Spatial dynamics of virus-like particles and heterotrophic bacteria within a shallow coral reef system

Seymour, JR; Patten, N; Bourne, DG; Mitchell, JG

Spatial dynamics of virus-like particles and heterotrophic bacteria within a shallow coral reef system

Seymour, JR

Patten, N Bourne, DG Mitchell, JG

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Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Marine Ecology Progress Series, 2005, 288 pp. 1 - 8
Issue Date:: 2005-03-10

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Seymour, JR https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3745-6541	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Patten, N	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Bourne, DG	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Mitchell, JG	en_US
dc.date.issued	2005-03-10	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	Marine Ecology Progress Series, 2005, 288 pp. 1 - 8	en_US
dc.identifier.issn	0171-8630	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/14714
dc.description.abstract	Variations in the abundance and community characteristics of virus-like particles (VLP) and heterotrophic bacteria within a shallow, near-shore coral reef were determined using flow cytometric analysis. Mean concentrations of 6.5 × 105 and 1.3 × 105 ml-1 were observed for VLP and bacterioplankton, respectively, although concentrations of both populations varied significantly (p < 0.05) between 4 distinct reef water types. Significant (p < 0.05) variability in the percentage of high DNA (HDNA) bacteria, applied here as an estimate of the proportion of active bacterial cells, and the virus:bacteria ratio (VBR) was also observed between different reef water types. Microscale profiles were taken in the 12 cm layer of water directly above the surface of coral colonies to determine the small-scale spatial relationships between coral colonies and planktonic microbial communities. Across these profiles, mean changes of 2- and 3.5-fold were observed for bacterioplankton and VLP communities, respectively, with VLP abundance positively correlated to bacteria in 75% of profiles. Bacterial and VLP abundance, percentage of HDNA bacteria, and VBR all generally exhibited increasing trends with proximity to the coral surface. VLP abundance was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the 4 cm closest to the coral surface, and the VBR was higher at the coral surface than in any other zone. The patterns observed here indicate that VLP represent an abundant and dynamic community within coral reefs, are apparently coupled to the spatial dynamics of the bacterioplankton community, and may consequently significantly influence nutrient cycling rates and food-web structure within coral reef ecosystems. © Inter-Research 2005.	en_US
dc.relation.ispartof	Marine Ecology Progress Series	en_US
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.3354/meps288001	en_US
dc.subject.classification	Marine Biology & Hydrobiology	en_US
dc.title	Spatial dynamics of virus-like particles and heterotrophic bacteria within a shallow coral reef system	en_US
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	288	en_US
utslib.for	0602 Ecology	en_US
utslib.for	0405 Oceanography	en_US
utslib.for	0608 Zoology	en_US
pubs.embargo.period	Not known	en_US
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Science
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - C3 - Climate Change Cluster
utslib.copyright.status	open_access
pubs.publication-status	Published	en_US
pubs.volume	288	en_US

Abstract:

Variations in the abundance and community characteristics of virus-like particles (VLP) and heterotrophic bacteria within a shallow, near-shore coral reef were determined using flow cytometric analysis. Mean concentrations of 6.5 × 105 and 1.3 × 105 ml-1 were observed for VLP and bacterioplankton, respectively, although concentrations of both populations varied significantly (p < 0.05) between 4 distinct reef water types. Significant (p < 0.05) variability in the percentage of high DNA (HDNA) bacteria, applied here as an estimate of the proportion of active bacterial cells, and the virus:bacteria ratio (VBR) was also observed between different reef water types. Microscale profiles were taken in the 12 cm layer of water directly above the surface of coral colonies to determine the small-scale spatial relationships between coral colonies and planktonic microbial communities. Across these profiles, mean changes of 2- and 3.5-fold were observed for bacterioplankton and VLP communities, respectively, with VLP abundance positively correlated to bacteria in 75% of profiles. Bacterial and VLP abundance, percentage of HDNA bacteria, and VBR all generally exhibited increasing trends with proximity to the coral surface. VLP abundance was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the 4 cm closest to the coral surface, and the VBR was higher at the coral surface than in any other zone. The patterns observed here indicate that VLP represent an abundant and dynamic community within coral reefs, are apparently coupled to the spatial dynamics of the bacterioplankton community, and may consequently significantly influence nutrient cycling rates and food-web structure within coral reef ecosystems. © Inter-Research 2005.

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