Diatoms dominate the eukaryotic metatranscriptome during spring in coastal 'dead zone' sediments.
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Broman E, Sachpazidou V, Dopson M, Hylander S
Proc. Biol. Sci. 284 (1864) - [2017-10-11; online 2017-10-06]
An important characteristic of marine sediments is the oxygen concentration that affects many central metabolic processes. There has been a widespread increase in hypoxia in coastal systems (referred to as 'dead zones') mainly caused by eutrophication. Hence, it is central to understand the metabolism and ecology of eukaryotic life in sediments during changing oxygen conditions. Therefore, we sampled coastal 'dead zone' Baltic Sea sediment during autumn and spring, and analysed the eukaryotic metatranscriptome from field samples and after incubation in the dark under oxic or anoxic conditions. Bacillariophyta (diatoms) dominated the eukaryotic metatranscriptome in spring and were also abundant during autumn. A large fraction of the diatom RNA reads was associated with the photosystems suggesting a constitutive expression in darkness. Microscope observation showed intact diatom cells and these would, if hatched, represent a significant part of the pelagic phytoplankton biomass. Oxygenation did not significantly change the relative proportion of diatoms nor resulted in any major shifts in metabolic 'signatures'. By contrast, diatoms rapidly responded when exposed to light suggesting that light is limiting diatom development in hypoxic sediments. Hence, it is suggested that diatoms in hypoxic sediments are on 'standby' to exploit the environment if they reach suitable habitats.
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NGI Stockholm (Genomics Applications) [Service]
NGI Stockholm (Genomics Production) [Service]
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PubMed 28978732
DOI 10.1098/rspb.2017.1617
Crossref 10.1098/rspb.2017.1617
pii: rspb.2017.1617
pmc: PMC5647304
BioProject: PRJNA347538 Raw metatranscriptomic RNA data
BioProject: PRJNA322450 Raw metagenome, 16S rRNA and metatranscriptome sequence data