Phylogenetic profiling of bacterial community from two intimately located sites in Balramgari,North-East coast of India

Microbial communities in coastal subsurface sediments play an important role in biogeochemical cycles. In this study microbial communities in tidal subsurface sediments of Balramgari in the state of Orissa, India were investigated using a culture independent approach. Two 16S rDNA cloned libraries were prepared from the closely located (100 m along the coast) subsurface sediment samples. Library I sediment samples had higher organic carbon content but lower sand percentage in comparison to Library II. A total of 310 clone sequences were used for DOTUR analysis which revealed 51 unique phylotypes or operational taxonomic units (OTUs) for both libraries. The OTUs were affiliated with 13 major lineages of domain bacteria including Proteobacteria (α, β, δ and λ), Acidobacteria, Actinobacteria, Cyanobacteria, Chloroflexi, Firmicutes, Verrucomicrobia, Bacteroidetes, Gemmatimonadetes and TM7. We encountered few pathogenic bacteria such as Aeromonas hydrophila and Ochrobactrum intermedium, in sediment from Library I. ∫-LIBSHUFF comparison depicts that the two libraries were significantly different communities. Most of the OTUs from both libraries possessed ≥85% to <97% similarity to RDP database sequences depicting the putative presence of new species, genera and phylum. This work revealed the complex and unique bacterial diversity from coastal habitat of Balramgari and shows that, in coastal habitat a variability of physical and chemical parameter has a prominent impact on the microbial community structure.     

Seasonal and spatial diversity of microbial communities in marine sediments of the South China Sea

This study was conducted to characterize the diversity of microbial communities in marine sediments of the South China Sea by means of 16S rRNA gene clone libraries. The results revealed that the sediment samples collected in summer harboured a more diverse microbial community than that collected in winter, Deltaproteobacteria dominated 16S rRNA gene clone libraries from both seasons, followed by Gammaproteobacteria, Acidobacteria, Nitrospirae, Planctomycetes, Firmicutes. Archaea phylotypes were also found. The majority of clone sequences shared greatest similarity to uncultured organisms, mainly from hydrothermal sediments and cold seep sediments. In addition, the sedimentary microbial communities in the coastal sea appears to be much more diverse than that of the open sea. A spatial pattern in the sediment samples was observed that the sediment samples collected from the coastal sea and the open sea clustered separately, a novel microbial community dominated the open sea. The data indicate that changes in environmental conditions are accompanied by significant variations in diversity of microbial communities at the South China Sea.     

Analysis of bacterial and archaeal diversity in coastal microbial mats using massive parallel 16S rRNA gene tag sequencing

Coastal microbial mats are small-scale and largely closed ecosystems in which a plethora of different functional groups of microorganisms are responsible for the biogeochemical cycling of the elements. Coastal microbial mats play an important role in coastal protection and morphodynamics through stabilization of the sediments and by initiating the development of salt-marshes. Little is known about the bacterial and especially archaeal diversity and how it contributes to the ecological functioning of coastal microbial mats. Here, we analyzed three different types of coastal microbial mats that are located along a tidal gradient and can be characterized as marine (ST2), brackish (ST3) and freshwater (ST3) systems. The mats were sampled during three different seasons and subjected to massive parallel tag sequencing of the V6 region of the 16S rRNA genes of Bacteria and Archaea. Sequence analysis revealed that the mats are among the most diverse marine ecosystems studied so far and consist of several novel taxonomic levels ranging from classes to species. The diversity between the different mat types was far more pronounced than the changes between the different seasons at one location. The archaeal community for these mats have not been studied before and revealed a strong reaction on a short period of draught during summer resulting in a massive increase in halobacterial sequences, whereas the bacterial community was barely affected. We concluded that the community composition and the microbial diversity were intrinsic of the mat type and depend on the location along the tidal gradient indicating a relation with salinity.     

