The microorganisms associated with doliolids in a productive coastal upwelling system

Abstract

Doliolids have a unique ability to impact the marine microbial community through bloom events and filter feeding. Their predation on large eukaryotic microorganisms is established and evidence of predation on smaller prokaryotic microorganisms is beginning to emerge. We studied the association between microorganisms and wild‐caught doliolids in the Northern California Current system. Doliolids were collected during bloom events identified at three different shelf locations with variable upwelling intensity. We discovered doliolids were associated with a range of prokaryotic microbial functional groups, which included free‐living pelagic Archaea, SAR11, and picocyanobacteria. The results suggest the possibility that doliolids could feed on the smallest members of the microbial community, expanding our understanding of doliolid feeding and microbial mortality. Given the ability of doliolids to clear large portions of seawater by filtration and their high abundance in this system, we suggest that doliolids could be an important player in shaping the microbial community structure of the Northern California Current system.