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(Reference retrieved automatically from Web of Science through information on FAPESP grant and its corresponding number as mentioned in the publication by the authors.)

Microbial eukaryote assemblages and potential novel diversity in four tropical East African Great Lakes

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Author(s):
Fermani, Paulina [1] ; Metz, Sebastian [2] ; Balague, Vanessa [3] ; Descy, Jean Pierre [4] ; Morana, Cedric [4] ; Logares, Ramiro [3] ; Massana, Ramon [3] ; Sarmento, Hugo [5]
Total Authors: 8
Affiliation:
[1] Univ Nacl San Martin, Inst Tecnol Chascomus INTECH, CONICET, Av Intendente Marino Km 8-200, RA-7130 Chascomus, Buenos Aires - Argentina
[2] Univ Brest, Lemar, IFREMER, CNRS, IRD, F-29280 Plouzane - France
[3] CSIC, Inst Ciencies Mar, Passeig Maritim Barceloneta 37-49, ES-08003 Barcelona, Catalonia - Spain
[4] Univ Liege, Unit Chem Oceanog, Quartier Agora Allee Six Aout 19, B-4000 Liege 1 - Belgium
[5] Univ Fed Sao Carlos, Dept Hidrobiol DHb, Rodovia Washington Luis, Km 235, Cx Postal 676, BR-13565905 Sao Carlos, SP - Brazil
Total Affiliations: 5
Document type: Journal article
Source: FEMS MICROBIOLOGY ECOLOGY; v. 97, n. 9 SEP 2021.
Web of Science Citations: 0
Abstract

East African Great Lakes are old and unique natural resources heavily utilized by their bordering countries. In those lakes, ecosystem functioning is dominated by pelagic processes, where microorganisms are key components; however, protistan diversity is barely known. We investigated the community composition of small eukaryotes (<10 mu m) in surface waters of four African Lakes (Kivu, Edward, Albert and Victoria) by sequencing the 18S rRNA gene. Moreover, in the meromictic Lake Kivu, two stations were vertically studied. We found high protistan diversity distributed in 779 operational taxonomic units (OTUs), spanning in 11 high-rank lineages, being Alveolata (31%), Opisthokonta (20%) and Stramenopiles (17%) the most represented supergroups. Surface protistan assemblages were associated with conductivity and productivity gradients, whereas depth had a strong effect on protistan community in Kivu, with higher contribution of heterotrophic organisms. Approximately 40% of OTUs had low similarity (<90%) with reported sequences in public databases; these were mostly coming from deep anoxic waters of Kivu, suggesting a high extent of novel diversity. We also detected several taxa so far considered exclusive of marine ecosystems. Our results unveiled a complex and largely undescribed protistan community, in which several lineages have adapted to different niches after crossing the salinity boundary. (AU)

FAPESP's process: 14/14139-3 - Microbial processes and biodiversity in aquatic ecosystems
Grantee:Hugo Miguel Preto de Morais Sarmento
Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Young Investigators Grants