Water mass specific genes dominate the Southern Ocean microbiome
Abstrak
Abstract The Southern Ocean (SO) plays a key role in regulating global biogeochemical cycles and climate, yet microbial genes sustaining its biological activity remain poorly characterized. We introduce a microbial genes collection from 218 metagenomes sampled during the Antarctic Circumnavigation Expedition, the majority of which are missing from functional databases. 38% even lack homologs in current reference marine gene catalogs, defining a singular genetic seascape. We show that SO gene assemblages exhibit a common polar signature with the Arctic Ocean while being structured by water masses at the SO-scale. We analyze genomic markers of diverse SO biomes, focusing on dimethylsulphoniopropionate (DMSP) cleavage by polar-adapted bacteria, organic matter consumption in the blooming Mertz polynya and adaptation to polar conditions in the ubiquitous bacteria Pelagibacter. Our work takes a step towards a comprehensive understanding of SO’s plankton ecology and evolution, capturing the current state of the unique microbial diversity in this rapidly changing Ocean.
Topik & Kata Kunci
Penulis (21)
Emile Faure
Jolann Pommellec
Cyril Noel
Alexandre Cormier
Lisa-Marie Delpech
A. Murat Eren
Antonio Fernandez-Guerra
Chiara Vanni
Marion Fourquez
Marie-Noëlle Houssais
Ulysse Guyet
Corinne Da Silva
Frederick Gavory
Aude Perdereau
Karine Labadie
Patrick Wincker
Julie Poulain
Christel Hassler
Yajuan Lin
Nicolas Cassar
Loïs Maignien
Akses Cepat
- Tahun Terbit
- 2026
- Sumber Database
- DOAJ
- DOI
- 10.1038/s41467-026-69584-w
- Akses
- Open Access ✓