基于PCR-DGGE技术的红树林区微生物群落结构

【目的】为了解红树林沉积物中细菌的群落结构特征。【方法】应用PCR-DGGE技术对福建浮宫红树林的16个采样站位样品细菌的群落结构进行了研究。根据DGGE指纹图谱,对它们的遗传多样性进行了分析。【结果】各站位样品细菌多样性指数(H)、丰度(S)和均匀度(EH)均有所不同,这些差异与它们所处站位的不同有关,红树林区细菌多样性高于非红树林区细菌多样性。对不同站位细菌群落相似性分析,它们的相似性系数也存在一定的规律,同一断面的细菌群落结构相近性较高。对DGGE的优势条带序列分析,同源性最高的微生物分别属于变形菌门(Proteobacteria)、酸菌门(Acidobacteria)和绿菌门(Chlorobi),它们均为未培养微生物,分别来自于河口海岸沉积物。【结论】应用PCR-DGGE技术更能客观地反映红树林沉积物中真实的细菌群落结构信息。另外,研究也表明红树林区微生物多样性丰富,在红树林区研究开发未知微生物资源具有巨大的潜力。     

Natural microbial diversity in superficial sediments of Milazzo Harbor (Sicily) and community successions during microcosm enrichment with various hydrocarbons

Hydrocarbon-contaminated superficial sediments collected from the Harbor of Milazzo (Tirrenean Sea, northern Sicily), a zone strongly affected by anthropogenic activities, were examined for in situ biodegradative capacities. A culture-independent molecular phylogenetic approach was used to study the influence of hydrocarbon and nutrient addition on the activity and diversity of the indigenous microbiota during a microcosm evaluation. The autochthonous microbial community in non-polluted sediments was represented by eubacterial phylotypes grouped within Proteobacteria, CFB and Firmicutes. The archaeal domain was represented by members of Marine Group I of Crenarchaeota. The majority of recovered sequences was affiliated with heterotrophic genera Clostridium and Vibrio, typical members of eutrophic coastal environments. Amendments of hydrocarbons and mineral nutrients to microcosms dramatically changed the initial diversity of the microbial community. Only bacterial phylotypes affiliated with Proteobacteria and CFB division were detected. The decrease in diversity observed in several microcosms could be explained by the strong selection for microorganisms belonging to group of marine hydrocarbonoclastic gamma-Proteobacteria, namely Alcanivorax, Cycloclasticus, Marinobacter, Marinobacterium/Neptunomonas and Thalassolituus. This study demonstrated that nutrient amendment to hydrocarbon-contaminated superficial sediments enhanced the indigenous microbial biodegradation activity and that highly specialized marine hydrocarbonoclastic bacteria, representing a minor fraction in the natural microbial community, play an important role in the biodegradation of petroleum hydrocarbons accidentally entering the coastal environment.     

大理河沉积物微生物碳源利用特征及其影响因素

沉积物是河流生态系统中氮磷等物质循环的重要场所,而微生物是河流生态系统的重要组成部分,探究沉积物中微生物群落碳源利用特征和功能多样性对于河流生态环境保护具有重要意义。利用Biolog Eco微平板法、基于主成分分析、冗余分析阐明了大理河流域沉积物中微生物群落碳源利用强度和功能多样性变化特征及其影响因素。结果表明：（1）从流域上游到流域下游,沉积物中微生物碳源利用强度逐渐降低,与上游相比,支流、中游、下游沉积物中微生物碳源利用强度分别降低了13.4%、30.5%、30.7%。（2）沉积物中微生物群落功能多样性存在差异,沉积物中微生物群落功能多样性（Shannon-Wiener多样性指数）表现为上游 > 支流 > 中游 > 下游,常见物种优势度（Simpson多样性指数）则表现为下游 > 支流 > 中游 > 上游。（3）与微生物代谢活动相关性较高碳源为糖类,其次是氨基酸类,聚合物类、羧酸类、胺类、酚酸类与微生物代谢活动相关性较低。（4）沉积物中全氮、氨氮、硝氮、有机碳含量是影响微生物群落功能多样性和碳源利用特征差异的主要因素。流域沉积物中合适的碳、氮水平对维持河流水生态健康具有重要的意义。     

Bacterial diversity of water and sediment in the Changjiang estuary and coastal area of the East China Sea

The Changjiang estuary and the coastal area of the East China Sea (ECS) represent important interfaces of terrestrial and marine environments. This study included analyses of water and sediments collected during different seasons in these regions to determine the composition of microbial assemblages by means of 16S rRNA gene clone libraries. We retrieved 1946 sequences and 779 distinct operational taxonomic units from 36 clone libraries. Shannon–Weaver diversity index values and rarefaction analysis indicated that bacterial diversity in the sediment samples was much higher than in the water samples. Proteobacteria (72.9%) was the most abundant phylum, followed by Firmicutes (6.4%), Bacteroidetes (4.6%) and Actinobacteria (4.1%). In the water, clone sequences related to Alphaproteobacteria were the most abundant, whereas in the sediment samples, sequences affiliated with Gammaproteobacteria were predominant. Principal coordinate analysis showed that water samples collected from the Changjiang estuary and the ECS clustered separately. However, this spatial pattern could not be observed in sediment samples, which were mainly distinguished from one another by the season. Bacterial diversity in the Changjiang estuary was higher than that in the ECS, which may be the result of the mixing of bacterial communities from the Changjiang River, the estuary and the coastal ocean.     

Microbial characteristics of marine sediments in bathing area along Pesaro-Gabicce coast (Italy): a preliminary study

AIMS: This paper evaluates the presence of human pathogen micro-organisms in marine sediments in a coastal area suitable for bathing. In addition, the grain size analysis was performed in order to correlate the characteristics of the sediments and the microbial content. METHODS AND RESULTS: The samples were collected in two small bays along the central Adriatic coast, where breakwaters had been built for the purpose of halting marine erosion. Faecal contamination indicators, Salmonella and Vibrio species, enteric viruses were investigated using standard techniques for isolation and identification. The grain size was determined using calibrated sieves and 'Sedigraph' device. In some samples, the faecal contamination indices overstepped legislative limits. Salmonella was never found. Vibrio and enteric viruses were isolated: the micro-organisms were preferentially abundant in fine sediments. CONCLUSIONs: Marine sediments can represent an important reservoir of allochthonous and marine micro-organisms and the microbial charge correlates with the characteristics of the sediments. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This study indicates that it is important to analyse marine sediments before defining the quality of coastal areas.     

Acehnese reefs in the wake of the Asian tsunami

The Sumatra-Andanaman tsunami was one of the greatest natural disasters in recorded human history. Here, we show that on the northwest coast of Aceh, Indonesia, where the tsunami was most ferocious, the damage to corals, although occasionally spectacular, was surprisingly limited. We detected no change in shallow coral assemblages between March 2003 and March 2005, with the exception of one site smothered by sediment. Direct tsunami damage was dependent on habitat and largely restricted to corals growing in unconsolidated substrata, a feature unique to tsunami disturbance. Reef condition, however, varied widely within the region and was clearly correlated with human impacts prior to the tsunami. Where fishing has been controlled, coral cover was high. In contrast, reefs exposed to destructive fishing had low coral cover and high algal cover, a phase shift the tsunami may exacerbate with an influx of sediments and nutrients. Healthy reefs did not mitigate the damage on land. Inundation distance was largely determined by wave height and coastal topography. We conclude that although chronic human misuse has been much more destructive to reefs in Aceh than this rare natural disturbance, human modification of the reef did not contribute to the magnitude of damage on land.     

Bacterial diversity in organically-enriched fish farm sediments

The bacterial diversity and community structure within both organically enriched and adjacent, unimpacted, near-shore marine sediments at two fish farms in southern Tasmania, Australia, was examined using 16S rRNA gene clone library construction and analysis. Sediments at both caged and reference sites at both farms showed a very high level of microbial diversity. Over 900 clones were analysed and grouped into 631 unique phylotypes. Reference sites were dominated by Delta- and Gammaproteobacteria and the Cytophaga-Flavobacteria-Bacteroides group. Cage site sediments were also dominated by these phylotypes, as well as members of the Alpha- and Epsilonproteobacteria. Diversity and coverage indices indicated that the actual diversity of the sediments was much greater than that detected, despite a large sampling effort. All libraries were shown to be statistically different from one another (P < 0.05). Many phylotypes did not group with cultured bacteria, but grouped with other environmental clones from a wide array of marine benthic environments. Diversity and evenness indices suggested that although both parameters changed after farming, diverse communities were present in all sediments. The response of the microbial community to organic load suggested that random, rather than predictable, succession events determine community composition and diversity, and that sediment type may influence bacterial community and sediment response to organic perturbation.     

Local patterns of diversity in California northern coastal scrub

Within global biodiversity hotspots such as the California Floristic Province, local patterns of diversity must be better understood to prioritize conservation for the greatest number of species. This study investigates patterns of vascular plant diversity in relation to coast–inland environmental gradients in the shrublands of Central California known as northern coastal scrub. We sampled coastal shrublands of the San Francisco Bay Area at coastal and inland locations, modeled fine‐scale climatic variables, and developed an index for local exposure to maritime salts. We compared diversity, composition, and structure of the coastal and inland plots using indirect gradient analysis and estimated species accumulation using rarefaction curves. Coastal plots were significantly higher in alpha, beta, and gamma diversity than inland plots. Plant diversity (effective species number) in coastal plots was 2.1 times greater than inland plots, and beta diversity was 1.9 times greater. Estimated richness by rarefaction was 2.05 times greater in coastal sites than inland sites. Salt deposition and water availability were the abiotic process most strongly correlated with increased maritime plant diversity and compositional differences. Stands of northern coastal scrub on the immediate coast with higher maritime influence exhibit markedly higher plant diversity than most interior stands, paralleling previous work in other vegetation types in this region. These studies suggest that the California coastline deserves special consideration for botanical conservation. Fine‐scale climatic models of cloud frequency, water availability, and the salt deposition index presented here can be used to define priority areas for plant conservation in California and other coastal regions worldwide.     

Coastal marine habitats harbor novel early-diverging fungal diversity

Despite nearly a century of study, the diversity of marine fungi remains poorly understood. Historical surveys utilizing microscopy or culture-dependent methods suggest that marine fungi are relatively species-poor, predominantly Dikarya, and localized to coastal habitats. However, the use of high-throughput sequencing technologies to characterize microbial communities has challenged traditional concepts of fungal diversity by revealing novel phylotypes from both terrestrial and aquatic habitats. Here, I used ion semiconductor sequencing (Ion Torrent) of the ribosomal large subunit (LSU/28S) to explore fungal diversity from water and sediment samples collected from four habitats in coastal North Carolina. The dominant taxa observed were Ascomycota and Chytridiomycota, though all fungal phyla were represented. Diversity was highest in sand flats and wetland sediments, though benthic sediments harbored the highest proportion of novel sequences. Most sequences assigned to early-diverging fungal groups could not be assigned beyond phylum with statistical support, suggesting they belong to unknown lineages.     

海水混养池塘虾蛤肠道与养殖环境的微生物多样性

【背景】海水混养池塘环境微生物以及动物肠道微生物的群落结构已有研究,但对混养环境中多品种动物肠道与环境微生物群落的关系尚未见报道。【目的】研究海水虾蛤混养环境中微生物多样性以及与养殖动物健康之间的关系。【方法】采用Illumina高通量测序技术测定冬季莆田市北江养殖区2个混养池塘中水体、底泥以及虾蛤肠道的菌群结构。【结果】同一池塘水体与底泥之间、不同池塘水体或底泥之间的微生物结构存在一定的差异;同一养殖区2个混养池塘虾与蛤肠道微生物结构之间具有极高的相似性,与养殖环境存在显著的差异。微生物多样性和丰富度差异很大,表现出底泥水体肠道;虾蛤肠道微生物以厚壁细菌和γ-变形细菌为主;池塘水体以放线菌、α-变形细菌以及拟杆菌为主,底泥以γ-变形细菌和δ-变形细菌为主。养殖动物肠道微生物主要优势种为乳球菌属和假单胞菌属,池塘环境内存在较高丰度的黄杆菌类潜在致病菌,而在虾和蛤的肠道中基本未检出。2个池塘底泥硫还原细菌含量较高,增加了底质产生硫化氢等有害物质的风险。【结论】比较混养池塘中水体、底泥以及虾蛤肠道三者之间微生物群落结构的差异,揭示虾、贝混养模式微生物与养殖环境的关系,为池塘养殖虾、贝疾病防治和混养结构的优化提供参考。     

Prevalence and species richness of trematode parasites only partially recovers after the 2011 Tohoku,Japan, earthquake tsunami

Trematode parasites have complex life cycles and use a variety of host species across different trophic levels. Thus, they can be used as indicators of disturbance and recovery of coastal ecosystems. Estuaries on the Pacific coast of northeastern Japan were heavily affected by the 2011 Tohoku earthquake tsunami. To evaluate the effect of the tsunami on the trematode community, we examined trematodes in the mud snail, Batillaria attramentaria, at five study sites (three sites severely exposed to the tsunami and two sites sheltered from the tsunami) in Sendai Bay for 2 years prior to and 8 years after the tsunami. While the trematode prevalence decreased at all study sites, the species richness decreased only at the sites exposed to the tsunami. Although parasitism increased over the study period post-tsunami, the community had not fully recovered 8 years after the event. Trematode community structure has changed every year since the tsunami and has not stabilised. This could be explained by the alteration of first and second intermediate host communities. Our study suggests that it will take more time for the recovery of the trematode community and the associated coastal ecosystem in the Tohoku region.     

Can macroalgae recover, 13 months after the 2004 Tsunami?: a case study at Talibong Island, Trang Province, Thailand

The tsunami that hit the coast of Thailand along the Andaman Sea on 26 December 2004 caused great damage to human life, property and coastal resources. Here we report the effect of the tsunami on the seaweed community, and its recovery, at Talibong Island, one of the affected areas in Trang province. We made surveys at three sites around the island from April 2004 to January 2006. Fifteen 0.5 m × 0.5 m permanent plots were set up on the west coast of the island to monitor changes in the seaweed community. Eighteen species were found. Sargassum stolonifolium and Laurencia composita were the most abundant, covering 90% and 39%, respectively, of the rocky substrate. Thirteen species varied among sites and seasons. Eleven species, however, were strongly affected by the tsunami. L. composita and Padina sanctae-crucis, for example, were initially washed up onto the shore by the strong wave action, which clearly resulted in a decrease in percentage cover. Also, many permanent plots were covered by sediment causing anoxic conditions, an indirect impact of the tsunami. A difference in species composition revealed a change in overall diversity. Particular morphologies and life forms were more sensitive to the extremes of the tsunami than others. Therefore, the recovery ability of populations of the affected species varied. We did not find any seasonal pattern to the recovery of seaweed after the tsunami within the 13 months of this study.     

Microbial diversity from the continental shelf regions of the Eastern Arabian Sea: A metagenomic approach

The marine microbiome is a complex and least-understood habitat, which play a significant role in global biogeochemical cycles. The present study reported the culture-independent assessment of microbial diversity from the Arabian Sea (AS) sediments (from Gujarat to Malabar; at 30 m depth) by using metagenome sequence analysis. Our results elucidated that bacterial communities in the Malabar coastal region are highly diverse than the Gujarat coast. Moreover, Statistical analysis (Spearman rank correlation) showed a significant correlation co-efficient value (r = P < 0.001) between microbial communities and physicochemical parameters (salinity and dissolved oxygen) in the water column. A total of 39 bacterial phyla were recorded from the eastern side of AS, of which six phyla Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria, Cyanobacteria, Firmicutes, and Planctomycetes were found to be the most dominant group. The most dominant genus from Valapad region (Malabar Coast) was found to be Halomonas sp., while other regions were dominated with Psychrobacter pulmonis. The subsequent Principal Coordinate Analysis (PCoA) showed 99.53% variance, which suggests that, highly distinct microbial communities at Valapad (Malabar Coast) sampling location than other sites. Moreover, the microbial metabolic activity analysis revealed the important functions of microbial communities in the AS are hydrocarbon degradation, polymer degradation, nutrient oxidation and sulphate reduction (biodegradation process). Further extended studies are needed to be carried out for better understanding the functional diversity of microbial communities from the marine sediments.     

渤海三湾表层水域细菌群落结构多样性及其环境因子分析

【背景】近海生态系统的可持续发展是目前人们关注的重大问题之一,河口输出以及人类活动干扰对渤海近岸环境有着重要的影响。【目的】选取2015年夏季渤海湾、辽东湾、莱州湾3个断面12个站位表层水样品,探究渤海三湾细菌群落结构多样性。【方法】提取3个断面水环境样品DNA,利用Illumina Hi Seq高通量测序技术对样品进行测序分析,比较3个断面的细菌群落结构多样性差异。【结果】根据多样性指数和稀释曲线结果发现,3个断面的微生物多样性有着明显的差别,多样性依次为莱州湾渤海湾辽东湾。分析3个断面中占优势地位的主要类群,渤海湾断面中变形杆菌门(Proteobacteria)所占比例为39.8%,拟杆菌门(Bacteroidetes)占25.7%,蓝细菌门(Cyanobacteria)占22.4%,放线菌门(Actinobacteria)占5.85%,浮霉菌门(Planctomycetes)占4.38%;辽东湾断面各类群所占比例依次为变形杆菌门(Proteobacteria)37.8%,拟杆菌门(Bacteroidetes) 25.7%,蓝细菌门(Cyanobacteria) 17.8%,放线菌门(Actinobacteria) 10.4%,浮霉菌门(Planctomycetes)5.64%;莱州湾断面主要类群所占比例为(Proteobacteria)59.0%,拟杆菌门(Bacteroidetes)17.5%,蓝细菌门(Cyanobacteria)8.2%,放线菌门(Actinobacteria)7.88%。通过主成分分析和热图相关性分析发现环境因子对微生物群落组成和多样性分布有显著的影响,通过Manteltest统计分析,其中硝酸盐的作用尤为显著。【结论】渤海三湾微生物多样性非常丰富且存在较大的差异,莱州湾种群结构最复杂且物种最丰富,渤海湾和辽东湾次之,多样性分布与环境因子和空间分布有一定的相关性,该研究将为进一步保护海洋微生物多样性和生态开发提供一定的理论基础。     

餐厨垃圾厌氧消化处理主要过程的微生物群落结构分析

【背景】厌氧消化是我国餐厨垃圾处理的主要方法,微生物在其处理过程中起到关键作用,但是目前对其不同工艺单元微生物群落结构的研究较少。【目的】通过分析各工艺单元的微生物多样性与群落结构,为改进餐厨垃圾资源化处理技术、提高资源利用效率提供科学依据。【方法】采集某餐厨垃圾处理厂油水分离、厌氧发酵、沼渣脱水等3个工艺单元产生的废液样品,采用16S rRNA基因高通量测序技术,研究其菌群组成、丰度、优势菌群及其与环境因子的相关性。【结果】初始油水分离样品中的微生物群落种类相对较少,而经厌氧发酵和沼渣脱水处理后样品中的微生物群落种类较丰富。在门水平上,厚壁菌门(Firmicutes)在各单元样品中所占平均比例最高,为81.1%,其次为拟杆菌门(Bacteroidetes)和绿弯菌门(Chloroflexi),分别占15.81%和4.59%;在属水平上,相对丰度较高的菌属为乳酸菌属(Lactobacillus)、互营单胞菌属(Syntrophomonas)等。餐厨垃圾处理过程中的部分菌属可能具有资源-环境双重属性,例如在沼渣脱水单元相对丰度高达32.67%的假单胞菌属(Pseudomonas),该菌属中既存在少部分致病菌或条件致病菌,也具有生产聚羟基脂肪酸酯的功能菌。影响各组样品微生物群落组成结构最显著的因子是p H值,其次是总糖的含量。【结论】研究明确了典型餐厨垃圾厌氧消化处理工艺单元的微生物群落结构和多样性,并提出了优化处理工艺、强化资源利用效率的建议。     

