Prokaryotic Diversity and Distribution Along Physical and Nutrient Gradients in the Tunisian Coastal Waters (South Mediterranean Sea).

ABSTRACT: Prokaryotes play an important role in biogeochemical cycling in marine ecosystems, but little is known about their diversity and composition, and how they may contribute to the ecological functioning of coastal areas in the South Mediterranean Sea. This study investigated bacterial and archaeal community diversity in seawater samples along the Tunisian coast subject to important physicochemical disturbances. The 16S amplicon sequencing survey revealed higher prokaryotic diversity in the northern Tunisian bays than in southeastern waters (Gulf of Gabès). The major taxonomic groups identified in all samples were Alphaproteobacteria (40.9%), Gammaproteobacteria (18.7%), Marine Group II Euryarchaeota (11.3%), and Cyanobacteria (10.9%). Among them, the relative abund

SUBMITTER: Quemeneur M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7735998 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature