Abundance and Genetic Diversity of Aerobic Anoxygenic Phototrophic Bacteria of Coastal Regions of the Pacific Ocean

Aerobic anoxygenic phototrophic (AAP) bacteria, significant to marine microbial ecology and biogeochemistry, exhibit distinct abundance and genetic diversity patterns across coastal regions of the Pacific Ocean. Research reveals that these bacteria are most abundant near shore and in areas with high chlorophyll or Synechococcus levels, with their genetic diversity structured along nearshore/offshore transects and varying between islands. The study, conducted using samples from five Pacific islands (Oahu, Molokai, Futuna, Aniwa, and Lord Howe) and off California, employed the pufM gene biomarker to quantify AAP bacteria and analyze their genetic diversity. Findings suggest that environmental variables regulate both abundance and diversity of AAP bacteria, while endemism may also play a role in structuring these communities.

Ritchie, A. E., & Johnson, Z. I. (2012). Abundance and Genetic Diversity of Aerobic Anoxygenic Phototrophic Bacteria of Coastal Regions of the Pacific Ocean. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 78(8), 2858–2866. https://doi.org/10.1128/aem.06268-11