{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,14]],"date-time":"2026-10-14T16:51:58Z","timestamp":1791996718485,"version":"4.4.0"},"reference-count":81,"publisher":"Wiley","issue":"19","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,3]],"date-time":"2026-10-03T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1790985600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":2,"URL":"http:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/termsAndConditions#vor"},{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,1]],"date-time":"2026-10-01T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1790812800000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/doi.wiley.com\/10.1002\/tdm_license_1.1"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100012166","name":"National Key Research and Development Program of China","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["2019YFC1407800"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["2019YFC1407800"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100012166","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]},{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100001809","name":"National Natural Science Foundation of China","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["32672075"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["32672075"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100001809","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]},{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100001809","name":"National Natural Science Foundation of China","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["41876134"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["41876134"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100001809","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]},{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100001809","name":"National Natural Science Foundation of China","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["41676112"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["41676112"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100001809","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]},{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100001809","name":"National Natural Science Foundation of China","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["41276124"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["41276124"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100001809","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":["onlinelibrary.wiley.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Molecular Ecology"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,10]]},"abstract":"<jats:title>ABSTRACT<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:p>\n                    Protists are the dominant eukaryotes in the ocean biosphere, and oceanic protists (OP) serve as a critical link among bacterial production, primary producers, and higher trophic levels. This study examined the community structure and vertical organization of OP assemblages in the Bay of Bengal (BoB) across three depth layers: surface (5\u2009m), mid\u2010depth (150\u2009m), and bottom (300\u2009m). Multivariate ordination, diversity metrics, and network analyses consistently demonstrated that vertical depth is the primary factor structuring OP communities, whereas regional (north\u2013south) variability was minimal. Alpha diversity analyses showed that Shannon and Simpson diversity differed significantly among depth layers, whereas Chao1 richness did not, indicating that depth\u2010related changes were reflected mainly in community evenness and dominance structure rather than estimated richness. Beta diversity analyses (PERMANOVA) further confirmed strong depth\u2010wise separation of communities and no significant regional effect. Surface OP communities were characterized mainly by Syndiniales, with additional contributions from Polycystinea, Dinophyceae, Diatomea, Intramacronucleata, and Prymnesiales, whereas mid\u2010depth and bottom assemblages showed stronger contributions from Polycystinea and Diplonemea. Network analyses revealed depth\u2010specific differences in modularity, connectivity, and robustness, with the mid\u2010depth network showing the highest modularity and the bottom network showing the strongest local connectivity but greater sensitivity to node removal. RDA highlighted clear depth\u2010related associations between OP communities and environmental gradients, with surface assemblages aligned with temperature and Chl\u2010\n                    <jats:italic>a<\/jats:italic>\n                    , and deeper assemblages associated with salinity, phosphate, and silicic acid gradients. Overall, these findings reveal a vertically stratified organization of OP communities in the BoB, associated with depth\u2010dependent environmental gradients and potential biotic associations within a stratified tropical ocean system.\n                  <\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1111\/mec.70572","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,3]],"date-time":"2026-10-03T07:32:56Z","timestamp":1791012776000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Spatial Disparities Among Oceanic Protists' Ecological Dynamics in the Bay of Bengal"],"prefix":"10.1111","volume":"35","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-4827-0099","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Laxman","family":"Pujari","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Research Centre for Indian Ocean Ecosystem Tianjin University of Science and Technology  Tianjin China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0005-3117-7874","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Sujata","family":"Nilajkar","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Research Centre for Indian Ocean Ecosystem Tianjin University of Science and Technology  Tianjin China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-7369-7871","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Jun","family":"Sun","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Research Centre for Indian Ocean Ecosystem Tianjin University of Science and Technology  Tianjin China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"311","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,3]]},"reference":[{"key":"e_1_2_11_2_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1550-7408.2012.00644.x"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_3_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0006372"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_4_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1093\/ismeco\/ycae014"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_5_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1128\/msphere.00209\u201000220"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_6_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1021\/acsestwater.3c00176"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_7_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1574-6941.2000.tb00741.x"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_8_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1550-7408.2000.tb00067.x"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_9_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/978-3-030-90383-1_4"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_10_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.rsma.2023.102864"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_11_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1038\/ismej.2017.12"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_12_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1038\/nature17652"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_13_1","first-page":"163","article-title":"Community Composition, Abundance, Biomass and Production Rates of Tintinnids (Ciliata: Protozoa) in the Coastal Regions of Sundarban Mangrove Wetland, India","volume":"42","author":"Biswas S. N.","year":"2013","journal-title":"Indian Journal of Geo\u2010Marine