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Carbon utilization profiles of microbial communities in southern and central North Sea sediments in relation to environmental variables

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Abstract

We evaluated the relationship between environmental parameters (chlorophylla supply, C/N ratio, redox potential and silt content) and the functional profile of benthic microbial communities by means of community-level physiological profiling (CLPP). Down-core sediment profiles (0–2 cm, 2–5 cm, 5–10 cm) were examined at seven stations in the North Sea, a shallow European shelf sea. The stations reflected an environmental gradient from the coastal to the offshore area. Microbial communities were clearly separated by site, with the clearest differences observed between German Bight versus the Dogger Bank. Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) followed by a Monte Carlo permutation test showed that differences in CLPP were significantly related to organic carbon supply, oxygen conditions and silt content. Differences in specific carbon source utilization were related to potential functional changes, such as increased amino acid in sediments receiving fresh organic matter input. Overall, the approach proved successful for testing the significance of environmental conditions on microbial communities across a broad geographical region, and should prove valuable for defining both the sampling design and research questions for further studies.

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  1. Thorsten Stoeck

    Present address: Marine Science Center, Northeastern University Boston, East Point, 01908, Nahant, MA, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Abteilung für Meeresforschung, Forschungsinstitut Senckenberg, Südstrand 40-44, 26382, Wilhelmshaven, Germany

    Thorsten Stoeck & Ingrid Kröncke

  2. Kennedy Space Center, Dynamac Corporation, Mail Code DYN-3, 32899, FL, USA

    Jay L. Garland

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  1. Thorsten Stoeck
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  2. Ingrid Kröncke
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Correspondence to Thorsten Stoeck.

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Senckenberg am Meer 502

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Stoeck, T., Kröncke, I. & Garland, J.L. Carbon utilization profiles of microbial communities in southern and central North Sea sediments in relation to environmental variables. Senckenbergiana maritima 32, 11–23 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03043082

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