View in EDS

Surface slicks structure microbial and viral neuston in relation to biogeochemical conditions.

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: Surface slicks structure microbial and viral neuston in relation to biogeochemical conditions.
Authors: Peter, Carolin1 (AUTHOR), Giebel, Helge‐Ansgar2 (AUTHOR), Chai, Bingli Clark3,4 (AUTHOR), Serafim, Tassiana S. G.5 (AUTHOR), Lehners, Carola2 (AUTHOR), Wurl, Oliver2 (AUTHOR), Osterholz, Helena5 (AUTHOR), Rahlff, Janina1,3,4 (AUTHOR) janina.rahlff@lnu.se
Source: Limnology & Oceanography. May2026, Vol. 71 Issue 5, p1-17. 17p.
Subjects: Sea surface microlayer, Microorganism populations, Dissolved organic matter, Viral ecology, Biogeochemical cycles, Biofilms, Ocean, Cyanobacteria
Geographic Terms: Baltic Sea
Abstract: The sea‐surface microlayer (hereafter microlayer), which forms the interface between the ocean and atmosphere, plays a key role in nutrient cycling and microbial dynamics. Coastal slicks, which are viscous and biogenic surface films, often serve as hotspots for microbial activity, yet their structure and interactions remain incompletely understood. Here, we investigated viral and microbial abundance, surfactants, dissolved organic carbon, and total dissolved nitrogen in slick microlayer and their corresponding underlying water in the coastal Baltic Sea. Dissolved organic carbon and total dissolved nitrogen showed minor enrichment in the microlayer, while surfactants were elevated in several slicks. Some microbial abundances were significantly higher in the slick microlayer, including prokaryotes and different phytoplankton size classes. Co‐occurrence network analysis revealed clusters in the slick: surfactant‐associated groups (nanophytoplankton groups, viruses) and surfactant‐independent groups (cyanobacteria, picophytoplankton). Cyanobacteria were enriched in the slick microlayer relative to the slick underlying water, and their abundance in the microlayer was negatively correlated with total dissolved nitrogen and dissolved organic carbon. Viruses were positively correlated with prokaryotes in both the slick microlayer and slick underlying water, and additionally with microphytoplankton in the slick underlying water. Microscopic analysis of the > 100 μm slick fraction revealed a detritus‐dominated matrix containing juvenile sporophytes, pennate diatoms, filamentous cyanobacteria, and a ciliate‐dominated microzooplankton community. Overall, the microlayer within slicks in this eutrophic coastal system contained elevated microbial and viral densities, along with distinct patterns of correlations among community members, indicating that it can locally influence surface‐layer biogeochemistry and ecology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Limnology & Oceanography is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Engineering Source
Description
Abstract:The sea‐surface microlayer (hereafter microlayer), which forms the interface between the ocean and atmosphere, plays a key role in nutrient cycling and microbial dynamics. Coastal slicks, which are viscous and biogenic surface films, often serve as hotspots for microbial activity, yet their structure and interactions remain incompletely understood. Here, we investigated viral and microbial abundance, surfactants, dissolved organic carbon, and total dissolved nitrogen in slick microlayer and their corresponding underlying water in the coastal Baltic Sea. Dissolved organic carbon and total dissolved nitrogen showed minor enrichment in the microlayer, while surfactants were elevated in several slicks. Some microbial abundances were significantly higher in the slick microlayer, including prokaryotes and different phytoplankton size classes. Co‐occurrence network analysis revealed clusters in the slick: surfactant‐associated groups (nanophytoplankton groups, viruses) and surfactant‐independent groups (cyanobacteria, picophytoplankton). Cyanobacteria were enriched in the slick microlayer relative to the slick underlying water, and their abundance in the microlayer was negatively correlated with total dissolved nitrogen and dissolved organic carbon. Viruses were positively correlated with prokaryotes in both the slick microlayer and slick underlying water, and additionally with microphytoplankton in the slick underlying water. Microscopic analysis of the > 100 μm slick fraction revealed a detritus‐dominated matrix containing juvenile sporophytes, pennate diatoms, filamentous cyanobacteria, and a ciliate‐dominated microzooplankton community. Overall, the microlayer within slicks in this eutrophic coastal system contained elevated microbial and viral densities, along with distinct patterns of correlations among community members, indicating that it can locally influence surface‐layer biogeochemistry and ecology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
ISSN:00243590
DOI:10.1002/lno.70387