Annual changes in the microeukaryotic community in intertidal sediments, Qingdao, China

Abstract

This study is the first to report on dynamic changes in microeukaryotic operational taxonomic unit (OTU) composition in intertidal sediments, focusing on differences between muddy and sandy sediments over 10 months and across two different stations. A total of 4,452 OTUs were identified. Our findings offer new insights into how these communities are influenced by environmental factors, seasons, stations (Licun and Zhanqiao), and sediment types (sandy and muddy). Our results show significant monthly changes in community composition, closely linked to environmental factors such as temperature, dissolved oxygen, and salinity. The species co-occurrence network analysis revealed that interaction numbers and network density peaked in summer and declined in autumn and winter.