Light-driven diel oscillations in microbial metabolism underpin estuarine biogeochemical resilience.

ABSTRACT: Diel light cycles profoundly influence estuarine biogeochemical processes, yet the mechanistic responses of planktonic prokaryotic communities to these rhythmic cues remain incompletely understood. This study employed an integrative multi-omics approach-combining high-frequency sampling, 16S rRNA gene sequencing, metagenomics, and metatranscriptomics-to elucidate diel dynamics in microbial diversity, interaction networks, and metabolic functions in the Pearl River Estuary. The results revealed significant temporal partitioning in microbial organization: nocturnal communities exhibited higher α-diversity and formed more densely connected co-occurrence networks, indicative of enhanced heterotrophic processes, whereas daytime assemblages were dominated by Cyanobacteria (particularly

SUBMITTER: Zhao Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12694420 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature