Aster-like nanoparticles (ALNs) are newly described femto-entities. Their ecology (e.g., geographic distribution, spatial dynamic, preferences, forcing factors) is still unknown. Here, we report that these entities, which have largely been ignored until now, can develop or maintain themselves in most aquatic environments in the Loire River catchment, France. We observed a significant influence of the trophic state on ALN ecological distributions. A positive relationship between prokaryotic abundance and ALN (r2 = 0.72, p < 0.01) has been identified, but its exact nature remains to be clarified. Combined with their ubiquitous distribution and high abundances (up to 7.9 × 106 ALNs mL-1) recorded in our samples, this probably makes ALNs an overlooked functional component in aquatic ecosystems.
Keywords: ALNs; Aquatic environment; Femtoplankton; Widespread distribution.