Abstract
Chrysophyceae are a diverse group of planktonic protists widely distributed in freshwater. They encompass a variety of orders, whereby heterotrophy has evolved independently in several phylogenetic lineages. Therefore, closely related taxa evolved that developed different feeding strategies (photo-, mixo-, heterotrophy). In high-throughput sequencing studies, the Chrysophyceae were usually addressed as a group rather than split in individual phylogenetic orders. Also because of the close relationship of the distinct nutritional strategies, no functional statements were made about nutritional patterns. Based on an extensive phylogenetic tree and phylogenetic placement, we link OTU diversity of Chrysophyceae from 218 freshwater lakes with phylogenetic affiliations. This provides information on the relative importance of lineages affiliated with different nutrition modes. Our study demonstrates that Chrysophyceae are one of the most common groups in freshwaters. We found Chrysophyceae in 213 out of 218 sample sites across Europe and in several sites they belong to the most commonly retrieved taxa. Ochromonadales and a Chrysosacca-Apoikiida clade (including Apoikiida, Chrysosaccales, Chrysastrella ) are the most widespread Chrysophyceae groups and show a high degree of OTU diversity. Most detected and assignable OTUs were affiliated with mixotrophic Chrysophyceae. Niche width differs only slightly between members of different clades and between the different trophic modes. We found several OTUs within the Ochromonadales, Synurales, and Chrysosacca-Apoikiida clade, that show a wide distribution and large tolerance ranges concerning ecophysiological factors.