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Diversity
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Biodiversity of Marine Microbes
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Biodiversity of Marine Microbes

A special issue of Diversity (ISSN 1424-2818). This special issue belongs to the section "Marine Diversity".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2020) | Viewed by 25856

Printed Edition Available!
A printed edition of this Special Issue is available here.

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Savvas Genitsaris

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Ecology and Taxonomy, Faculty of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, GR-15784 Athens, Greece
Interests: microbial ecology; molecular diversity of microbes; metagenomics; bioinformatics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Marine microbial life is comprised of a variety of different evolutionary groups from all three domains of life, Eukaryotes, Bacteria, and Archaea. It is responsible for about half of the primary production on earth, plays irreplaceable roles in biogeochemical cycles and ecosystem functioning, and actively participates in complex processes and interactions. Marine microbes are the basis of marine trophic webs (autotrophs), and also an important link between different trophic levels (decomposers, parasites, and endosymbionts). They are used as biological indicators of water quality, eutrophication, and degraded marine environments, and are targeted in conservation and restoration plans. Our understanding of their responses to climate change is considered a key research field to comprehend the complex ongoing processes that will shape the planet’s future. They consist of a vast diversity of organisms, with diverse morphological features, sizes, physiology, functions, trophic characteristics, distribution, ecology, evolutionary traits, genetic content, and responses to abiotic variability. Even though we understand their significance in numerous aspects that affect all life on earth, we still have a long way to go in order to answer fundamental questions driving recent research: How many marine microbes are there? Where can we find them? What do they do? What is their role and responses in the light of climate change? What are their phylogenetic relationships? How do they respond to environmental pressures? And many more. Recent advances in high-throughput sequencing accompanied with the technological innovations of classical tools, such as microscopy, have given researchers the equipment and the incentive to attempt to tackle the above questions and shed light on the complex and diverse life of marine microbes. This Special Issue provides a platform to highlight new research and significant advances related to the biodiversity of marine microbes.

Dr. Savvas Genitsaris
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • Algae
  • Protists
  • Prokaryotes
  • Taxonomic diversity
  • Functional diversity
  • Genetic diversity
  • Climate change
  • Indicators ecology
  • High-throughput sequencing
  • Microscopy

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Editorial

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2 pages, 143 KiB  
Editorial
Biodiversity of Marine Microbes
by Savvas Genitsaris
Diversity 2020, 12(6), 247; https://doi.org/10.3390/d12060247 - 16 Jun 2020
Viewed by 2755
Abstract
The Special Issue entitled “Biodiversity of Marine Microbes” aimed at highlighting the significance of marine microbes as primary producers, their participation in complex processes and interactions with both the biotic and the abiotic environment, and their important roles in biogeochemical cycles and ecosystem [...] Read more.
The Special Issue entitled “Biodiversity of Marine Microbes” aimed at highlighting the significance of marine microbes as primary producers, their participation in complex processes and interactions with both the biotic and the abiotic environment, and their important roles in biogeochemical cycles and ecosystem functioning. The issue includes five research papers, covering the diversity and composition of marine microbial communities representing all three domains of life in various marine environments, including coastal eutrophic areas, ice waters, and lagoons. One paper examined the diversity and succession of bacterial and archaeal communities from coastal waters in mesocosm experiments. The combination of classical tools with novel technological advances offers the opportunity to answer fundamental questions and shed light on the complex and diverse life of marine microbes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodiversity of Marine Microbes)

