Increased contribution of parasites in microbial eukaryotic communities of different Aegean Sea coastal systems

Meziti, A., Smeti, E., Daniilides, D., Spatharis, S. , Tsirtsis, G. and Kormas, K. A. (2023) Increased contribution of parasites in microbial eukaryotic communities of different Aegean Sea coastal systems. PeerJ, 11, e16655. (doi: 10.7717/peerj.16655) (PMID:38144191) (PMCID:PMC10740597)

Abstract

Background-Aim: Protistan communities have a major contribution to biochemical processes and food webs in coastal ecosystems. However, related studies are scarce and usually limited in specific groups and/or sites. The present study examined the spatial structure of the entire protistan community in seven different gulfs and three different depths in a regional Mediterranean Sea, aiming to define taxa that are important for differences detected in the marine microbial network across the different gulfs studied as well as their trophic interactions. Methods: Protistan community structure analysis was based on the diversity of the V2–V3 hypervariable region of the 18S rRNA gene. Operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were identified using a 97% sequence identity threshold and were characterized based on their taxonomy, trophic role, abundance and niche specialization level. The differentially abundant, between gulfs, OTUs were considered for all depths and interactions amongst them were calculated, with statistic and network analysis. Results: It was shown that Dinophyceae, Bacillariophyta and Syndiniales were the most abundant groups, prevalent in all sites and depths. Gulfs separation was more striking at surface corroborating with changes in environmental factors, while it was less pronounced in higher depths. The study of differentially abundant, between gulfs, OTUs revealed that the strongest biotic interactions in all depths occurred between parasite species (mainly Syndiniales) and other trophic groups. Most of these species were generalists but not abundant highlighting the importance of rare species in protistan community assemblage. Conclusion: Overall this study revealed the emergence of parasites as important contributors in protistan network regulation regardless of depth.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: This research was conducted within the research project ‘ECOGENE: The relative role of niche and neutral mechanisms in controlling phytoplankton genetic and morphological diversity’ (Code Number 4691), implemented within the framework of the Action ARISTEIA II of the Operational Program ‘Education and Lifelong Learning’ (Action’s Beneficiary: General Secretariat for Research and Technology) and by the European Social Fund (ESF) and the Greek State. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.
• Keywords: coastal systems, Protist communities, parasites, 18S rRNA.
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Spatharis, Dr Sofie
• Authors: Meziti, A., Smeti, E., Daniilides, D., Spatharis, S., Tsirtsis, G., and Kormas, K. A.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine
• Journal Name: PeerJ
• Publisher: PeerJ
• ISSN: 2167-8359
• ISSN (Online): 2167-8359
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2023 Meziti et al.
• First Published: First published in PeerJ 11:e16655
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons license