Distribution and diversity of Prochlorococcus ecotypes in the Red Sea. Issue 1 (19th June 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Shibl, Ahmed A.; Thompson, Luke R.; Ngugi, David K.; Stingl, Ulrich
• Is Part Of: FEMS microbiology letters. Volume 356:Issue 1(2014:Jul.)
• Page Start: 118
• Page End: 126
• Publication Date: 2014-06-19
• Subjects: Microbiology -- Periodicals; 579
• DOI: 10.1111/1574-6968.12490
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0378-1097

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="fml12490-abs-0001"> <title>Abstract</title> <p>Photosynthetic prokaryotes of the genus <italic>Prochlorococcus</italic> play a major role in global primary production in the world's oligotrophic oceans. A recent study on pelagic bacterioplankton communities in the northern and central Red Sea indicated that the predominant cyanobacterial 16S rRNA gene sequence types were from <italic>Prochlorococcus</italic> cells belonging to a high‐light‐adapted ecotype (HL II). In this study, we analyzed microdiversity of <italic>Prochlorococcus</italic> sp. at multiple depths within and below the euphotic zone in the northern, central, and southern regions of the Red Sea, as well as in surface waters in the same locations, but in a different season. <italic>Prochlorococcus</italic> dominated the communities in clone libraries of the amplified 16S–23S rRNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region. Almost no differences were found between samples from coastal or open‐water sites, but a high diversity of <italic>Prochlorococcus</italic> ecotypes was detected at 100‐meter depth in the water column. In addition, an unusual dominance of HL II‐related sequences was observed in deeper waters. Our results indicate that the Red Sea harbors diverse <italic>Prochlorococcus</italic> lineages, but no novel ecotypes, despite its unusual physicochemical properties.</p> </abstract>