Uncovering the dynamic evolution of microbes and n-alkanes: Insights from the Kuroshio Extension in the Northwest Pacific Ocean

Biomarkers offer unique insights into the state of the environment, but little is known about how they interact with microbial communities in the open ocean. This study investigated the correlative effects between microbial communities and n-alkane distribution in surface seawater and sediments from the Kuroshio Extension in the Northwest Pacific Ocean. The n-alkanes in both surface seawater and surface sediments were mostly derived from algae and higher plants, with some minor contributions from anthropogenic and biological sources. The composition of microbial communities in surface seawater and sediments was different. In surface seawater, the dominant taxa were Vibrio, Alteromonas, Clade_Ia, Pseudoalteromonas, and Synechococcus_CC9902, while the taxa in the sediments were mostly unclassified. These variations/fluctuations of n-alkanes in three areas caused the aggregation of specialized microbial communities (Alteromonas). As the characteristic composition indexes of two typical n-alkanes, Short-chain n-alkane carbon preference index (CPI-L) and long-chain n-alkane carbon preference index (CPI-H) significantly influenced the microbial community structure in surface seawater, but not in surface sediments. Effect of CPI on microbial communities may be attributed to anthropogenic inputs or petroleum pollution. The abundance of hydrocarbon degradation genes also varied across the three different areas. Our work underscores that n-alkanes in the oceans alter the microbial community structure and enrich associated degradation genes. The functional differences in microbial communities within different areas contribute to their ecological uniqueness. [Display omitted] •Distribution of n-alkanes shows traces of petroleum hydrocarbon in the sediment.•N-alkanes in Northwest Pacific Ocean mostly derive from algae and higher plants.•Microbial community structures are different in the surface seawater and sediments.•DO, LP, CPI-L and CPI-H dramatically influence the microbial community structures.•The abundance of hydrocarbon degradation genes changes across the three areas.