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Tang X, Zhang M, Fang Z, Yang Q, Zhang W, Zhou J, Zhao B, Fan T, Wang C, Zhang C, Xia Y, Zheng Y. Changing microbiome community structure and functional potential during permafrost thawing on the Tibetan Plateau. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2023; 99:fiad117. [PMID: 37766397 DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiad117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2022] [Revised: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Large amounts of carbon sequestered in permafrost on the Tibetan Plateau (TP) are becoming vulnerable to microbial decomposition in a warming world. However, knowledge about how the responsible microbial community responds to warming-induced permafrost thaw on the TP is still limited. This study aimed to conduct a comprehensive comparison of the microbial communities and their functional potential in the active layer of thawing permafrost on the TP. We found that the microbial communities were diverse and varied across soil profiles. The microbial diversity declined and the relative abundance of Chloroflexi, Bacteroidetes, Euryarchaeota, and Bathyarchaeota significantly increased with permafrost thawing. Moreover, warming reduced the similarity and stability of active layer microbial communities. The high-throughput qPCR results showed that the abundance of functional genes involved in liable carbon degradation and methanogenesis increased with permafrost thawing. Notably, the significantly increased mcrA gene abundance and the higher methanogens to methanotrophs ratio implied enhanced methanogenic activities during permafrost thawing. Overall, the composition and functional potentials of the active layer microbial community in the Tibetan permafrost region are susceptible to warming. These changes in the responsible microbial community may accelerate carbon degradation, particularly in the methane releases from alpine permafrost ecosystems on the TP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaotong Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Continental Dynamics, Department of Geology, Northwest University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710069, China
| | - Miao Zhang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, College of Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China
| | - Zhengkun Fang
- State Key Laboratory of Continental Dynamics, Department of Geology, Northwest University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710069, China
| | - Qing Yang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, College of Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China
| | - Wan Zhang
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Archaea Geo-Omics, Department of Ocean Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China
| | - Jiaxing Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Continental Dynamics, Department of Geology, Northwest University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710069, China
| | - Bixi Zhao
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, College of Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China
| | - Tongyu Fan
- State Key Laboratory of Continental Dynamics, Department of Geology, Northwest University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710069, China
| | - Congzhen Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Continental Dynamics, Department of Geology, Northwest University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710069, China
| | - Chuanlun Zhang
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Archaea Geo-Omics, Department of Ocean Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China
| | - Yu Xia
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, College of Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China
| | - Yanhong Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Continental Dynamics, Department of Geology, Northwest University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710069, China
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2
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Cui H, Wang Y, Su X, Wei S, Pang S, Zhu Y, Zhang S, Ma C, Hou W, Jiang H. Response of methanogenic community and their activity to temperature rise in alpine swamp meadow at different water level of the permafrost wetland on Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1181658. [PMID: 37213493 PMCID: PMC10198574 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1181658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Wetlands are an important source of atmospheric methane (CH4) and are sensitive to global climate change. Alpine swamp meadows, accounting for ~50% of the natural wetlands on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, were considered one of the most important ecosystems. Methanogens are important functional microbes that perform the methane producing process. However, the response of methanogenic community and the main pathways of CH4 production to temperature rise remains unknown in alpine swamp meadow at different water level in permafrost wetlands. In this study, we investigated the response of soil CH4 production and the shift of methanogenic community to temperature rise in the alpine swamp meadow soil samples with different water levels collected from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau through anaerobic incubation at 5°C, 15°C and 25°C. The results showed that the CH4 contents increased with increasing incubation temperature, and were 5-10 times higher at the