency.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Maria Montserrat Sala, Francesc Peters, Marta Sebastian, Clara Cardelus, Eva Calvo, Celia Marrase, Ramon Massana, Carles Pelejero, Joan Sala-Coromina, Dolors Vaque, Josep M. Gasol
Summary: The study found that during the lockdown in spring 2020, there were changes in microbial communities in Blanes Bay, which may have been caused by factors such as decreased nitrogen atmospheric load, reduced wastewater flux, and decreased fishing activity in the area.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Ernesto Villarino, James R. Watson, Guillem Chust, A. John Woodill, Benjamin Klempay, Bror Jonsson, Josep M. Gasol, Ramiro Logares, Ramon Massana, Caterina R. Giner, Guillem Salazar, X. Anton Alvarez-Salgado, Teresa S. Catala, Carlos M. Duarte, Susana Agusti, Francisco Mauro, Xabier Irigoien, Andrew D. Barton
Summary: This study conducted a comparative analysis of surface and deep ocean microbial communities and found that their spatial distribution is closely related to oceanic distance and environmental gradients. The dispersal rates and body sizes of prokaryotes and picoeukaryotes contributed to the differences in community similarity. In the deep ocean, both oceanic distance and environment played significant roles in shaping microbial spatial distribution, while in the surface ocean, the influence of the environment was stronger.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Karel Simek, Indranil Mukherjee, Tiberiu Szoke-Nagy, Markus Haber, Michaela M. Salcher, Rohit Ghai
Summary: Morphologically indistinguishable aplastidic cryptophytes were found to be ubiquitous and prominent protistan bacterivores in freshwater ecosystems, playing important roles in carbon flow. These heterotrophic cryptophytes were generally smaller and more abundant than their chloroplast-bearing counterparts, and their diversity has been largely undiscovered.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Miguel Cabrera-Brufau, Celia Marrase, Eva Ortega-Retuerta, Sdena Nunes, Marta Estrada, M. Montserrat Sala, Dolors Vaque, Gonzalo L. Perez, Rafel Simo, Pedro Cermeno
Summary: Phytoplankton-derived organic matter plays a crucial role in sustaining heterotrophic marine life in regions with no terrestrial inputs. This study investigates the dynamics and drivers of the dissolved and particulate fractions of fluorescent organic matter (FOM) in the Southern Ocean. The results show that filtration has negligible effects on the fluorescence intensities of the visible FOM spectrum, indicating that dissolved fluorophores contribute the most to this signal. Additionally, protein-like fluorescence is primarily associated with particles, accounting for up to 90% of the total protein-like FOM.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Adria Auladell, Isabel Ferrera, Lidia Montiel Fontanet, Celio Dias Santos Junior, Marta Sebastian, Ramiro Logares, Josep M. Gasol
Summary: Microbes play a crucial role in driving biogeochemical cycles in marine ecosystems through their diverse metabolic activities. This study investigated the seasonal dynamics of 21 biogeochemical functions in an oligotrophic coastal ocean site. The presence of key genes, high-rank gene taxonomy, and nucleotide variant dynamics were analyzed to understand the patterns of these functions. The study revealed the seasonality of different functions and identified the main taxonomic groups involved in each function.
ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
David K. Ngugi, Silvia G. Acinas, Pablo Sanchez, Josep M. Gasol, Susana Agusti, David M. Karl, Carlos M. Duarte
Summary: This study investigates the average genome size of planktonic prokaryotes across tropical and polar oceans and down to the hadal realm. Using hundreds of metagenomes of marine microorganisms, genome size was found to be highest in the perennially cold polar ocean, suggesting that environmental factors influence genome size selection and the ecological strategies of marine microbes.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Editorial Material
Microbiology
Annika Vaksmaa, Alessandra Adessi, Maria M. Sala, Alison Buchan, Catarina M. Magalhaes, Adriane Clark Jones
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Xavier Rey-Velasco, Ona Deulofeu-Capo, Isabel Sanz-Saez, Clara Cardelus, Isabel Ferrera, Josep Gasol, Olga Sanchez
Summary: Isolation and culturing of marine bacteria is a useful approach to gain knowledge about their genomic properties, physiology, and ecology. This study conducted extensive isolation efforts on samples from seawater manipulation experiments in the northwest Mediterranean and found that decreasing grazing and viral pressure, as well as rising nutrient availability, are key factors increasing the success in culturing marine bacteria.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2023)
