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Pop CE, Fendrihan S, Crăciun N, Vasilighean G, Chifor DE, Topârceanu F, Florea A, Mihăilescu DF, Mernea M. Antarctic Soil and Viable Microbiota After Long-Term Storage at Constant -20 °C. BIOLOGY 2025; 14:222. [PMID: 40136479 PMCID: PMC11940283 DOI: 10.3390/biology14030222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2024] [Revised: 02/14/2025] [Accepted: 02/17/2025] [Indexed: 03/27/2025]
Abstract
During an Antarctic expedition that took place in December 2010-January 2011 in the East Antarctic coastal region, soil samples were collected in aseptic conditions and stored for over a decade in freezers at -20 °C. Due to the shortly afterward passing of the Antarctic researcher in charge, Teodor Negoiță, the samples remained unintentionally frozen for a long period and were made available for research 13 years later. A chemical analysis of soil as well as screening for viable microbial presence was performed; soil analysis was conducted via inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy coupled with attenuated total reflection (FTIR-ATR). The presence of aerobic and facultative aerobic microbiotas was evaluated through a Biolog Ecoplates assay, and isolated strains were 16S sequenced for final taxonomic identification. The results obtained new insights into Antarctic soil characteristics from both chemical and microbiological aspects, even after over a decade of conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristian-Emilian Pop
- Non-Governmental Research Organization Biologic, 14 Schitului Str., 032044 Bucharest, Romania (G.V.); (D.E.C.); (A.F.)
- Department of Anatomy, Animal Physiology and Biophysics, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, 91–95 Splaiul Independenței Str., 050095 Bucharest, Romania; (D.F.M.); (M.M.)
| | - Sergiu Fendrihan
- Non-Governmental Research Organization Biologic, 14 Schitului Str., 032044 Bucharest, Romania (G.V.); (D.E.C.); (A.F.)
- National Commission for Antarctic Research of the Romanian Academy, 125 Calea Victoriei, 010071 Bucharest, Romania;
| | - Nicolai Crăciun
- Zoology Section, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, 91–95 Splaiul Independenței Str., 050095 Bucharest, Romania;
| | - Garbis Vasilighean
- Non-Governmental Research Organization Biologic, 14 Schitului Str., 032044 Bucharest, Romania (G.V.); (D.E.C.); (A.F.)
| | - Daniela Ecaterina Chifor
- Non-Governmental Research Organization Biologic, 14 Schitului Str., 032044 Bucharest, Romania (G.V.); (D.E.C.); (A.F.)
- Department of Anatomy, Animal Physiology and Biophysics, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, 91–95 Splaiul Independenței Str., 050095 Bucharest, Romania; (D.F.M.); (M.M.)
| | - Florica Topârceanu
- National Commission for Antarctic Research of the Romanian Academy, 125 Calea Victoriei, 010071 Bucharest, Romania;
- Stefan S. Nicolau Institute of Virology, 285 Mihai Bravu Ave., 030304 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Andreea Florea
- Non-Governmental Research Organization Biologic, 14 Schitului Str., 032044 Bucharest, Romania (G.V.); (D.E.C.); (A.F.)
| | - Dan Florin Mihăilescu
- Department of Anatomy, Animal Physiology and Biophysics, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, 91–95 Splaiul Independenței Str., 050095 Bucharest, Romania; (D.F.M.); (M.M.)
| | - Maria Mernea
- Department of Anatomy, Animal Physiology and Biophysics, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, 91–95 Splaiul Independenței Str., 050095 Bucharest, Romania; (D.F.M.); (M.M.)
