Phytoplankton and Bacterial Communities’ Patterns in a Highly Dynamic Ecosystem (Central Mediterranean Sea)
The Straits of Messina (Southern Italy, Mediterranean Sea) are a very complex area: they connect two basins (Tyrrhenian and Ionian) with different hydrographic features and is characterised by upwelling and mixing phenomena. The aim of the study was to evaluate if and how the physical and chemical w...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2022-06-01
|
| Series: | Water |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/14/13/2057 |
| _version_ | 1797433978663206912 |
|---|---|
| author | Carmela Caroppo Filippo Azzaro Alessandro Bergamasco Gabriella Caruso Franco Decembrini |
| author_facet | Carmela Caroppo Filippo Azzaro Alessandro Bergamasco Gabriella Caruso Franco Decembrini |
| author_sort | Carmela Caroppo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The Straits of Messina (Southern Italy, Mediterranean Sea) are a very complex area: they connect two basins (Tyrrhenian and Ionian) with different hydrographic features and is characterised by upwelling and mixing phenomena. The aim of the study was to evaluate if and how the physical and chemical water conditions and hydrodynamics influenced the phytoplankton and bacterial patterns and the functioning of this ecosystem. During a late winter survey, size-fractionated phytoplankton (from 0.2 to 200 μm) biomass (chlorophyll <i>a</i>), cell densities and species composition as well as total picoplankton abundances, morphotype composition, and activity levels of the enzymes leucine aminopeptidase, β-glucosidase, and alkaline phosphatase were investigated. The obtained results showed a marked diversification among the water masses identified within the Straits area. The analyses of the phytoplankton diversity indices, particularly those based on phylogenetic relationships between species (indices of taxonomic diversity and distinctness), confirmed our findings. In conclusion, the patterns of phytoplankton and bacterial communities provide a suitable approach to evaluate how microbial communities respond to changing environmental scenarios. This tool could be applied to other temperate Mediterranean ecosystems. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T10:24:42Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-cc5321222d79415fbdb8b640eda2230b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4441 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T10:24:42Z |
| publishDate | 2022-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Water |
| spelling | doaj.art-cc5321222d79415fbdb8b640eda2230b2023-12-01T21:46:20ZengMDPI AGWater2073-44412022-06-011413205710.3390/w14132057Phytoplankton and Bacterial Communities’ Patterns in a Highly Dynamic Ecosystem (Central Mediterranean Sea)Carmela Caroppo0Filippo Azzaro1Alessandro Bergamasco2Gabriella Caruso3Franco Decembrini4Section of Taranto, Water Research Institute (CNR-IRSA), National Research Council, Via Roma 3, 74121 Taranto, ItalySection of Messina, Institute of Polar Sciences (CNR-ISP), National Research Council, Spianata S. Raineri 86, 98122 Messina, ItalySection of Venice, Institute of Marine Sciences (CNR-ISMAR), National Research Council, Castello 2737/F, 30122 Venice, ItalySection of Messina, Institute of Polar Sciences (CNR-ISP), National Research Council, Spianata S. Raineri 86, 98122 Messina, ItalySection of Messina, Institute of Polar Sciences (CNR-ISP), National Research Council, Spianata S. Raineri 86, 98122 Messina, ItalyThe Straits of Messina (Southern Italy, Mediterranean Sea) are a very complex area: they connect two basins (Tyrrhenian and Ionian) with different hydrographic features and is characterised by upwelling and mixing phenomena. The aim of the study was to evaluate if and how the physical and chemical water conditions and hydrodynamics influenced the phytoplankton and bacterial patterns and the functioning of this ecosystem. During a late winter survey, size-fractionated phytoplankton (from 0.2 to 200 μm) biomass (chlorophyll <i>a</i>), cell densities and species composition as well as total picoplankton abundances, morphotype composition, and activity levels of the enzymes leucine aminopeptidase, β-glucosidase, and alkaline phosphatase were investigated. The obtained results showed a marked diversification among the water masses identified within the Straits area. The analyses of the phytoplankton diversity indices, particularly those based on phylogenetic relationships between species (indices of taxonomic diversity and distinctness), confirmed our findings. In conclusion, the patterns of phytoplankton and bacterial communities provide a suitable approach to evaluate how microbial communities respond to changing environmental scenarios. This tool could be applied to other temperate Mediterranean ecosystems.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/14/13/2057phytoplanktonchlorophyll <i>a</i>distributiontaxonomic diversityfunctional diversityenzymatic activity |
| spellingShingle | Carmela Caroppo Filippo Azzaro Alessandro Bergamasco Gabriella Caruso Franco Decembrini Phytoplankton and Bacterial Communities’ Patterns in a Highly Dynamic Ecosystem (Central Mediterranean Sea) Water phytoplankton chlorophyll <i>a</i> distribution taxonomic diversity functional diversity enzymatic activity |
| title | Phytoplankton and Bacterial Communities’ Patterns in a Highly Dynamic Ecosystem (Central Mediterranean Sea) |
| title_full | Phytoplankton and Bacterial Communities’ Patterns in a Highly Dynamic Ecosystem (Central Mediterranean Sea) |
| title_fullStr | Phytoplankton and Bacterial Communities’ Patterns in a Highly Dynamic Ecosystem (Central Mediterranean Sea) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Phytoplankton and Bacterial Communities’ Patterns in a Highly Dynamic Ecosystem (Central Mediterranean Sea) |
| title_short | Phytoplankton and Bacterial Communities’ Patterns in a Highly Dynamic Ecosystem (Central Mediterranean Sea) |
| title_sort | phytoplankton and bacterial communities patterns in a highly dynamic ecosystem central mediterranean sea |
| topic | phytoplankton chlorophyll <i>a</i> distribution taxonomic diversity functional diversity enzymatic activity |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/14/13/2057 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT carmelacaroppo phytoplanktonandbacterialcommunitiespatternsinahighlydynamicecosystemcentralmediterraneansea AT filippoazzaro phytoplanktonandbacterialcommunitiespatternsinahighlydynamicecosystemcentralmediterraneansea AT alessandrobergamasco phytoplanktonandbacterialcommunitiespatternsinahighlydynamicecosystemcentralmediterraneansea AT gabriellacaruso phytoplanktonandbacterialcommunitiespatternsinahighlydynamicecosystemcentralmediterraneansea AT francodecembrini phytoplanktonandbacterialcommunitiespatternsinahighlydynamicecosystemcentralmediterraneansea |