Research

Jump to: Editorial

23 pages, 3069 KiB  
Article
Photosynthetic Picoeukaryotes Diversity in the Underlying Ice Waters of the White Sea, Russia
by Tatiana A. Belevich, Ludmila V. Ilyash, Irina A. Milyutina, Maria D. Logacheva and Aleksey V. Troitsky
Diversity 2020, 12(3), 93; https://doi.org/10.3390/d12030093 - 5 Mar 2020
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3765
Abstract
The White Sea is a unique basin combining features of temperate and arctic seas. The current state of its biocenoses can serve as a reference point in assessing the expected desalination of the ocean as a result of climate change. A metagenomic study [...] Read more.
The White Sea is a unique basin combining features of temperate and arctic seas. The current state of its biocenoses can serve as a reference point in assessing the expected desalination of the ocean as a result of climate change. A metagenomic study of under-ice ice photosynthetic picoeukaryotes (PPEs) was undertaken by Illumina high-throughput sequencing of the 18S rDNA V4 region from probes collected in March 2013 and 2014. The PPE biomass in samples was 0.03–0.17 µg C·L−1 and their abundance varied from 10 cells·mL−1 to 140 cells·mL−1. There were representatives of 16 algae genera from seven classes and three supergroups, but Chlorophyta, especially Mamiellophyceae, dominated. The most represented genera were Micromonas and Mantoniella. For the first time, the predominance of Mantoniella (in four samples) and Bolidophyceae (in one sample) was observed in under-ice water. It can be assumed that a change in environmental conditions will lead to a considerable change in the structure of arctic PPE communities. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodiversity of Marine Microbes)
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16 pages, 2108 KiB  
Article
Patterns in Alpha and Beta Phytoplankton Diversity along a Conductivity Gradient in Coastal Mediterranean Lagoons
by Natassa Stefanidou, Matina Katsiapi, Dimitris Tsianis, Maria Demertzioglou, Evangelia Michaloudi and Maria Moustaka-Gouni
Diversity 2020, 12(1), 38; https://doi.org/10.3390/d12010038 - 19 Jan 2020
Cited by 22 | Viewed by 4643
Abstract
Understanding the diversity patterns of phytoplankton assemblages in coastal lagoons is clearly important for water management. In this study, we explored alpha and beta diversity patterns in phytoplankton communities across five Mediterranean lagoons hydrologically connected to Vistonikos Gulf. We examined the phytoplankton community [...] Read more.
Understanding the diversity patterns of phytoplankton assemblages in coastal lagoons is clearly important for water management. In this study, we explored alpha and beta diversity patterns in phytoplankton communities across five Mediterranean lagoons hydrologically connected to Vistonikos Gulf. We examined the phytoplankton community composition and biomass on a monthly basis from November 2018 to October 2019. For this, water samples were collected from seven inshore, brackish and coastal waters, sampling sites covering a wide range of conductivity. We found significant spatial and temporal differences in phytoplankton alpha diversity and in phytoplankton biomass metrics explained by the high variation of conductivity. Evenness remained low throughout the study period, reflecting significant dominance of several phytoplankton blooms. Harmful algal blooms of Prorocentrum minimum, Alexandrium sp., Rhizosolenia setigera and Cylindrotheca closterium occurred. The system’s species pool was characterized by relatively high phytoplankton beta diversity (average ~0.7) resulting from high temporal species turnover (90%). Overall, alpha and beta diversity components were indicative of rather heterogeneous phytoplankton communities which were associated with the high differences in conductivity among the sampling sites. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodiversity of Marine Microbes)
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12 pages, 1025 KiB  
Article
Changes in Heterotrophic Picoplankton Community Structure after Induction of a Phytoplankton Bloom under Different Light Regimes
by Hera Karayanni, Konstantinos A. Kormas, Maria Moustaka-Gouni and Ulrich Sommer
Diversity 2019, 11(10), 195; https://doi.org/10.3390/d11100195 - 15 Oct 2019
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3450
Abstract
Bacterial and archaeal diversity and succession were studied during a mesocosm experiment that investigated whether changing light regimes could affect the onset of phytoplankton blooms. For this, 454-pyrosequencing of the bacterial V1-V3 and archaeal V3-V9 16S rRNA regions was performed in samples collected [...] Read more.
