Taxonomic and Functional Features of Surface to Deep‐Sea Prokaryotic Communities in the Eastern North Pacific Ocean

Title (eng)
Taxonomic and Functional Features of Surface to Deep‐Sea Prokaryotic Communities in the Eastern North Pacific Ocean
Author
Daniele De Corte
Ocean Technology and Engineering (OTE), National Oceanography Centre Southampton UK
Author
Leon Dlugosch
Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment (ICBM), University of Oldenburg Oldenburg Germany
Author
Abhishek Srivastava
Author
Meinhard Simon
Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment (ICBM), University of Oldenburg Oldenburg Germany
Author
Dennis A. Hansell
Department of Ocean Sciences University of Miami Miami Florida USA
Author
Sarah Bercovici
Ocean BioGeosciences (OBG), National Oceanography Centre Southampton UK
Author
Monica Orellana
University of Washington Seattle Washington USA
Abstract (eng)
Biogeochemical cycles in the ocean are strongly influenced by microbial activity, which affects nutrient and organic matter cycling. These processes, influenced by factors such as temperature, salinity, density and inorganic nutrients, drive the vertical stratification of microbial communities, which subsequently influence the chemistry at different depth layers. Sequencing technology has expanded our understanding of oceanic prokaryotic communities' taxonomic and functional potential. However, there is limited information on how these communities vary across gradients. In this study, we conducted metagenomic analyses on samples from the eastern North Pacific, collected across a longitudinal transect around 45°N and throughout the entire water column. We assessed taxonomic and functional classification, focusing on the roles of prokaryotic communities in biogeochemical cycling. Our results revealed that the surface community was dominated by the SAR11 clade, followed by Flavobacterales and Rhodobacterales. The deep layers harboured a more diverse community, where Thaumarchaeota accounted for the most significant proportion. This clear taxonomic stratification led to variations in the communities' functional capabilities across different depth layers. Photosynthesis and heterotrophy dominated the surface layers, whereas the deeper layers exhibited a mix of metabolic features, allowing organisms to potentially utilise both inorganic and organic carbon sources.
Keywords (eng)
DiversityMarine EcoysystemMetabolic PotentialProkaryotes
Type (eng)
journal article
Language
[eng]
Persistent identifier
https://phaidra.vetmeduni.ac.at/o:4968
DOI
10.1111/1758-2229.70170
Is in series
Title (eng)
Environmental Microbiology Reports
Volume
17
Issue
4
ISSN
1758-2229
Issued
2025
Number of pages
14
Publication
Wiley
Version type (eng)
version of record (published version)
Date issued
2025
Access rights (eng)
open access
License
CC BY 4.0 International
Rights statement (eng)
© 2025 The Author(s)