Light-Mediated Population Dynamics of Picocyanobacteria Shaping the Diurnal Patterns of Microbial Communities in an Atoll Lagoon

The diurnal cycle of light significantly impacts microbes, making diurnal investigations crucial for understanding microbial communities. Zhubi Reef is known to harbor exceptionally rich biodiversity, with both zooplankton and seawater properties demonstrating diurnal patterns. However, microbial co...

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Main Authors: Ying Yu, Maosen Shangguan, Ping Sun, Xiaofeng Lin, Jiqiu Li
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:Microorganisms
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13/4/727
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author Ying Yu
Maosen Shangguan
Ping Sun
Xiaofeng Lin
Jiqiu Li
author_facet Ying Yu
Maosen Shangguan
Ping Sun
Xiaofeng Lin
Jiqiu Li
author_sort Ying Yu
collection DOAJ
description The diurnal cycle of light significantly impacts microbes, making diurnal investigations crucial for understanding microbial communities. Zhubi Reef is known to harbor exceptionally rich biodiversity, with both zooplankton and seawater properties demonstrating diurnal patterns. However, microbial community structures and their potential diurnal dynamics remain largely unexplored. This study is the first to utilize flow cytometry and high-throughput sequencing to investigate prokaryotic and microeukaryotic communities in the Zhubi lagoon, focusing on diurnal variations under different light intensities. The picophytoplankton cell abundance and the microbial community structures both exhibit clear diurnal variations. Light is identified as the primary driver of diurnal variations in the picophytoplankton cell abundance. The diurnal variation in microbial community diversity is driven by changes in the cell abundance of two dominant picocyanobacterial groups. Our findings reveal the diurnal variation in microbial community structures is mediated by the light-driven fluctuation of dominant cyanobacterial populations, and the diurnal variation patterns of specific populations may vary with habitats and sampling timepoints. This research provides valuable insights into the microbial community structure within the Zhubi lagoon.
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spelling doaj-art-a3e60cbdaba342f684c9b84ff864ef782025-08-20T03:13:48ZengMDPI AGMicroorganisms2076-26072025-03-0113472710.3390/microorganisms13040727Light-Mediated Population Dynamics of Picocyanobacteria Shaping the Diurnal Patterns of Microbial Communities in an Atoll LagoonYing Yu0Maosen Shangguan1Ping Sun2Xiaofeng Lin3Jiqiu Li4Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education for Coastal and Wetland Ecosystem, The Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory for Coastal Ecology and Environmental Studies, College of the Environment and Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, ChinaNansha Islands Coral Reef Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, Guangzhou 510300, ChinaKey Laboratory of the Ministry of Education for Coastal and Wetland Ecosystem, The Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory for Coastal Ecology and Environmental Studies, College of the Environment and Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, ChinaKey Laboratory of the Ministry of Education for Coastal and Wetland Ecosystem, The Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory for Coastal Ecology and Environmental Studies, College of the Environment and Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, ChinaKey Laboratory of the Ministry of Education for Coastal and Wetland Ecosystem, The Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory for Coastal Ecology and Environmental Studies, College of the Environment and Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, ChinaThe diurnal cycle of light significantly impacts microbes, making diurnal investigations crucial for understanding microbial communities. Zhubi Reef is known to harbor exceptionally rich biodiversity, with both zooplankton and seawater properties demonstrating diurnal patterns. However, microbial community structures and their potential diurnal dynamics remain largely unexplored. This study is the first to utilize flow cytometry and high-throughput sequencing to investigate prokaryotic and microeukaryotic communities in the Zhubi lagoon, focusing on diurnal variations under different light intensities. The picophytoplankton cell abundance and the microbial community structures both exhibit clear diurnal variations. Light is identified as the primary driver of diurnal variations in the picophytoplankton cell abundance. The diurnal variation in microbial community diversity is driven by changes in the cell abundance of two dominant picocyanobacterial groups. Our findings reveal the diurnal variation in microbial community structures is mediated by the light-driven fluctuation of dominant cyanobacterial populations, and the diurnal variation patterns of specific populations may vary with habitats and sampling timepoints. This research provides valuable insights into the microbial community structure within the Zhubi lagoon.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13/4/727atoll lagoondiurnal patternsflow cytometryhigh-throughput sequencinglightmicrobial community
spellingShingle Ying Yu
Maosen Shangguan
Ping Sun
Xiaofeng Lin
Jiqiu Li
Light-Mediated Population Dynamics of Picocyanobacteria Shaping the Diurnal Patterns of Microbial Communities in an Atoll Lagoon
Microorganisms
atoll lagoon
diurnal patterns
flow cytometry
high-throughput sequencing
light
microbial community
title Light-Mediated Population Dynamics of Picocyanobacteria Shaping the Diurnal Patterns of Microbial Communities in an Atoll Lagoon
title_full Light-Mediated Population Dynamics of Picocyanobacteria Shaping the Diurnal Patterns of Microbial Communities in an Atoll Lagoon
title_fullStr Light-Mediated Population Dynamics of Picocyanobacteria Shaping the Diurnal Patterns of Microbial Communities in an Atoll Lagoon
title_full_unstemmed Light-Mediated Population Dynamics of Picocyanobacteria Shaping the Diurnal Patterns of Microbial Communities in an Atoll Lagoon
title_short Light-Mediated Population Dynamics of Picocyanobacteria Shaping the Diurnal Patterns of Microbial Communities in an Atoll Lagoon
title_sort light mediated population dynamics of picocyanobacteria shaping the diurnal patterns of microbial communities in an atoll lagoon
topic atoll lagoon
diurnal patterns
flow cytometry
high-throughput sequencing
light
microbial community
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13/4/727
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AT pingsun lightmediatedpopulationdynamicsofpicocyanobacteriashapingthediurnalpatternsofmicrobialcommunitiesinanatolllagoon
AT xiaofenglin lightmediatedpopulationdynamicsofpicocyanobacteriashapingthediurnalpatternsofmicrobialcommunitiesinanatolllagoon
AT jiqiuli lightmediatedpopulationdynamicsofpicocyanobacteriashapingthediurnalpatternsofmicrobialcommunitiesinanatolllagoon