Influence of nutrient supply on plankton microbiome biodiversity and distribution in a coastal upwelling region

The ecological and oceanographic processes that drive the response of pelagic ocean microbiomes to environmental changes remain poorly understood, particularly in coastal upwelling ecosystems. Here we show that seasonal and interannual variability in coastal upwelling predicts pelagic ocean microbiome diversity and community structure in the Southern California Current region. Ribosomal RNA gene sequencing, targeting prokaryotic and eukaryotic microbes, from samples collected seasonally during 2014-2020 indicate that nitracline depth is the most robust predictor of spatial microbial community structure and biodiversity in this region. Striking ecological changes occurred due to the transition from a warm anomaly during 2014-2016, characterized by intense stratification, to cooler conditions in 2017-2018, representative of more typical upwelling conditions, with photosynthetic eukaryotes, especially diatoms, changing most strongly. The regional slope of nitracline depth exerts strong control on the relative proportion of highly diverse offshore communities and low biodiversity, but highly productive nearshore communities. Coastal upwelling sustains some of the most productive ocean regions. Here, the authors find that spatial patterns and temporal changes in nutrient supply explain marine microbial community structure and diversity in the Southern California Current region.

Automated summary

This study examines the ecological and oceanographic processes that drive the response of pelagic ocean microbiomes to environmental changes in coastal upwelling ecosystems. The authors find that nitracline depth is a robust predictor of spatial microbial community structure and biodiversity in the Southern California Current region. Furthermore, they observe striking ecological changes associated with the transition from warm anomaly to cooler upwelling conditions. The study highlights the importance of nutrient supply in explaining marine microbial community structure and diversity.