A long-read sequencing approach to high-resolution profiling of bacterioplankton diversity in a shallow freshwater lake

Lake Balaton, a large shallow freshwater lake in Hungary, exhibits diverse bacterioplankton communities influenced by various environmental factors. This study aims to evaluate the bacterial diversity in Lake Balaton using the long-read approach to 16 S rRNA gene sequencing. Water samples were collected from a wide network of 33 locations across the lake’s four basins and analyzed for bacterial community composition. Sequencing results revealed a high taxonomic diversity with significant zonal variations. Dominant families included Comamonadaceae, Burkholderiaceae, and Methylophilaceae. Environmental parameters such as temperature, pH, and CDOM were found to significantly correlate with bacterial abundance and diversity. The study underscores the utility and portability of using the long-read sequencing technology in assessing microbial diversity and provides insights into the ecological dynamics of bacterioplankton in freshwater lakes.