Metagenomic Analyses of the Microflora of Hamilton Harbour

Session: Poster session

Roberta Fulthorpe, University of Toronto Scarborough, [email protected]
Rosemary Saati, University of Toronto Scarb, [email protected]

Abstract

Microbial community DNA collected from Hamilton Harbour water throughout the summers of 2014 and 2015. 454-tag encoded pyrosequencing and shotgun sequencing revealed the dominant prokaryotes and eukaryotes throughout each summer. Actinobacteria was the dominant bacterial phylum in June while Cyanobacteria and Proteobacteria were co-dominant from August-September. Shotgun data also revealed the microbial functional potentials. Cyanobacterial dominance was associated with a higher potential for nitrate/nitrite assimilation and nitrogen fixation in the late-summer. These results provide the first metagenomic characterization of the total CyanoHAB community in Hamilton Harbour. Correlations to physico-chemical parameters further provide insights for future management into which factors could be shaping the bacterial community throughout the summer.  A diversity of uncharacterized fungi belonging to the group Chytridiomycota was detected. This finding suggests that there are potential fungal parasites in t Hamilton Harbour. Chytrid parasitism could be a potentially significant influence on phytoplankton composition based on recent suggestions in the literature.

1. Keyword
Hamilton Harbour

2. Keyword
algae

3. Keyword
zooplankton

4. Additional Keyword
microorganisms

5. Additional Keyword
nitrogen