Terrestrial runoff controls the bacterial community composition of biofilms along a water quality gradient in the great barrier reef

Abstract

16S rRNA gene molecular analysis elucidated the spatiotemporal distribution of bacterial biofilm communities along a water quality gradient. Multivariate statistics indicated that terrestrial runoff, in particular dissolved organic carbon and chlorophyll a concentrations, induced shifts of specific bacterial communities between locations and seasons, suggesting microbial biofilms could be suitable bioindicators for water quality. © 2012, American Society for Microbiology.