Shotgun metagenomic analysis of microbial communities in the surface waters of the Eastern South China Sea
- Author:
Jessica Song
;
Aazani Mujahid
;
Po-Teen Lim
;
Azizan Abu Samah
;
Birgit Quack
;
Klaus Pfeilsticker
;
Sen-Lin Tang
;
Elena Ivanova
;
Moritz Müller
- Publication Type:Original article
- Keywords:
Metagenomic;
microbial communities;
South China Sea
- From:Malaysian Journal of Microbiology
2017;13(4):350-362
- CountryMalaysia
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Aims: The South China Sea (SCS) harbours a rich biodiversity. However, few studies have been published on its
diverse communities, particularly its microbial counterparts. As key players behind many of the vital processes carried
out in the ocean, microbes are the focus of this study, placing particular emphasis on community composition, structure,
and function.
Methodology and results: By employing next generation shotgun sequencing technologies (Illumina HiSeq2000), we
assessed the taxonomic structure and functional diversity of the prokaryotic communities in surface waters collected
from 3 representative sites in the Eastern SCS: Sarawak (Kuching), Sabah (Kota Kinabalu), and Philippines (Manila).
Comparisons were undertaken to similar studies from coastal and open ocean environments. All 3 locations were
dominated by members of the Proteobacteria (Alpha- and Gamma-) and Cyanobacteria (Synechococcus sp. and
Prochlorococcus sp.). The highest proportion of Gammaproteobacteria was found in Sarawak, representing an
approximate 20% of total sequences. Archaeal assemblages were made up largely of Euryarchaeota and unclassified
sequences, while Crenarchaeota and Thaumarchaeota were present in much smaller proportions, except in the
Philippines where Thaumarchaeota made up almost 40% of the entire taxa.
Conclusion, significance and impact of study: The majority of the microbial communities adhered to a core set of
functional genes across the different locations. However, differences existed particularly in Sarawak waters which are
hypothesized to be due to local environmental parameters such as riverine influence. The results obtained from this
study provide the first comparison of prokaryotic communities in the surface waters of the eastern SCS and will serve as
a good platform for prospective studies in the field of environmental science.