Bacterial and archaeal diversity and succession were studied during a mesocosm experiment that investigated whether changing light regimes could affect the onset of phytoplankton blooms. For this, 454-pyrosequencing of the bacterial V1-V3 and archaeal V3-V9 16S rRNA regions was performed in samples collected from four mesocosms receiving different light irradiances at the beginning and the end of the experiment and during phytoplankton growth. In total, 46 bacterial operational taxonomic units (OTUs) with ≥1% relative abundance occurred (22–34 OTUs per mesocosm). OTUs were affiliated mainly with Rhodobacteraceae, Flavobacteriaceae and Alteromonadaceae. The four mesocosms shared 11 abundant OTUs. Dominance increased at the beginning of phytoplankton growth in all treatments and decreased thereafter. Maximum dominance was found in the mesocosms with high irradiances. Overall, specific bacterial OTUs had different responses in terms of relative abundance under in situ and high light intensities, and an early phytoplankton bloom resulted in different bacterial community structures both at high (family) and low (OTU) taxonomic levels. Thus, bacterial community structure and succession are affected by light regime, both directly and indirectly, which may have implications for an ecosystem’s response to environmental changes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodiversity of Marine Microbes)
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15 pages, 4043 KiB  
Article
Effect of Hydrographic Variability on the Distribution of Microbial Communities in Taiwan Strait in Winter
by Gwo-Ching Gong, Hsin-Ming Yeh, Yu-Kai Chen, Chih-hao Hsieh, Pei-Chi Ho and An-Yi Tsai
Diversity 2019, 11(10), 193; https://doi.org/10.3390/d11100193 - 14 Oct 2019
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2955
Abstract
This study investigated the spatial variation in the components of a microbial food web (viruses, picoplankton, nanoflagellates, and ciliates) in different hydrographic environments in the Taiwan Strait during winter. Water temperature and salinity varied spatially, with lower temperatures (15.3–22.8 °C) and salinities (32.2–33.4 [...] Read more.
This study investigated the spatial variation in the components of a microbial food web (viruses, picoplankton, nanoflagellates, and ciliates) in different hydrographic environments in the Taiwan Strait during winter. Water temperature and salinity varied spatially, with lower temperatures (15.3–22.8 °C) and salinities (32.2–33.4 psu) in the northern part of the Taiwan Strait, largely affected by runoff from the coast of China. Concentrations of nutrients and Chl a were significantly higher in the northern part than that in the southern part of the study area. Synechococcus spp., nanoflagellate, and ciliate abundance also varied significantly, with the northern strait having higher abundances of these communities. In contrast, a higher abundance of bacteria was found in the southern part of the Taiwan Strait. The results of this study, which describes two different ecosystems in the Taiwan Strait, suggest that during winter, a “viral loop” might play an important role in controlling bacterial production in the southern part of the Taiwan Strait, while nanofalgellate grazing of picophytoplankton may contribute mainly to the flux of energy in the northern part. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodiversity of Marine Microbes)
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22 pages, 5944 KiB  
Article
Phytoplankton Blooms, Red Tides and Mucilaginous Aggregates in the Urban Thessaloniki Bay, Eastern Mediterranean
by Savvas Genitsaris, Natassa Stefanidou, Ulrich Sommer and Maria Moustaka-Gouni
Diversity 2019, 11(8), 136; https://doi.org/10.3390/d11080136 - 14 Aug 2019
Cited by 41 | Viewed by 7507
Abstract
We investigated the plankton community composition and abundance in the urban marine environment of Thessaloniki Bay. We collected water samples weekly from March 2017 to February 2018 at the coastal front of Thessaloniki city center and monthly samples from three other inshore sites [...] Read more.
We investigated the plankton community composition and abundance in the urban marine environment of Thessaloniki Bay. We collected water samples weekly from March 2017 to February 2018 at the coastal front of Thessaloniki city center and monthly samples from three other inshore sites along the urban front of the bay. During the study period, conspicuous and successive phytoplankton blooms, dominated by known mucilage-producing diatoms alternated with red tide events formed by the dinoflagellates Noctiluca scintillans and Spatulodinium pseudonoctiluca, and an extensive mucilage aggregate phenomenon, which appeared in late June 2017. At least 11 known harmful algae were identified throughout the study, with the increase in the abundance of the known harmful dinoflagellate Dinophysis cf. acuminata occurring in October and November 2017. Finally, a red tide caused by the photosynthetic ciliate Mesodinium rubrum on December 2017 was conspicuous throughout the sampling sites. The above-mentioned harmful blooms and red tides were linked to high nutrient concentrations and eutrophication. This paper provides an overview of eutrophication impacts on the response of the unicellular eukaryotic plankton organisms and their impact on water quality and ecosystem services. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodiversity of Marine Microbes)
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