Analysis of short-term microbial eukaryotic community dynamics in the Greifswalder Bodden

This study investigated microbial eukaryote (protist) communities in the Greifswalder Bodden during July 2025 using 18S rRNA eDNA metabarcoding. The size fractions ≥5 µm and 0.22–5 µm differed significantly in diversity and taxonomic composition. Short-term dynamics showed increasing evenness in the small fraction, whereas the large fraction became more dominated by individual taxa. Nitrite correlated with the large fraction, while dissolved oxygen and nitrite were associated with the small fraction, highlighting size-specific community responses.