Sedimentary microeukaryotes reveal more dispersal limitation and form networks with less connectivity than planktonic microeukaryotes in a highly regulated river

1. Microeukaryotes are considered critical for biogeochemical cycles and material transformation in river ecosystems, but their biogeography and underlying mechanisms of their assemblages remain poorly understood. 2. We collected 35 water samples and 26 sediment samples covering an 1,148 km reach of the Lancang River, a highly regulated large river in south-western China. The planktonic and sedimentary microeukaryotic communities were analysed by sequencing the V4 region of eukaryotic 18S rRNA gene. Factors associated with patterns in microeukaryotic communities were assessed by canonical correlation analysis and neutral models. Species interactions and keystone species in microeukaryotic communities were investigated by co-occurrence network analysis. 3. The results showed that community composition was distinct between planktonic and sedimentary microeukaryotes, as well as between upstream natural sites and regulated sites downstream. Similar environmental (pH, nutrient concentrations) and spatial (altitude, distance) variables were associated with patterns in community composition of planktonic and sedimentary microeukaryote communities, except that turbidity and water temperature were associated only with patterns in planktonic communities. 4. Neutral models were an excellent fit to the distributions of both planktonic (r(2) = 0.67) and sedimentary (r(2) = 0.50) microeukaryotic communities. The estimated immigration rate (m) from planktonic communities (m = 0.032) was higher than from sedimentary communities (m = 0.022). 5. Co-occurrence pattern analysis showed that planktonic microeukaryotic networks had more connectivity but a lower proportion of positive interactions than sedimentary microeukaryotic networks. Keystone species, in particular those belonging to phylum Ascomycota, played essential roles in maintaining stability of both planktonic and sedimentary microeukaryotic communities. 6. Our results showed that the composition of planktonic and sedimentary microeukaryote communities differ, and that diversity in both communities was influenced by river regulation. Given the important roles played by microeukaryotes in nutrient cycling and food webs, such impacts may alter other ecosystem processes in rivers.

Automated summary

The study showed distinct differences in community composition between planktonic and sedimentary microeukaryotes, as well as between natural and regulated sites in the river. Environmental and spatial variables were associated with patterns in community composition, with neutral models fitting the distributions well. Co-occurrence network analysis revealed different connectivity and interaction patterns between planktonic and sedimentary microeukaryotic networks, with keystone species playing essential roles in stability.