high water level sites (GHM1 and GHM2) than that at the low water level site (GHM3). For the high water level sites (GHM1 and GHM2), the change of incubation temperatures had little effect on the methanogenic community structure. Methanotrichaceae (32.44-65.46%), Methanobacteriaceae (19.30-58.86%) and Methanosarcinaceae (3.22-21.24%) were the dominant methanogen groups, with the abundance of Methanotrichaceae and Methanosarcinaceae having a significant positive correlation with CH4 production (p < 0.01). For the low water level site (GHM3), the methanogenic community structure changed greatly at 25°C. The Methanobacteriaceae (59.65-77.33%) was the dominant methanogen group at 5°C and 15°C; In contrast, the Methanosarcinaceae (69.29%) dominated at 25°C, and its abundance showed a significant positive correlation with CH4 production (p < 0.05). Collectively, these findings enhance the understanding of methanogenic community structures and CH4 production in permafrost wetlands with different water levels during the warming process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongpeng Cui
- Key Laboratory of Marine Mineral Resources and Polar Geology, Ministry of Education, China University of Geosciences, Beijing, China
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences, Beijing, China
- School of Ocean Sciences, China University of Geosciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yanfa Wang
- Key Laboratory of Marine Mineral Resources and Polar Geology, Ministry of Education, China University of Geosciences, Beijing, China
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences, Beijing, China
- School of Ocean Sciences, China University of Geosciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xin Su
- Key Laboratory of Marine Mineral Resources and Polar Geology, Ministry of Education, China University of Geosciences, Beijing, China
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences, Beijing, China
- School of Ocean Sciences, China University of Geosciences, Beijing, China
- Xin Su,
| | - Shiping Wei
- Key Laboratory of Marine Mineral Resources and Polar Geology, Ministry of Education, China University of Geosciences, Beijing, China
- School of Ocean Sciences, China University of Geosciences, Beijing, China
| | - Shouji Pang
- Oil and Gas Survey, China Geological Survey, Beijing, China
| | - Youhai Zhu
- Oil and Gas Survey, China Geological Survey, Beijing, China
| | - Shuai Zhang
- Oil and Gas Survey, China Geological Survey, Beijing, China
| | - Chenjie Ma
- Key Laboratory of Marine Mineral Resources and Polar Geology, Ministry of Education, China University of Geosciences, Beijing, China
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences, Beijing, China
- School of Ocean Sciences, China University of Geosciences, Beijing, China
| | - Weiguo Hou
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences, Beijing, China
| | - Hongchen Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Marine Mineral Resources and Polar Geology, Ministry of Education, China University of Geosciences, Beijing, China
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences, Beijing, China
- School of Ocean Sciences, China University of Geosciences, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Hongchen Jiang,
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3
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Meena M, Yadav G, Sonigra P, Nagda A, Mehta T, Swapnil P, Marwal A, Kumar S. Multifarious Responses of Forest Soil Microbial Community Toward Climate Change. MICROBIAL ECOLOGY 2022:10.1007/s00248-022-02051-3. [PMID: 35657425 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-022-02051-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Forest soils are a pressing subject of worldwide research owing to the several roles of forests such as carbon sinks. Currently, the living soil ecosystem has become dreadful as a consequence of several anthropogenic activities including climate change. Climate change continues to transform the living soil ecosystem as well as the soil microbiome of planet Earth. The majority of studies have aimed to decipher the role of forest soil bacteria and fungi to understand and predict the impact of climate change on soil microbiome community structure and their ecosystem in the environment. In forest soils, microorganisms live in diverse habitats with specific behavior, comprising bulk soil, rhizosphere, litter, and deadwood habitats, where their communities are influenced by biotic interactions and nutrient accessibility. Soil microbiome also drives multiple crucial steps in the nutrient biogeochemical cycles (carbon, nitrogen, phosphorous, and sulfur cycles). Soil microbes help in the nitrogen cycle through nitrogen fixation during the nitrogen cycle and maintain the concentration of nitrogen in the atmosphere. Soil microorganisms in forest soils respond to various effects of climate change, for instance, global warming, elevated level of CO2, drought, anthropogenic nitrogen deposition, increased precipitation, and flood. As the major burning issue of the globe, researchers are facing the major challenges to study soil microbiome. This review sheds light on the current scenario of knowledge about the effect of climate change on living soil ecosystems in various climate-sensitive soil ecosystems and the consequences for vegetation-soil-climate feedbacks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mukesh Meena
- Laboratory of Phytopathology and Microbial Biotechnology, Department of Botany, Mohanlal Sukhadia University, Udaipur, 313001, Rajasthan, India.
