Extended Data Fig. 7: Chemolithoautotrophic fixation pathways.
From: Distinct contributions of suspended and sinking prokaryotes to mesopelagic carbon budget
Boxplot of qPCR gene ratio of the “suspended” fraction (that is, free-living and prokaryotes attached to suspended particles) and the “sinking” fraction (that is, prokaryotes attached to sinking particles). Each data point represents a ratio measured in the five PSSs at depths of 100, 200, 500, and 1000 m. Overlayed boxplots indicate the interquartile range (boxes), median (central line), and whiskers extending to 1.5×IQR. Statistically significant differences are indicated with asterisks (two-sided Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney statistical test, **** p ≤ 0.0001; *** p < 0.001; ** p < 0.01). (A) Ratio of accA gene / 16S prokaryotes gene, proxy of chemolithoautotrophic prokaryotes using the 3-hydroxypropionate/4-hydroxybutyrate (3-HP/4-HB) pathway. (B) Ratio of cbbL gene / 16S prokaryotes gene, proxy of chemoautotrophic prokaryotes using Form I Rubisco of the Calvin-Benson-Bassham (CBB) cycle. (C) Ratio of cbbM gene / 16S prokaryotes gene, proxy of chemolithoautotrophic prokaryotes using Form II Rubisco of the CBB cycle. (D) Ratio of amoA (AOA + AOB) genes / 16S prokaryotes gene, proxy of ammonia oxidizers. (E) Ratio of total chemolithoautotrophic communities (gene copy numbers calculated as the sum of the marker genes accA, cbbL and cbbM) in the entire prokaryotic community (sum of bacterial and archaeal 16S gene copy numbers).