Taxonomic and functional diversity covary in rock pool microalgal communities despite their different drivers

Local biodiversity has traditionally been estimated with taxonomic diversity metrics such as species richness. Recently, the concept of biodiversity has been extended beyond species identity by ecological traits determining the functional role of a species in a community. This interspecific functional diversity typically responds more strongly to local environmental variation compared with taxonomic diversity, while taxonomic diversity may mirror more strongly dispersal processes compared with functional metrics. Several trait‐based indices have been developed to measure functional diversity for various organisms and habitat types, but studies of their applicability on aquatic microbial communities have been underrepresented. We examined the drivers and covariance of taxonomic and functional diversity among diatom rock pool communities on the Baltic Sea coast. We quantified three taxonomic (species richness, Shannon''s diversity, and Pielou''s evenness) and three functional (functional richness, evenness, and divergence) diversity indices and determined abiotic factors best explaining variation in these indices by generalized linear mixed models. The six diversity indices were highly collinear except functional evenness, which merely correlated significantly with taxonomic evenness. All diversity indices were always explained by water conductivity and temperature–sampling month interaction. Taxonomic diversity was further consistently explained by pool distance to the sea, and functional richness and divergence by pool location. The explained variance in regression models did not markedly differ between taxonomic and functional metrics. Our findings do not clearly support the superiority of neither set of diversity indices in explaining coastal microbial diversity, but rather highlight the general overlap among the indices. However, as individual metrics may be driven by different factors, the greatest advantage in assessing biodiversity is nevertheless probably achieved with a simultaneous application of the taxonomic and functional diversity metrics.     

Changes in abundances of Alexandrium tamarense resting cysts after the tsunami caused by the Great East Japan Earthquake in Funka Bay,Hokkaido, Japan

The 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and the subsequent huge tsunami greatly affected both human activity and the coastal marine ecosystem along the Pacific coast of Japan. The tsunami also reached Funka Bay in northern Japan and caused serious damage to the scallop cultures there, and this tsunami was believed to have affected the coastal environments in the bay. Therefore, we investigated the changes in the spatial abundance and distribution of the toxic dinoflagellates Alexandrium tamarense cysts before the tsunami (August 2010) and after the tsunami (May 2011, August 2011, May 2012 and August 2012) in the bay. Further, monthly sampling was conducted after the tsunami to identify seasonal changes of Alexandrium catenella/tamarense cysts and vegetative cells. Significant increases were observed in the populations of A. catenella/tamarense cysts, comparing the abundances before the tsunami (in August 2010; 70 ± 61 cysts g⁻¹ wet sediment) to those just after it (in May 2011; 108 ± 84 cysts g⁻¹ wet sediment), and both A. tamarense bloom (a maximum density was 1.3 × 10³ cells L⁻¹) and PSP (Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning) toxin contamination of scallops (9.4 mouse unit g⁻¹ was recorded) occurred in the bay. Seasonal sampling also revealed that the encystment of A. tamarense and the supply of the cysts to bottom sediments did not occur in the bay from September to April. These results strongly suggested that the mixing of the bottom sediments by the tsunami caused the accumulation of the toxic A. tamarense cysts in the surface of bottom sediment through the process of redeposition in Funka Bay. Moreover, this cyst deposition may have contributed to the toxic bloom formation as a seed population in the spring of 2011.