| | - Garima Yadav
- Laboratory of Phytopathology and Microbial Biotechnology, Department of Botany, Mohanlal Sukhadia University, Udaipur, 313001, Rajasthan, India
| | - Priyankaraj Sonigra
- Laboratory of Phytopathology and Microbial Biotechnology, Department of Botany, Mohanlal Sukhadia University, Udaipur, 313001, Rajasthan, India
| | - Adhishree Nagda
- Laboratory of Phytopathology and Microbial Biotechnology, Department of Botany, Mohanlal Sukhadia University, Udaipur, 313001, Rajasthan, India
| | - Tushar Mehta
- Laboratory of Phytopathology and Microbial Biotechnology, Department of Botany, Mohanlal Sukhadia University, Udaipur, 313001, Rajasthan, India
| | - Prashant Swapnil
- Department of Botany, School of Biological Science, Central University of Punjab, Bhatinda, Punjab, 151401, India
| | - Avinash Marwal
- Department of Biotechnology, Vigyan Bhawan - Block B, New Campus, Mohanlal Sukhadia University, Udaipur, 313001, Rajasthan, India
| | - Sumit Kumar
- Department of Mycology and Plant Pathology, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221005, India
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Keuschnig C, Larose C, Rudner M, Pesqueda A, Doleac S, Elberling B, Björk RG, Klemedtsson L, Björkman MP. Reduced methane emissions in former permafrost soils driven by vegetation and microbial changes following drainage. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2022; 28:3411-3425. [PMID: 35285570 PMCID: PMC9314937 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.16137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2021] [Accepted: 01/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
In Arctic regions, thawing permafrost soils are projected to release 50 to 250 Gt of carbon by 2100. This data is mostly derived from carbon-rich wetlands, although 71% of this carbon pool is stored in faster-thawing mineral soils, where ecosystems close to the outer boundaries of permafrost regions are especially vulnerable. Although extensive data exists from currently thawing sites and short-term thawing experiments, investigations of the long-term changes following final thaw and co-occurring drainage are scarce. Here we show ecosystem changes at two comparable tussock tundra sites with distinct permafrost thaw histories, representing 15 and 25 years of natural drainage, that resulted in a 10-fold decrease in CH4 emissions (3.2 ± 2.2 vs. 0.3 ± 0.4 mg C-CH4 m-2 day-1 ), while CO2 emissions were comparable. These data extend the time perspective from earlier studies based on short-term experimental drainage. The overall microbial community structures did not differ significantly between sites, although the drier top soils at the most advanced site led to a loss of methanogens and their syntrophic partners in surface layers while the abundance of methanotrophs remained unchanged. The resulting deeper aeration zones likely increased CH4 oxidation due to the longer residence time of CH4 in the oxidation zone, while the observed loss of aerenchyma plants reduced CH4 diffusion from deeper soil layers directly to the atmosphere. Our findings highlight the importance of including hydrological, vegetation and microbial specific responses when studying long-term effects of climate change on CH4 emissions and underscores the need for data from different soil types and thaw histories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christoph Keuschnig
- Environmental Microbial GenomicsLaboratoire AmpereEcole Centrale de LyonEcullyFrance
| | - Catherine Larose
- Environmental Microbial GenomicsLaboratoire AmpereEcole Centrale de LyonEcullyFrance
| | - Mario Rudner
- Department of Earth SciencesUniversity of GothenburgGothenburgSweden
| | - Argus Pesqueda
- Department of Earth SciencesUniversity of GothenburgGothenburgSweden
- Present address:
Center for Ecological Research and Forestry Applications (CREAF)‐Edifici CUniversitat Autonoma de BarcelonaBellaterra, BarcelonaSpain
| | - Stéphane Doleac
- Department of Earth SciencesUniversity of GothenburgGothenburgSweden
- Ecole PolytechniquePalaiseauFrance
| | - Bo Elberling
- Center for Permafrost (CENPERM)Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource ManagementUniversity of CopenhagenCopenhagenDenmark
| | - Robert G. Björk
- Department of Earth SciencesUniversity of GothenburgGothenburgSweden
- Gothenburg Global Biodiversity CentreGothenburgSweden
| | - Leif Klemedtsson
- Department of Earth SciencesUniversity of GothenburgGothenburgSweden
| | - Mats P. Björkman
- Department of Earth SciencesUniversity of GothenburgGothenburgSweden
- Gothenburg Global Biodiversity CentreGothenburgSweden
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5
