Abstract

Submarine groundwater discharge is increasingly recognised as a major hydrologic pathway transporting water and solutes to the coastal ocean. However, its role as a vector for microorganisms remains largely unexplored.
In this seminar, Clara Ruiz-González will present a study focused on how groundwater seeping through sea bottom sediments can transport microbial communities to the sea, with special attention to ultra-small prokaryotes such as bacteria and archaea.
Using seepage meters installed at a Mediterranean sandy beach, together with microscopy, flow cytometry and DNA sequencing, the study shows that submarine groundwater discharge can transport significant numbers of cells to coastal waters, and that this process is size-dependent.
The talk will also discuss the potential implications of this microbial dispersal pathway for coastal systems.