Shifts in the protist community associated with an anticyclonic gyre in the Alboran Sea (Mediterranean Sea)

• DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiaa197
• Publication Date: 2020-09-23T19:14:30Z
• Authors: Candela García-Gómez; Lidia Yebra; Dolores Cortés; Antonio Sánchez; Aitor Alonso; Nerea Valcárcel-P...; Francisco Gómez-J...; Inma Herrera; Carolina Johnstone; Jesús M Mercado
• Keywords: Dinophyceae; Dominance (genetics); Protist

The diversity of protists was researched in the Alboran Sea (SW Mediterranean Sea) by means high-throughput sequencing technologies based on amplification V9 region 18S rRNA. Samples were collected at different depths seven stations following an environmental gradient from a coastal upwelling zone to core oligotrophic anticyclonic gyre (AG). Sampling performed during summer, when water column stratified. superphyla Alveolata, Stramenopila and Rhizaria accounted for 84% total operational taxonomic units (OTUs). most diverse groups Dinophyceae (21% OTUs), Marine Alveolates-II (MALV-II; 20%), Ciliophora (9%) MALV-I (6%). In terms read abundance, predominant (29%), Bacillariophyta (14%), MALV-II (11%) (11%). clustered into three according sampling depth position. shallow community presented distinguishable patterns diatoms ciliates compared with AG stations. These results indicate that there strong horizontal coupling between phytoplankton ciliate communities. Abundance Radiolaria Syndiniales increased depth. Our analyses demonstrate stratification disruption produced caused shifts trophic ecology plankton assemblages inducing transition bottom-up top-down control.