Bacterial community structures in pelagic waters of greater Puget Sound
Presentation Abstract
Bacteria play an important role in the marine ecosystem through biodegradation, photosynthesis and respiration, yet dynamics of these bacterial communities within the Salish Sea remain largely unknown. To understand how external environmental changes affect community composition within the Puget Sound, we examined bacterial community profiles from water collected between April and October of 2011 and looked for relationships across oceanographic basins, over time, and among different geomorphic types (i.e., river delta, exposed, large bay, small bay). Significant community similarities existed within each basin and between months. Among the six basins, Hood Canal bacterial communities were the most distinctive. Community compositions between basins were statistically similar within 3 sets of months: April and May; July, August, and September; and June and October. Using a partial canonical correspondence analysis, we found that a combination of physical parameters explained 23% of the total community variation. Permutational multivariate analyses on community composition identified a number of significant habitat qualities associated with community similarities such as percentage development of catchment area (p < 0.002) and river delta sites (p < 0.001). By identifying relationships of bacterial communities with seasonal time points, geographic and geomorphic habitats, and environmental parameters we are able to build the groundwork for future studies seeking to understand how changing climates and watersheds may impact microbial community structures.
Session Title
Session S-01D: Pelagic Ecology in the Salish Sea I
Conference Track
Species and Food Webs
Conference Name
Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference (2014 : Seattle, Wash.)
Document Type
Event
Start Date
1-5-2014 5:00 PM
End Date
1-5-2014 6:30 PM
Location
Room 6C
Genre/Form
conference proceedings; presentations (communicative events)
Contributing Repository
Digital content made available by University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Subjects – Topical (LCSH)
Marine bacteria--Ecology--Washington (State)--Puget Sound; Biotic communities--Washington (State)--Puget Sound
Geographic Coverage
Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.); Puget Sound (Wash.)
Rights
This resource is displayed for educational purposes only and may be subject to U.S. and international copyright laws. For more information about rights or obtaining copies of this resource, please contact University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA 98225-9103, USA (360-650-7534; heritage.resources@wwu.edu) and refer to the collection name and identifier. Any materials cited must be attributed to the Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference Records, University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Type
Text
Language
English
Format
application/pdf
Bacterial community structures in pelagic waters of greater Puget Sound
Room 6C
Bacteria play an important role in the marine ecosystem through biodegradation, photosynthesis and respiration, yet dynamics of these bacterial communities within the Salish Sea remain largely unknown. To understand how external environmental changes affect community composition within the Puget Sound, we examined bacterial community profiles from water collected between April and October of 2011 and looked for relationships across oceanographic basins, over time, and among different geomorphic types (i.e., river delta, exposed, large bay, small bay). Significant community similarities existed within each basin and between months. Among the six basins, Hood Canal bacterial communities were the most distinctive. Community compositions between basins were statistically similar within 3 sets of months: April and May; July, August, and September; and June and October. Using a partial canonical correspondence analysis, we found that a combination of physical parameters explained 23% of the total community variation. Permutational multivariate analyses on community composition identified a number of significant habitat qualities associated with community similarities such as percentage development of catchment area (p < 0.002) and river delta sites (p < 0.001). By identifying relationships of bacterial communities with seasonal time points, geographic and geomorphic habitats, and environmental parameters we are able to build the groundwork for future studies seeking to understand how changing climates and watersheds may impact microbial community structures.
