Vertical Distribution and Seasonal Patterns of Candidatus Nitrotoga in a Sub-Alpine Lake

Abstract

The nitrite oxidizing bacterial genus Ca. Nitrotoga was only recently discovered to be widespread in freshwater systems; however, limited information is currently available on the environmental factors and seasonal effects that influence its distribution in lakes. In a one-year study in a dimictic lake, based on monthly sampling along a vertical profile, the droplet digital PCR quantification of Ca. Nitrotoga showed a strong spatio-temporal patchiness. A correlation ana­lysis with environmental parameters revealed that the abundance of Ca. Nitrotoga correlated with dissolved oxygen and ammonium, suggesting that the upper hypolimnion of the lake is the preferred habitat.