Niche partitioning of low‐light adapted <i>Prochlorococcus</i> subecotypes across oceanographic gradients of the North Pacific Subtropical Front

The cyanobacterium Prochlorococcus is the most abundant photosynthetic cell on Earth and contributes to global ocean carbon cycling food webs. known for its extensive diversity that falls into two groups of ecotypes, low-light (LL) high-light (HL) adapted ecotypes. Previous work has shown niche partitioning very HL ecotypes subecotypes across oceanographic gradients including temperature, nutrients, day length. However, within LL not been studied as well because they are less accessible than surface, populations. Through high-throughput, cyanobacterial-specific, sequencing high-resolution depth profiles from three stations North Pacific Subtropical Front, we discovered strong latitudinal subecotype populations in contrast fairly consistent patterns at broader level These results indicate both shallow deep-water processes shape microbial community structure this region despite connectivity communities supported by a few sequences found ubiquitously stations. This study expands understanding complexity over gradients.