Decoupling of biotic and abiotic patterns in a coastal area affected by chronic trace metal disturbances

Microorganisms use trace metals as micronutrients in metabolic processes, but in excess, had deleterious effects mainly by oxidative stress. In coastal systems, picoeukaryotes represent a diverse and abundant group with widespread distribution and fundamental roles in biogeochemical cycling. We combined different approaches to explore picoeukaryotes seasonal variability in a chronically metal-polluted coastal area at the south-eastern Pacific Ocean.