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Scheel M, Zervas A, Jacobsen CS, Christensen TR. Microbial Community Changes in 26,500-Year-Old Thawing Permafrost. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:787146. [PMID: 35401488 PMCID: PMC8988141 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.787146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Northern permafrost soils store more than half of the global soil carbon. Frozen for at least two consecutive years, but often for millennia, permafrost temperatures have increased drastically in the last decades. The resulting thermal erosion leads not only to gradual thaw, resulting in an increase of seasonally thawing soil thickness, but also to abrupt thaw events, such as sudden collapses of the soil surface. These could affect 20% of the permafrost zone and half of its organic carbon, increasing accessibility for deeper rooting vegetation and microbial decomposition into greenhouse gases. Knowledge gaps include the impact of permafrost thaw on the soil microfauna as well as key taxa to change the microbial mineralization of ancient permafrost carbon stocks during erosion. Here, we present the first sequencing study of an abrupt permafrost erosion microbiome in Northeast Greenland, where a thermal erosion gully collapsed in the summer of 2018, leading to the thawing of 26,500-year-old permafrost material. We investigated which soil parameters (pH, soil carbon content, age and moisture, organic and mineral horizons, and permafrost layers) most significantly drove changes of taxonomic diversity and the abundance of soil microorganisms in two consecutive years of intense erosion. Sequencing of the prokaryotic 16S rRNA and fungal ITS2 gene regions at finely scaled depth increments revealed decreasing alpha diversity with depth, soil age, and pH. The most significant drivers of variation were found in the soil age, horizons, and permafrost layer for prokaryotic and fungal beta diversity. Permafrost was mainly dominated by Proteobacteria and Firmicutes, with Polaromonas identified as the most abundant taxon. Thawed permafrost samples indicated increased abundance of several copiotrophic phyla, such as Bacteroidia, suggesting alterations of carbon utilization pathways within eroding permafrost.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Scheel
- Department of Ecoscience, Arctic Research Centre, Aarhus University, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Athanasios Zervas
- Department of Environmental Science, Aarhus University, Roskilde, Denmark
| | | | - Torben R. Christensen
- Department of Ecoscience, Arctic Research Centre, Aarhus University, Roskilde, Denmark
- Oulanka Research Station, Oulu University, Oulu, Finland
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6
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Wu L, Yang F, Feng J, Tao X, Qi Q, Wang C, Schuur EAG, Bracho R, Huang Y, Cole JR, Tiedje JM, Zhou J. Permafrost thaw with warming reduces microbial metabolic capacities in subsurface soils. Mol Ecol 2021; 31:1403-1415. [PMID: 34878672 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2020] [Revised: 11/04/2021] [Accepted: 12/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Microorganisms are major constituents of the total biomass in permafrost regions, whose underlain soils are frozen for at least two consecutive years. To understand potential microbial responses to climate change, here we examined microbial community compositions and functional capacities across four soil depths in an Alaska tundra site. We showed that a 5-year warming treatment increased soil thaw depth by 25.7% (p = .011) within the deep organic layer (15-25 cm). Concurrently, warming reduced 37% of bacterial abundance and 64% of fungal abundances in the deep organic layer, while it did not affect microbial abundance in other soil layers (i.e., 0-5, 5-15, and 45-55 cm). Warming treatment altered fungal community composition and microbial functional structure (p < .050), but not bacterial community composition. Using a functional gene array, we found that the relative abundances of a variety of carbon (C)-decomposing, iron-reducing, and sulphate-reducing genes in the deep organic layer were decreased, which was not observed by the shotgun sequencing-based metagenomics analysis of those samples. To explain the reduced metabolic capacities, we found that warming treatment elicited higher deterministic environmental filtering, which could be linked to water-saturated time, soil moisture, and soil thaw duration. In contrast, plant factors showed little influence on microbial communities in subsurface soils below 15 cm, despite a 25.2% higher (p < .05) aboveground plant biomass by warming treatment. Collectively, we demonstrate that microbial metabolic capacities in subsurface soils are reduced, probably arising from enhanced thaw by warming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linwei Wu
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Biology, School of Civil Engineering and Environmental Sciences, Institute for Environmental Genomics, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Felix Yang
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Biology, School of Civil Engineering and Environmental Sciences, Institute for Environmental Genomics, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Jiajie Feng
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Biology, School of Civil Engineering and Environmental Sciences, Institute for Environmental Genomics, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Xuanyu Tao
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Biology, School of Civil Engineering and Environmental Sciences, Institute for Environmental Genomics, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Qi Qi
- School of Environment, State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Cong Wang
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Biology, School of Civil Engineering and Environmental Sciences, Institute for Environmental Genomics, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Edward A G Schuur
- Center for Ecosystem Science and Society, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, USA
| | - Rosvel Bracho
- Department of Biology, School of Forest Resources and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Yi Huang
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - James R Cole
- Center for Microbial Ecology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
| | - James M Tiedje
- Center for Microbial Ecology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
| | - Jizhong Zhou
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Biology, School of Civil Engineering and Environmental Sciences, Institute for Environmental Genomics, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, USA.,Earth and Environmental Sciences, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California, USA
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7
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Holm S, Walz J, Horn F, Yang S, Grigoriev MN, Wagner D, Knoblauch C, Liebner S. Methanogenic response to long-term permafrost thaw is determined by paleoenvironment. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2020; 96:5729939. [PMID: 32031215 PMCID: PMC7046019 DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiaa021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2019] [Accepted: 02/06/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Methane production in thawing permafrost can be substantial, yet often evolves after long lag phases or is even lacking. A central question is to which extent the production of methane after permafrost thaw is determined by the initial methanogenic community. We quantified the production of methane relative to carbon dioxide (CO2) and enumerated methanogenic (mcrA) gene copies in long-term (2-7 years) anoxic incubations at 4 °C using interglacial and glacial permafrost samples of Holocene and Pleistocene, including Eemian, origin. Changes in archaeal community composition were determined by sequencing of the archaeal 16S rRNA gene. Long-term thaw stimulated methanogenesis where methanogens initially dominated the archaeal community. Deposits of interstadial and interglacial (Eemian) origin, formed under higher temperatures and precipitation, displayed the greatest response to thaw. At the end of the incubations, a substantial shift in methanogenic community composition and a relative increase in hydrogenotrophic methanogens had occurred except for Eemian deposits in which a high abundance of potential acetoclastic methanogens were present. This study shows that only anaerobic CO2 production but not methane production correlates significantly with carbon and nitrogen content and that the methanogenic response to permafrost thaw is mainly constrained by the paleoenvironmental conditions during soil formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stine Holm
- GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, Section Geomicrobiology, Telegrafenberg, 14473 Potsdam, Germany
| | - Josefine Walz
- Universität Hamburg, Institute of Soil Science, 20146 Hamburg, Germany.,Universität Hamburg, Center for Earth System Research and Sustainability, 20146 Germany
| | - Fabian Horn
- GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, Section Geomicrobiology, Telegrafenberg, 14473 Potsdam, Germany
| | - Sizhong Yang
- GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, Section Geomicrobiology, Telegrafenberg, 14473 Potsdam, Germany
| | - Mikhail N Grigoriev
- Russian Academy of Sciences, Siberian Branch, Melnikov Permafrost Institute, 677007 Yakutsk, Russia
| | - Dirk Wagner
- GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, Section Geomicrobiology, Telegrafenberg, 14473 Potsdam, Germany.,Potsdam University, Institute of Geosciences, 14476 Potsdam, Germany
| | - Christian Knoblauch
- Universität Hamburg, Institute of Soil Science, 20146 Hamburg, Germany.,Universität Hamburg, Center for Earth System Research and Sustainability, 20146 Germany
| | - Susanne Liebner
- GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, Section Geomicrobiology, Telegrafenberg, 14473 Potsdam, Germany.,Potsdam University, Institute of Biochemistry and Biology, 14476 Potsdam, Germany
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8
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In 't Zandt MH, Liebner S, Welte CU. Roles of Thermokarst Lakes in a Warming World. Trends Microbiol 2020; 28:769-779. [PMID: 32362540 DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2020.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2019] [Revised: 02/10/2020] [Accepted: 04/01/2020] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Permafrost covers a quarter of the northern hemisphere land surface and contains twice the amount of carbon that is currently present in the atmosphere. Future climate change is expected to reduce its near-surface cover by over 90% by the end of the 21st century, leading to thermokarst lake formation. Thermokarst lakes are point sources of carbon dioxide and methane which release long-term carbon stocks into the atmosphere, thereby initiating a positive climate feedback potentially contributing up to a 0.39°C rise of surface air temperatures by 2300. This review describes the potential role of thermokarst lakes in a warming world and the microbial mechanisms that underlie their contributions to the global greenhouse gas budget.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michiel H In 't Zandt
- Department of Microbiology, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Netherlands Earth System Science Center, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 2, 3584 CS, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Susanne Liebner
- GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, Section 3.7 Geomicrobiology, Telegrafenberg, 14473 Potsdam, Germany; University of Potsdam, Institute of Biochemistry and Biology, 14469 Potsdam, Germany
| | - Cornelia U Welte
- Department of Microbiology, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Soehngen Institute of Anaerobic Microbiology, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
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9
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Wang Y, Cui H, Su X, Wei S, Zhu Y, Lu Z, Pang S, Liu H, Zhang S, Hou W. Diversity and Distribution of Methanogenic Community Between Two Typical Alpine Ecosystems on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. Curr Microbiol 2020; 77:1061-1069. [PMID: 32036395 DOI: 10.1007/s00284-020-01891-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2019] [Accepted: 01/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Alpine permafrost regions are important sources of biogenic CH4 and methanogens play an important role in the methane-producing process. The alpine permafrost on the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau comprises about one-sixth of China's land area, and there are various types of alpine ecosystems. However, the methanogenic communities in the typical alpine ecosystems are poorly understood. In this study, the active layers and permafrost layers of the natural ecosystem of alpine grassland (DZ2-1) and alpine swamp meadow (DZ2-5) were selected to investigate the diversity and abundance of methanogenic communities. Methanobacterium (63.65%) are overwhelmingly dominant in the active layer of the alpine grassland (DZ2-1A). ZC-I cluster (26.13%), RC-I cluster (19.56%), and Methanobacterium (15.02%) are the dominant groups in the permafrost layer of the alpine grassland (DZ2-1P). Methanosaeta (32.92%), Fen cluster (29.59%), Methanosarcina (16.33%), and Methanobacterium (13.95%) are the dominant groups in the active layer of the alpine swamp meadow (DZ2-5A), whereas the Fen cluster (50.85%), ZC-I cluster (27.63%), and RC-I cluster (14.15%) are relatively abundant in the permafrost layer of the alpine swamp meadow (DZ2-5P). qPCR data showed that the abundance of methanogens was higher in the natural ecosystem of alpine swamp meadow than in alpine grassland. We found that the community characteristics of methanogens were related to environmental factors. Pearson correlation analyses indicated that the relative abundance of Methanobacterium had a significantly positive correlation with hydrogen concentration (P < 0.01), while the relative abundances of Methanosaeta and Methanosarcina were positively correlated with acetate concentration (P < 0.05). This study will help us to understand the methanogenic communities and their surrounding environments in alpine ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanfa Wang
- School of Marine Sciences, China University of Geosciences, Beijing, 100083, China.,State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Hongpeng Cui
- School of Marine Sciences, China University of Geosciences, Beijing, 100083, China.,State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Xin Su
- School of Marine Sciences, China University of Geosciences, Beijing, 100083, China. .,State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences, Beijing, 100083, China.
