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SAR11 clade dominates ocean surface bacterioplankton communities

Author

Listed:
  • Robert M. Morris

    (Oregon State University)

  • Michael S. Rappé

    (Oregon State University)

  • Stephanie A. Connon

    (Oregon State University)

  • Kevin L. Vergin

    (Oregon State University)

  • William A. Siebold

    (Oregon State University)

  • Craig A. Carlson

    (University of California)

  • Stephen J. Giovannoni

    (Oregon State University)

Abstract

The most abundant class of bacterial ribosomal RNA genes detected in seawater DNA by gene cloning belongs to SAR11—an α-proteobacterial clade1. Other than indications of their prevalence in seawater, little is known about these organisms. Here we report quantitative measurements of the cellular abundance of the SAR11 clade in northwestern Sargasso Sea waters to 3,000 m and in Oregon coastal surface waters. On average, the SAR11 clade accounts for a third of the cells present in surface waters and nearly a fifth of the cells present in the mesopelagic zone. In some regions, members of the SAR11 clade represent as much as 50% of the total surface microbial community and 25% of the subeuphotic microbial community. By extrapolation, we estimate that globally there are 2.4 × 1028 SAR11 cells in the oceans, half of which are located in the euphotic zone. Although the biogeochemical role of the SAR11 clade remains uncertain, these data support the conclusion that this microbial group is among the most successful organisms on Earth.

Suggested Citation

  • Robert M. Morris & Michael S. Rappé & Stephanie A. Connon & Kevin L. Vergin & William A. Siebold & Craig A. Carlson & Stephen J. Giovannoni, 2002. "SAR11 clade dominates ocean surface bacterioplankton communities," Nature, Nature, vol. 420(6917), pages 806-810, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:420:y:2002:i:6917:d:10.1038_nature01240
    DOI: 10.1038/nature01240
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    Cited by:

    1. Joanna Warwick-Dugdale & Funing Tian & Michelle L. Michelsen & Dylan R. Cronin & Karen Moore & Audrey Farbos & Lauren Chittick & Ashley Bell & Ahmed A. Zayed & Holger H. Buchholz & Luis M. Bolanos & R, 2024. "Long-read powered viral metagenomics in the oligotrophic Sargasso Sea," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-15, December.
    2. Manlu Zhu & Xiongfeng Dai, 2024. "Shaping of microbial phenotypes by trade-offs," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-13, December.

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