Bacterial community composition and function along spatiotemporal connectivity gradients in the Danube floodplain (Vienna, Austria).

ABSTRACT: It is well recognized that river-floodplain systems contribute significantly to riverine ecosystem metabolism, and that bacteria are key players in the aquatic organic carbon cycle, but surprisingly few studies have linked bacterial community composition (BCC), function and carbon quality in these hydrologically highly dynamic habitats. We investigated aquatic BCC and extracellular enzymatic activity (EEA) related to dissolved organic carbon quality and algae composition, including the impact of a major flood event in one of the last remaining European semi-natural floodplain-systems. We found that surface connectivity of floodplain pools homogenizes BCC and EEA, whereas low connectivity led to increased BCC and EEA heterogeneity, supported by their relationship to electrical conductivity,

SUBMITTER: Mayr MJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7045780 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature