Community structure and seasonal dynamics of diatom biofilms and associated grazers in intertidal mudflats

Sahan, E.; Sabbe, K.; Creach, V.; Hernandez-Raquet, G.; Vyverman, W.; Stal, L.J.; Muyzer, G.

doi:/10.3354/ame047253

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Community structure and seasonal dynamics of diatom biofilms and associated grazers in intertidal mudflats

Sahan, E.; Sabbe, K.; Creach, V.; Hernandez-Raquet, G.; Vyverman, W.; Stal, L.J.; Muyzer, G. (2007). Community structure and seasonal dynamics of diatom biofilms and associated grazers in intertidal mudflats. Aquat. Microb. Ecol. 47(3): 253-266. https://dx.doi.org/10.3354/ame047253

In: Aquatic Microbial Ecology. Inter-Research: Oldendorf/Luhe. ISSN 0948-3055; e-ISSN 1616-1564

Available in	Authors
VLIZ: Open access 339258 [ download pdf ]

Keywords

Algae > Diatoms
Behaviour > Feeding behaviour > Grazing
Biofilms
Gradients > Salinity gradients
Population dynamics
Sedimentary structures > Mud flats
Topographic features > Landforms > Coastal landforms > Tidal flats
Bacillariophyceae [WoRMS]
Appelzak [Marine Regions]; Biezelingse Ham Mud Flat [Marine Regions]; PaulinaSchor [Marine Regions]
Marine/Coastal; Brackish water

Author keywords

epipelic diatoms; eukaryotes; intertidal mudflat; salinity gradient; seasonal dynamics

Authors		Top
Sahan, E. Sabbe, K., more Creach, V. Hernandez-Raquet, G.	Vyverman, W. Stal, L.J. Muyzer, G.

Abstract

The composition and seasonal dynamics of biofilm-associated eukaryotic communities were analysed at the metre and kilometre scale along a salinity gradient in the Westerschelde estuary (The Netherlands), using microscopy and a genetic fingerprinting technique (PCR-DGGE). Microphytobenthic biomass, measured as chlorophyll a (chl a), varied seasonally over 2 orders of magnitude, being highest in spring. Communities were dominated by epipelic diatoms, in particular by members of the genus Navicula. In spring, a few smaller epipelic diatom species dominated during biomass peaks, while during the rest of the year, communities were more diverse and were characterised by larger species. The microphytobenthic community collapsed when grazers appeared, which happened concomitantly with a rise in temperature. Spring biomass development was associated with marked changes in porewater nutrient concentrations, especially towards the estuary mouth. In the DGGE data, diatoms, ciliates, amoebae, copepods, nematodes, annelids and platyhelminthes were detected. Ordination analysis of the species counts and DGGE data were largely congruent and indicated that on the scale of the whole estuary (i.e. km scale), taxonomic turnover in microphytobenthos composition was mainly associated with the salinity gradient. At smaller spatial scales, the position of sampling localities along the tidal exposure gradient appeared to be the main determinant of species turnover, in particular in the brackish reaches of the estuary.

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