Abstract
Marine yeasts play a crucial role in marine microbial ecology, facilitating the biogeochemical cycling of carbon and nitrogen in marine ecosystems, while also serving as important reservoirs of bioactive compounds with extensive applications in pharmaceuticals, agriculture, and various industries. Intertidal flats, characterized by their complex ecological dynamics, are postulated to harbor a wealth of yeast resources. This study employed a culture-dependent approach to assess the diversity, spatio-temporal distribution, and biotechnological potential of yeast communities residing within the intertidal sediments and seawater of Aoshan Bay. A total of 392 yeast strains were identified from 20 distinct genera, encompassing 43 recognized species and four candidate novel species. Notably, 17 of these species were identified as novel occurrences in marine environments, underscoring the rich yeast biodiversity of the Aoshan Bay ecosystem, with Candida emerging as the dominant genus in both sedimentary and aqueous habitats. Yeast community composition exhibited significant spatial and temporal variation, with peak diversity and abundance observed in autumn, the subtidal zone, and the surface soil layer. No clear pattern, however, emerged linking these shifts to specific changes in community composition, highlighting the complex interactions between microbial communities, environmental variables, and anthropogenic disturbance. Although several yeast species isolated here have been previously recognized for their biotechnological potential, their diverse and abundant extracellular enzyme profiles were characterized, further highlighting their crucial role in organic matter decomposition and nutrient cycling within the tidal ecosystem, as well as their potential applicability in the food, fine chemical, textile, and pharmaceutical industries.IMPORTANCEThis study presents groundbreaking insights into the yeast diversity of Aoshan Bay, offering invaluable information on their spatial and temporal distribution patterns, as well as their biotechnological potential in the tidal environment. The findings reveal that the eutrophic intertidal flat is a rich repository of yeasts with abundant extracellular enzymatic activity and an important role in nutrient cycling and decomposition processes. Also, these yeasts serve as crucial indicators of ecosystem health and function and are excellent candidates for biotechnological and industrial applications. Collectively, this study not only expands our knowledge of the diversity and distribution of intertidal yeasts but also highlights their promising potential for biotechnological applications.