Seasonal microbial community changes in the South Eastern Mediterranean Sea

The South Eastern Mediterranean Sea is one of the nutrient poorest water bodies, especially in respect to phosphate. Here we present 16S rRNA gene and transcript data of the microbial community that is able to thrive in this environment. Seawater samples were collected during three seasons (early winter, spring, summer) over a two-year period at 10 m from 4 stations along coastal to offshore transect. In addition, we collected samples from a depth profile at the most offshore station (1200 m bottom depth). This sampled were taken from a depth of 10 m, half the depth of the deep chlorophyll maximum (DCM), the DCM, 200 m and 500 m. During some cruises, samples were also collected from the twilight zone (1% of surface PAR). Samples for DNA extraction were serial filtered through 11, 5 and 0.22 um filters and the retained biomass was sequenced. cDNA samples originated from 0.2 um filters without pre-filtrations.CTD profiles of the most offshore stations were deposited in the BCO-DMO database (see external link).