Microscale spatial distributions of microbes and viruses in intertidal photosynthetic microbial mats

Cátia Carreira*, Tim Piel, Marc Staal, Jan Berend W. Stuut, Mathias Middelboe, Corina P.D. Brussaard

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to JournalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Intertidal photosynthetic microbial mats from the Wadden Sea island Schiermonnikoog were examined for microscale (millimetre) spatial distributions of viruses, prokaryotes and oxygenic photoautotrophs (filamentous cyanobacteria and benthic diatoms) at different times of the year. Abundances of viruses and prokaryotes were among the highest found in benthic systems (0.05–5.43 × 1010 viruses g−1 and 0.05–2.14 × 1010 prokaryotes g−1). The spatial distribution of viruses, prokaryotes and oxygenic photoautotrophs were highly heterogeneous at mm scales. The vertical distributions of both prokaryotic and viral abundances were related to the depth of the oxygenic photoautotrophic layer, implying that the photosynthetic mat fuelled the microbial processes in the underlying layer. Our data suggest that viruses could make an important component in these productive environments potentially affecting the biodiversity and nutrient cycling within the mat.

Original languageEnglish
Article number239
JournalSpringerPlus
Volume4
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 26 Dec 2015

Keywords

  • Oxygenic photoautotrophs
  • Photosynthetic microbial mats
  • Prokaryotes
  • Spatial distribution
  • Viruses

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