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Molecular diversity and temporal variation of picoeukaryotes in two Arctic fjords, Svalbard

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Abstract

Picoeukaryotes (protists <3 μm) form an important component of Arctic marine ecosystems, although knowledge of their diversity and ecosystem functioning is limited. In this study, the molecular diversity and autotrophic biomass contribution of picoeukaryotes from January to June 2009 in two Arctic fjords at Svalbard were examined using 18S environmental cloning and size-fractioned chlorophyll a measurements. A total of 62 putative picoeukaryotic phylotypes were recovered from 337 positive clones. Putative picoeukaryotic autotrophs were mostly limited to one species: Micromonas pusilla, while the putative heterotrophic picoeukaryote assemblage was more diverse and dominated by uncultured marine stramenopiles (MAST) and marine alveolate groups. One MAST-1A phylotype was the only phylotype to be found in all clone libraries. The diversity of picoeukaryotes in general showed an inverse relationship with total autotrophic biomass, suggesting that the conditions dominating during the peak of the spring bloom may have a negative impact on picoeukaryote diversity. Picoplankton could contribute more than half of total autotrophic biomass before and after the spring bloom and benefited from an early onset of the growth season, whereas larger cells dominated the bloom itself.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by Svalbard Science Forum grant 3371 and a UNIS grant to TMG. The authors would like to thank Bioportal at the University of Oslo for providing CPU resources, Lilith Kuckero and Emma Johansson-Karlsson for chlorophyll a measurements and Svein Kristiansen for measuring nutrients. The authors would also like to thank Eike Müller for useful discussion when planning the molecular work and Sofia Isabel dos Santos Ribeiro, Daniel Vaulot and three anonymous reviewers for helpful criticism on earlier versions of this manuscript.

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  1. Marine Biological Section, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Øster Farimagsgade 2D, 1353, Copenhagen K, Denmark

    N. Sørensen & N. Daugbjerg

  2. The University Centre in Svalbard, 9171, Longyearbyen, Norway

    N. Sørensen & T. M. Gabrielsen

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  1. N. Sørensen
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  2. N. Daugbjerg
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Correspondence to N. Sørensen.

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Sørensen, N., Daugbjerg, N. & Gabrielsen, T.M. Molecular diversity and temporal variation of picoeukaryotes in two Arctic fjords, Svalbard. Polar Biol 35, 519–533 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-011-1097-8

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