Advection shapes Southern Ocean microbial assemblages independent of distance and environment effects

David Wilkins, Erik van Sebille, Stephen R. Rintoul, Federico M. Lauro and Ricardo Cavicchioli ()
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David Wilkins: School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales
Erik van Sebille: Climate Change Research Centre and ARC Centre of Excellence for Climate System Science, University of New South Wales
Stephen R. Rintoul: CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research, and Centre for Australian Weather and Climate Research—A partnership of the Bureau of Meteorology and CSIRO, and CSIRO Wealth from Oceans National Research Flagship, and the Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre, University of Tasmania, Castray Esplanade
Federico M. Lauro: School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales
Ricardo Cavicchioli: School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales

Nature Communications, 2013, vol. 4, issue 1, 1-7

Abstract: Abstract Although environmental selection and spatial separation have been shown to shape the distribution and abundance of marine microorganisms, the effects of advection (physical transport) have not been directly tested. Here we examine 25 samples covering all major water masses of the Southern Ocean to determine the effects of advection on microbial biogeography. Even when environmental factors and spatial separation are controlled for, there is a positive correlation between advection distance and taxonomic dissimilarity, indicating that an ‘advection effect’ has a role in shaping marine microbial community composition. This effect is likely due to the advection of cells increasing the probability that upstream microorganisms will colonize downstream sites. Our study shows that in addition to distance and environmental selection, advection shapes the composition of marine microbial communities.

Date: 2013
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms3457

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