Project II.2.3a: Characterizing communities - Environmental controls on river-to-ocean variability in bacterioplankton community
Project Name: II.2.3a Characterizing communities - Environmental controls on river-to-ocean variability in bacterioplankton community composition
Project Lead: Byron Crump
Project Description
Bacterioplankton communities are extremely diverse and highly dynamic, undergoing shifts in dominant phylotypes in response to spatial and temporal environmental gradients. Recently, several studies showed evidence of predictable spatial patterns in the composition of these communities. Our goal is to describe broad-scale spatial variability in bacterioplankton community composition throughout the CMOP study region, identify environmental factors that explain this variability, and determine how diversity patterns relate to major coastal environmental gradients.
We collected water samples during August, 2007 from the Columbia River, estuary, plume and coastal ocean from LaPush, Washington to Strawberry Hill, OR and offshore to depths >1000m. Associated CTD casts provided vertical profiles of several sensor-based measurements including temperature. A surface flow-through system continuously recorded several sensor-based measurements in surface waters throughout the cruise. Water samples were sub-sampled for nucleic acid samples (RNA, DNA), and for a suite of chemical measurements (nutrients, DOC, suspended particulate matter, POC/N, total dissolved N and P). Bacterioplankton communities were assessed with PCR-DGGE, a community fingerprinting molecular technique.
Fit in program
This study provides a first picture of how microbial communities are distributed spatially across the river to ocean gradient, and it has been used as a baseline of information for several other ongoing research projects. Without this baseline we would not be able to assess future changes to microbial communities caused by climate change and human activities.
Outcomes
Patterns in bacterioplankton community composition
