Microbial river-to-sea continuum: gradients in benthic and planktonic diversity, osmoregulation and nutrient cycling.

Our study demonstrates clear freshwater-saline and sediment-water ecosystem boundaries in an interconnected coastal aquatic system and provides a framework for understanding the relative importance of salinity, planktonic-versus-benthic habitats and nutrient availability in shaping aquatic microbial metabolic processes, particularly in tidal lagoon systems. Video abstract.