Metagenomics Reveals Planktonic Bacterial Community Shifts across a Natural CO2 Gradient in the Mediterranean Sea

ABSTRACT Bacterial communities at a CO 2 vent (pH 6.7) were compared with those at control (pH 8.0) and transition sites (pH 7.6) using 16S rRNA metagenomics. Firmicutes and unclassified bacteria dominated across all sites, Proteobacteria , especially Gammaproteobacteria , declined, and Epsilonproteobacteria increased in the vent with an increase in Bacteroidetes at both the vent and transition sites.