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Community Structure of the Bacteria Associated with Nodularia sp. (Cyanobacteria) Aggregates in the Baltic Sea

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Abstract

The community structure of the bacteria associated with Nodularia spumigena (Mertens) cyanobacterial aggregates in the Baltic Sea was studied with temperature gradient gel electrophoresis (TGGE), using a 16S rRNA gene fragment as a target. Various developmental stages of the aggregates and free-floating cyanobacterial filaments were sampled to reveal possible changes in associated microbial community structure during development and senescence of the aggregates. The microbial community structures of all samples differed, and the communities of young and decaying aggregates were separated by cluster analysis of the TGGE fingerprint data. Sequencing of the TGGE fragments indicated the presence of bacteria from the α-, β-, and γ-proteobacterial groups, as well as members of Cytophaga–Flexibacter–Bacteroides lineages and gram-positive Actinobacteria spp. The majority of the Nodularia-associated sequences were not closely related to previously reported 16S rDNA sequences from the Baltic Sea or any other environment. The structure of the bacterial assemblage reflects the environmental changes associated with the succession and decay of the cyanobacterial aggregates. In addition, the sequence data suggest that the N. spumigena (Mertens) blooms in the Baltic Sea may host thus far uncharacterized bacterial species.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the Academy of Finland (J.T. & S.H.), the Maj and Tor Nessling Foundation (S.H.), Onni Talas and Walter and André de Nottbeck Foundations (J.T.), and EnSTe-Graduate School (J.T.). We thank the crew of the R/V Aranda for their help in sampling, and Dr. H. Kankaanpää and Dr. V. Sipiä (Finnish Institute of Marine Research) for sharing their cyanobacterial filament samples. The technical assistance of N. Partanen and T. Rahkonen is gratefully acknowledged. Ritva Vasara, MSc, and two anonymous reviewers are acknowledged for their constructive comments on the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Kuopio, Box 1627, FIN-70211, Kuopio, Finland

    Jaana Tuomainen &  Pertti J. Martikainen

  2. Research Institute of Public Health, University of Kuopio, Box 1627, FIN-70211, Kuopio, Finland

    Jaana Tuomainen

  3. Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Division of Aquatic Sciences, University of Helsinki, Box 65, FIN-00014, Helsinki, Finland

    Susanna Hietanen & Jorma Kuparinen

  4. North Savo Regional Environment Centre, Box 1199, FIN-70211, Kuopio, Finland

    Kristina Servomaa

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  1. Jaana Tuomainen
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Tuomainen, J., Hietanen, S., Kuparinen, J. et al. Community Structure of the Bacteria Associated with Nodularia sp. (Cyanobacteria) Aggregates in the Baltic Sea. Microb Ecol 52, 513–522 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00248-006-9130-0

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