Network analysis of 16S rRNA sequences suggests microbial keystone taxa contribute to marine N₂O cycling.

ABSTRACT: The mechanisms by which large-scale microbial community function emerges from complex ecological interactions between individual taxa and functional groups remain obscure. We leveraged network analyses of 16S rRNA amplicon sequences obtained over a seven-month timeseries in seasonally anoxic Saanich Inlet (Vancouver Island, Canada) to investigate relationships between microbial community structure and water column N₂O cycling. Taxa separately broadly into three discrete subnetworks with contrasting environmental distributions. Oxycline subnetworks were structured around keystone aerobic heterotrophs that correlated with nitrification rates and N₂O supersaturations, linking N₂O production and accumulation to taxa involved in organic matter remineralization.

SUBMITTER: Jameson BD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9950131 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature