Ivan S. Mikhailov , Yuri S. Bukin , Yulia R. Zakharova , Marina V. Usoltseva , Yuri P. Galachyants , Maria V. Sakirko , Vadim V. Blinov , Yelena V. Likhoshway
J. Microbiol. 2019;57(4):252-262. Published online March 30, 2019
Phytoplankton and bacterioplankton play a key role in carbon
cycling of aquatic ecosystems. In this study, we found
that co-occurrence patterns between different types of phytoplankton,
bacterioplankton, and environmental parameters
in Lake Baikal during spring were different over the
course of three consecutive years. The composition of phytoplankton
and bacterial communities was investigated using
microscopy and 16S rRNA gene pyrosequencing, respectively.
Non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) revealed
a relationship between the structure of phytoplankton and
bacterial communities and temperature, location, and sampling
year. Associations of bacteria with diatoms, green microalgae,
chrysophyte, and cryptophyte were identified using
microscopy. Cluster analysis revealed similar correlation
patterns between phytoplankton abundance, number of attached
bacteria, ratio of bacteria per phytoplankton cell and
environmental parameters. Positive and negative correlations
between different species of phytoplankton, heterotrophic
bacteria and environmental parameters may indicate mutualistic
or competitive relationships between microorganisms
and their preferences to the environment.