Diatoms and associated bacteria in the Southern Ocean

The goal of this project is to identify diatoms and associated bacteria taxa present at 21 stations in the Drake Passage and near the West Antarctic Peninsula from the NBP16-08 research cruise in austral spring from September to October 2016. Taxonomy was catalogued using high throughput sequencing of 18S V4 rDNA for diatoms and 16S V4 rDNA for bacteria from greater than 3 micron filter samples. Diatom and associated bacteria assemblages were compared to accompanying environmental metadata across a naturally occurring gradient of dissolved iron, nutrients, and other trace metals to determine how the environment impacts the variance in the taxonomic assemblages. Network analysis was also performed which showed positive associations between diatoms and bacteria, indicating possible in situ mutualisms through strategies such as secondary metabolite exchange.