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Increased Variability of Microbial Communities in Restored Salt Marshes nearly 30 Years After Tidal Flow Restoration

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Abstract

We analyzed microbial diversity and community composition from four salt marsh sites that were impounded for 40–50 years and subsequently restored and four unimpounded sites in southeastern Connecticut over one growing season. Community composition and diversity were assessed by terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (TRFLP) and sequence analysis of 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes. Our results indicated diverse communities, with sequences representing 14 different bacterial divisions. Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Planctomycetes dominated clone libraries from both restored and unimpounded sites. Multivariate analysis of the TRFLP data suggest significant site, sample date, and restoration status effects, but the exact causes of these effects are not clear. Composition of clone libraries and abundance of bacterial 16S rRNA genes were not significantly different between restored sites and unimpounded sites, but restored sites showed greater temporal and spatial variability of bacterial communities based on TRFLP profiles compared with unimpounded sites, and variability was greatest at sites more recently restored. In summary, our study suggests there may be long-lasting effects on stability of bacterial communities in restored salt marshes and raises questions about the resilience and ultimate recovery of the communities after chronic disturbance.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported in part by the National Science Foundation award DEB-0814586 (AEB) and by the Long Island Sound Fund administerd by the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection, through the sale of Long Island Sound license plates and contributions. Additional support was provided by the George and Carol Milne Endowment at Connecticut College.

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  1. Department of Biology, Connecticut College, 270 Mohegan Avenue, Box 5327, New London, CT, 06320, USA

    Anne E. Bernhard, David Marshall & Lazaros Yiannos

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  1. Anne E. Bernhard
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Correspondence to Anne E. Bernhard.

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Bernhard, A.E., Marshall, D. & Yiannos, L. Increased Variability of Microbial Communities in Restored Salt Marshes nearly 30 Years After Tidal Flow Restoration. Estuaries and Coasts 35, 1049–1059 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12237-012-9502-2

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