Diversity of planktonic photoautotrophic microorganisms along a salinity gradient as depicted by microscopy, flow cytometry, pigment analysis and DNA-based methods

• DOI: 10.1016/j.femsec.2004.04.002
• Publication Date: 2004-04-21T12:48:36Z
• Authors: Marta Estrada; Peter Henriksen; Josep M. Gasol; Emilio O. Casamayor; Carlos Pedrós-Alió
• Keywords: Picoplankton; Diversity index

The diversity of prokaryotic and eukaryotic phytoplankton was studied along a gradient salinity in the solar salterns Bras del Port Santa Pola (Alacant, Spain) using different community descriptors. Chlorophyll a, HPLC pigment composition, flow cytometrically-determined picoplankton concentration, taxonomic composition (based on optical microscopy) genetic fingerprint patterns 16S (cyanobacteria- chloroplast-specific primers) 18S rRNA genes were determined for samples from ponds with salinities ranging 4% to 37%. Both morphological genetical descriptors showed good agreement indicated major discontinuity at between 15% 22%. number classes Shannon index corresponding consistent decreasing trend increasing salinity. results indicate selective effect extremely high phytoplanktonic assemblages.