%0 journal article %@ 0036-8075 %A Teeling, H.,Fuchs, B.M.,Becher, D.,Klockow, C.,Gardebrecht, A.,Bennke, C.M.,Kassabgy, M.,Huang, S.,Mann, A.J.,Waldmann, J.,Weber, M.,Klindworth, A.,Otto, A.,Lange, J.,Bernhardt, J.,Reinsch, C.,Hecker, M.,Peplies, J.,Bockelmann, F.D.,Callies, U.,Gerdts, G.,Wichels, A.,Wiltshire, K.H.,Gloeckner, F.O.,Schweder, T.,Amann, R. %D 2012 %J Science %N 6081 %P 608-611 %R doi:10.1126/science.1218344 %T Substrate-Controlled Succession of Marine Bacterioplankton Populations Induced by a Phytoplankton Bloom %U https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1218344 6081 %X Phytoplankton blooms characterize temperate ocean margin zones in spring. We investigated the bacterioplankton response to a diatom bloom in the North Sea and observed a dynamic succession of populations at genus-level resolution. Taxonomically distinct expressions of carbohydrate-active enzymes (transporters; in particular, TonB-dependent transporters) and phosphate acquisition strategies were found, indicating that distinct populations of Bacteroidetes, Gammaproteobacteria, and Alphaproteobacteria are specialized for successive decomposition of algal-derived organic matter. Our results suggest that algal substrate availability provided a series of ecological niches in which specialized populations could bloom. This reveals how planktonic species, despite their seemingly homogeneous habitat, can evade extinction by direct competition.