Metatranscriptome Analysis of Phytoplankton Communities in Response to Hurricane Harvey

Abstract

Hurricanes influence microplankton communities through many processes including mixing of the water column, changing community structure, and changing nutrient availability. In August of 2017, Hurricane Harvey inundated the Texas coastline with historic quantities of freshwater leading to drastic hydrographic changes. A month after the passage of the hurricane, two research cruises were conducted a week apart to examine the microplankton response using abundance and gene expression data.

Using metatranscriptome and abundance data it was determined that the two major groups of phytoplankton, diatoms and dinoflagellates, were subject to nitrogen limiting conditions and large changes in hydrography. In response to nutrient limitation, both groups utilized inorganic and organic forms of nitrogen from external sources and from internal processes. A characterization of the major metabolic functions of several diatom and dinoflagellate genera which changed markedly between responses cruises revealed a diversity of strategies contributing to their overall response.