Estimating taxonomic and functional structure along a tropical estuary: linking metabolic traits and aspects of ecosystem functioning

• DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.03886-23
• Publication Date: 2024-08-20T13:05:46Z
• Authors: Héctor A. Levipan; L. Felipe Opazo; Sara Arenas-Uribe; Hernán Wicki; Francisca Marchant; Lennin Florez-Leiva; Ruben Avendaño-He...
• Keywords: 16S amplicon sequencing; 0301 basic medicine; 570; 15 Vida de ecosistemas terrestres; multiple-trait approach; functional space; 15 Life on Land; Gulf of Urabá; 500; functional diversity; Microbiology; QR1-502; Colombia's Caribbean Sea; Atrato River; 03 medical and health sciences; Gulf of Urab & aacute; Colombia’s Caribbean Sea; Research Article

ABSTRACT Microbial life forms are among the most ubiquitous on Earth, yet many remain understudied in Caribbean estuaries. We report prokaryote community composition of Urabá Estuary Colombian using 16S rRNA gene-transcript sequencing. also assessed potential functional diversity through 38 metabolic traits inferred from gene data. Water samples were collected six sampling stations at two depths with contrasting light-penetration conditions along an approximately 100 km transect Gulf December 2019. Non-metric multidimensional scaling analysis grouped into distinct clusters and between depths. The primary variables influencing station, depth, salinity, dissolved oxygen levels. Twenty percent genera (i.e., 58 out 285) account for 95% differences groups All studied showed some significant relationship tested environmental variables, especially salinity except temperature. Another non-metric analysis, based community-weighted mean traits, over depth. Biodiversity facets, such as richness, evenness, redundancy, indicated that variations—stemming river discharges—introduce imbalance surface communities closer to estuary’s head bottom ocean. Our research broadens use transcripts beyond mere taxonomic assignments, furthering field trait-based ecology transitional aquatic ecosystems. IMPORTANCE resilience a dynamic ecosystem is directly tied ability its microbes navigate gradients. This study delves changes within (Colombian Caribbean) first time. integrate data (taxonomic functional) variability gain understanding this under-researched multi-faceted macroecological framework. found shifts influenced by physical-chemical fluctuations across gradient. Furthermore, we identified disparity diversity. Near-surface exhibited compared deeper situated farther away. serves roadmap posing new inquiries about highly ecosystems, pushing forward domain multi-trait-based ecology.