Seasonal dynamics and environmental controls of planktonic archaea in a typical subtropical estuary

Archaea not only sustain the equilibrium of elemental cycles but also exhibit remarkable plasticity in responding to and adapting to fluctuating environmental conditions. In particular, the adaptive strategies and ecological impacts of archaea in complex and dynamic settings, such as estuaries, represent a compelling yet unresolved area of scientific inquiry. Our study focused on the seasonal dynamics of planktonic archaeal communities in the Pearl River Estuary (PRE) and their response to biotic and abiotic factors. Our study demonstrates a strong seasonality in the aggregation of these coastal archaeal communities and adaptability to dynamic phosphate concentrations, emphasizing the critical role of phosphate in controlling the distribution of archaea. Our study sheds light on revealing environmental adaptation and predicting biogeochemical function alterations in response to regional and global environmental changes.