Sciences"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_14_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1038\/s41396-019-0542-5"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_15_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1093\/plankt\/fbx003"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_16_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1146\/annurev-marine-120709-142802"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_17_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s10236-021-01486-5"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_18_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1126\/science.1164387"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_19_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s10452-009-9252-9"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_20_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1038\/s41396-018-0306-7"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_21_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.5194\/os-18-1645-2022"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_22_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s13412-011-0022-3"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_23_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0053598"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_24_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1469-8137.2010.03473.x"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_25_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3390\/microorganisms11071664"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_26_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1093\/bioinformatics\/btq461"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_27_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.mib.2016.04.001"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_28_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cub.2016.09.031"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_29_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/1462-2920.14034"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_30_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.mimet.2014.02.006"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_31_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/S0278-4343(99)00072-2"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_32_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1038\/nature16942"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_33_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1462-2920.2008.01731.x"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_34_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1038\/s41396-018-0322-7"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_35_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3354\/ame040133"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_36_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s12601-010-0007-2"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_37_1","volume-title":"Dominance of Dinoflagellates in Micro\u2010Zooplankton Community in the Oceanic Regions of the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea","author":"Jyothibabu R.","year":"2003"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_38_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1128\/spectrum.03016-23"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_39_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cub.2017.03.075"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_40_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/0377-8398(79)90022-7"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_41_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/0967-0637(94)00038-T"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_42_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1038\/s41467-024-47651-4"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_43_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1093\/ismejo\/wrae040"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_44_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.4490\/algae.2014.29.2.137"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_45_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.csr.2006.06.004"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_46_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/S0967-0645(02)00611-2"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_47_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/1462-2920.12955"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_48_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3354\/meps160101"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_49_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.5194\/os-12-1237-2016"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_50_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s12237-018-0388-5"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_51_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Murty V. Y.Sarma D. P.Rao andC.Murty.1992.\u201cWater Characteristics Mixing and Circulation in the Bay of Bengal During Southwest Monsoon.\u201dhttps:\/\/elischolar.library.yale.edu\/journal_of_marine_research\/2033.","DOI":"10.1357\/002224092784797700"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_52_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/lno.11956"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_53_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.marenvres.2008.05.007"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_54_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1038\/ismej.2014.168"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_55_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1029\/91JC01045"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_56_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1029\/2002GL016013"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_57_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1038\/s41396-022-01192-0"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_58_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.marpolbul.2016.08.058"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_59_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/clen.201500781"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_60_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3109\/10408419409114556"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_61_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3390\/biology9010019"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_62_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3390\/d13050180"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_63_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/maec.12679"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_64_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.5670\/oceanog.2016.54"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_65_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3897\/BDJ.8.e56648"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_66_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.dsr.2010.10.003"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_67_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/1462-2920.15977"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_68_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3389\/fmars.2023.1052286"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_69_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1146\/annurev-marine-010816-060617"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_70_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1093\/femsec\/fiae137"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_71_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.protis.2022.125868"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_72_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/jpy.12228"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_73_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3389\/fmicb.2025.1602162"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_74_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1038\/s41598-021-82369-z"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_75_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1071\/MF24103"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_76_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"SRF 19\u201011","DOI":"10.1029\/2001JC000831","article-title":"Observations of Barrier Layer Formation in the Bay of Bengal During Summer Monsoon","volume":"107","author":"Vinayachandran P.","year":"2002","journal-title":"Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_77_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3390\/d14050361"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_78_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1365-294X.2012.05686.x"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_79_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3389\/fmars.2024.1361452"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_80_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1128\/spectrum.02759-21"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_81_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1038\/s43705-022-00121-8"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_82_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3389\/fmicb.2017.02559"}],"container-title":["Molecular Ecology"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/pdf\/10.1111\/mec.70572","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/full-xml\/10.1111\/mec.70572","content-type":"application\/xml","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/pdf\/10.1111\/mec.70572","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,14]],"date-time":"2026-10-14T16:27:36Z","timestamp":1791995256000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/10.1111\/mec.70572"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,10]]},"references-count":81,"journal-issue":{"issue":"19","published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,10]]}},"alternative-id":["10.1111\/mec.70572"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1111\/mec.70572","archive":["Portico"],"relation":{},"ISSN":["0962-1083","1365-294X"],"issn-type":[{"value":"0962-1083","type":"print"},{"value":"1365-294X","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,10]]},"assertion":[{"value":"2025-07-09","order":0,"name":"received","label":"Received","group":{"name":"publication_history","label":"Publication History"}},{"value":"2026-09-18","order":2,"name":"accepted","label":"Accepted","group":{"name":"publication_history","label":"Publication History"}},{"value":"2026-10-03","order":3,"name":"published","label":"Published","group":{"name":"publication_history","label":"Publication History"}}],"article-number":"e70572"}}