| | - Shiping Wei
- School of Marine Sciences, China University of Geosciences, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Youhai Zhu
- Oil and Gas Survey, China Geological Survey, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Zhenquan Lu
- Oil and Gas Survey, China Geological Survey, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Shouji Pang
- Oil and Gas Survey, China Geological Survey, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Hui Liu
- Oil and Gas Survey, China Geological Survey, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Shuai Zhang
- Oil and Gas Survey, China Geological Survey, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Weiguo Hou
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences, Beijing, 100083, China
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10
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Kallistova AY, Savvichev AS, Rusanov II, Pimenov NV. Thermokarst Lakes, Ecosystems with Intense Microbial Processes of the Methane Cycle. Microbiology (Reading) 2020. [DOI: 10.1134/s0026261719060043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
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11
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Heslop JK, Walter Anthony KM, Grosse G, Liebner S, Winkel M. Century-scale time since permafrost thaw affects temperature sensitivity of net methane production in thermokarst-lake and talik sediments. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 691:124-134. [PMID: 31319250 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.06.402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2019] [Revised: 06/21/2019] [Accepted: 06/24/2019] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Permafrost thaw subjects previously frozen soil organic carbon (SOC) to microbial degradation to the greenhouse gases carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4). Emission of these gases constitutes a positive feedback to climate warming. Among numerous uncertainties in estimating the strength of this permafrost carbon feedback (PCF), two are: (i) how mineralization of permafrost SOC thawed in saturated anaerobic conditions responds to changes in temperature and (ii) how microbial communities and temperature sensitivities change over time since thaw. To address these uncertainties, we utilized a thermokarst-lake sediment core as a natural chronosequence where SOC thawed and incubated in situ under saturated anaerobic conditions for up to 400 years following permafrost thaw. Initial microbial communities were characterized, and sediments were anaerobically incubated in the lab at four temperatures (0 °C, 3 °C, 10 °C, and 25 °C) bracketing those observed in the lake's talik. Net CH4 production in freshly-thawed sediments near the downward-expanding thaw boundary at the base of the talik were most sensitive to warming at the lower incubation temperatures (0 °C to 3 °C), while the overlying sediments which had been thawed for centuries had initial low abundant methanogenic communities (< 0.02%) and did not experience statistically significant increases in net CH4 production potentials until higher incubation temperatures (10 °C to 25 °C). We propose these observed differences in temperature sensitivities are due to differences in SOM quality and functional microbial community composition that evolve over time; however further research is necessary to better constrain the roles of these factors in determining temperature controls on anaerobic C mineralization.
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Affiliation(s)
- J K Heslop
- Water and Environmental Research Center, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, USA.
| | - K M Walter Anthony
- Water and Environmental Research Center, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, USA
| | - G Grosse
- Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Potsdam, Germany; Institute of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Potsdam, Germany
| | - S Liebner
- GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, Section 3.7 Geomicrobiology, Helmholtz Centre Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany; University of Potsdam, Institute of Biochemistry and Biology, Germany
| | - M Winkel
- Water and Environmental Research Center, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, USA; GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, Section 3.7 Geomicrobiology, Helmholtz Centre Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany
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12
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Comparative evaluation of three archaeal primer pairs for exploring archaeal communities in deep-sea sediments and permafrost soils. Extremophiles 2019; 23:747-757. [PMID: 31489482 DOI: 10.1007/s00792-019-01128-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2019] [Accepted: 08/27/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
16S rRNA gene profiling is a powerful method for characterizing microbial communities; however, no universal primer pair can target all bacteria and archaea, resulting in different primer pairs which may impact the diversity profile obtained. Here, we evaluated three pairs of high-throughput sequencing primers for characterizing archaeal communities from deep-sea sediments and permafrost soils. The results show that primer pair Arch519/Arch915 (V4-V5 regions) produced the highest alpha diversity estimates, followed by Arch349f/Arch806r (V3-V4 regions) and A751f/AU1204r (V5-V7 regions) in both sample types. The archaeal taxonomic compositions and the relative abundance estimates of archaeal communities are influenced by the primer pairs. Beta diversity of the archaeal community detected by the three primer pairs reveals that primer pairs Arch349f/Arch806r and Arch519f/Arch915r are biased toward detection of Halobacteriales, Methanobacteriales and MBG-E/Hydrothermarchaeota, whereas the primer pairs Arch519f/Arch915r and A751f/UA1204r are biased to detect MBG-B/Lokiarchaeota, and the primers pairs Arch349f/Arch806r and A751f/UA1204r are biased to detect Methanomicrobiales and Methanosarcinales. The data suggest that the alpha and beta diversities of archaeal communities as well as the community compositions are influenced by the primer pair choice. This finding provides researchers with valuable experimental insight for selection of appropriate archaeal primer pairs to characterize archaeal communities.
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13
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Margesin R, Collins T. Microbial ecology of the cryosphere (glacial and permafrost habitats): current knowledge. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2019; 103:2537-2549. [PMID: 30719551 PMCID: PMC6443599 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-019-09631-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2018] [Revised: 01/04/2019] [Accepted: 01/07/2019] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Microorganisms in cold ecosystems play a key ecological role in their natural habitats. Since these ecosystems are especially sensitive to climate changes, as indicated by the worldwide retreat of glaciers and ice sheets as well as permafrost thawing, an understanding of the role and potential of microbial life in these habitats has become crucial. Emerging technologies have added significantly to our knowledge of abundance, functional activity, and lifestyles of microbial communities in cold environments. The current knowledge of microbial ecology in glacial habitats and permafrost, the most studied habitats of the cryosphere, is reported in this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosa Margesin
- Institute of Microbiology, University of Innsbruck, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria.
| | - Tony Collins
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Department of Biology, University of Minho, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
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14
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Microbiological Study of Yamal Lakes: A Key to Understanding the Evolution of Gas Emission Craters. GEOSCIENCES 2018. [DOI: 10.3390/geosciences8120478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Although gas emission craters (GECs) are actively investigated, the question of which landforms result from GECs remains open. The evolution of GECs includes the filling of deep hollows with atmospheric precipitation and deposits from their retreating walls, so that the final stage of gas emission crater (GEC) lake development does not differ from that of any other lakes. Microbial activity and diversity may be indicators that make it possible to distinguish GEC lakes from other exogenous lakes. This work aimed at a comparison of the activity and diversity of microbial communities in young GEC lakes and mature background lakes of Central Yamal by using a radiotracer analysis and high-throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA genes. The radiotracer analysis revealed slow-flowing microbial processes as expected for the cold climate of the study area. GEC lakes differed from background ones by slow rates of anaerobic processes (methanogenesis, sulfate reduction) as well as by a low abundance and diversity of methanogens. Other methane cycle micro-organisms (aerobic and anaerobic methanotrophs) were similar in all studied lakes and represented by Methylobacter and ANME 2d; the rates of methane oxidation were also similar. Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Betaproteobacteria, and Acidobacteria were predominant in both lake types. Thus, GEC lakes may be identified by their scarce methanogenic population.
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15
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Mickol RL, Laird SK, Kral TA. Non-Psychrophilic Methanogens Capable of Growth Following Long-Term Extreme Temperature Changes, with Application to Mars. Microorganisms 2018; 6:microorganisms6020034. [PMID: 29690617 PMCID: PMC6027200 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms6020034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2018] [Revised: 04/13/2018] [Accepted: 04/16/2018] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Although the martian environment is currently cold and dry, geomorphological features on the surface of the planet indicate relatively recent (<4 My) freeze/thaw episodes. Additionally, the recent detections of near-subsurface ice as well as hydrated salts within recurring slope lineae suggest potentially habitable micro-environments within the martian subsurface. On Earth, microbial communities are often active at sub-freezing temperatures within permafrost, especially within the active layer, which experiences large ranges in temperature. With warming global temperatures, the effect of thawing permafrost communities on the release of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane becomes increasingly important. Studies examining the community structure and activity of microbial permafrost communities on Earth can also be related to martian permafrost environments, should life have developed on the planet. Here, two non-psychrophilic methanogens, Methanobacterium formicicum and Methanothermobacter wolfeii, were tested for their ability to survive long-term (~4 year) exposure to freeze/thaw cycles varying in both temperature and duration, with implications both for climate change on Earth and possible life on Mars.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca L Mickol
- Arkansas Center for Space and Planetary Sciences, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA.
- American Society for Engineering Education, Washington, DC 20036, USA.
| | - Sarah K Laird
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA.
| | - Timothy A Kral
- Arkansas Center for Space and Planetary Sciences, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA.
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA.
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