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Wong SY, Machado-de-Lima NM, Wilkins D, Zhang E, Ferrari BC. Fine-scale landscape heterogeneity drives microbial community structure at Robinson Ridge, East Antarctica. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2025; 958:177964. [PMID: 39700981 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.177964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2024] [Revised: 11/22/2024] [Accepted: 12/04/2024] [Indexed: 12/21/2024]
Abstract
Life at Robinson Ridge, located in the Windmill Islands region of East Antarctica, is susceptible to a changing climate. At this site, responses of the vegetation communities and moss-beds have been well researched, but corresponding information for microbial counterparts is still lacking. To bridge this knowledge gap, we established baseline data for monitoring the environmental drivers shaping the soil microbial community on the local 'hillslope' scale. Using triplicate 300-m long transects encompassing a hillslope with wind-exposed arid soils near the top, and snowmelt-sustained-moss beds at the bottom, we assessed the fine-scale heterogeneity of the soil environmental and microbial properties. Moist, low-lying, and vegetated soils exhibited higher soil fertility and unique biodiversity, with taxa adapted to thrive in moist conditions (i.e., Tardigrada, Phragmoplastophyta, Chloroflexi) and those that have previously demonstrated strong specificity for moss species (i.e., Fibrobacterota, Mucoromycota and Cyanobacteria) dominating. In contrast, elevated soils with limited moisture and nutrients were dominated by metabolically diverse phyla like Actinobacteriota and Ascomycota. Significant differences in microbial communities were observed at both hillslope (50-300 m) and fine spatial scales, as small as 0.1 m. Vertical heterogeneity was observed with higher abundances of Cyanobacteria and micro-algae in surfaces compared to subsoil, potentially indicating early biocrust formation. Stochastic and deterministic processes governing phylogenetic assembly were linked to soil positional groups and microbial domains rather than soil depth. Gradient Forest modeling identified critical environmental thresholds, such as ammonia, manganese, and sulphur, responsible for drastic community changes following level alterations. This reinforces the existence of strong niche preferences and distinct distribution patterns within the local microbial communities. This study highlights the need for finer-scale investigations considering site topography to better understand the relationship between environmental drivers and local microbiota. Ultimately, these insights enable us to understand environmental drivers and predict Antarctic ecosystem responses, helping safeguard this fragile environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sin Yin Wong
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, UNSW Sydney, Australia; Evolution and Ecology Research Centre, UNSW Sydney, Australia
| | | | - Daniel Wilkins
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, UNSW Sydney, Australia; Environmental Stewardship Program, Australian Antarctic Division, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, Australia
| | - Eden Zhang
- Sydney Informatics Hub, University of Sydney, Australia
| | - Belinda C Ferrari
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, UNSW Sydney, Australia; Evolution and Ecology Research Centre, UNSW Sydney, Australia.
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Qu J, Lu X, Liu T, Qu Y, Xing Z, Wang S, Jing S, Zheng L, Wang L, Wang X. Macrogenomic Analysis Reveals Soil Microbial Diversity in Different Regions of the Antarctic Peninsula. Microorganisms 2024; 12:2444. [PMID: 39770646 PMCID: PMC11677454 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12122444] [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: 09/02/2024] [Revised: 11/12/2024] [Accepted: 11/13/2024] [Indexed: 01/11/2025] Open
Abstract
(1) Background: The unique geographical and climatic conditions of the Antarctic Peninsula contribute to distinct regional ecosystems. Microorganisms are crucial for sustaining the local ecological equilibrium. However, the variability in soil microbial community diversity across different regions of the Antarctic Peninsula remains underexplored. (2) Methods: We utilized metagenome sequencing to investigate the composition and functionality of soil microbial communities in four locations: Devil Island, King George Island, Marambio Station, and Seymour Island. (3) Results: In the KGI region, we observed increased abundance of bacteria linked to plant growth promotion and the degradation of pollutants, including PAHs. Conversely, Marambio Station exhibited a significant reduction in bacterial abundance associated with iron and sulfur oxidation/reduction. Notably, we identified 94 antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) across 15 classes of antibiotics in Antarctic soils, with those related to aminoglycosides, β-lactamase, ribosomal RNA methyltransferase, antibiotic efflux, gene regulatory resistance, and ABC transporters showing a marked influence from anthropogenic activities. (4) Conclusions: This study carries substantial implications for the sustainable use, advancement, and conservation of microbial resources in Antarctic soils.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiangyong Qu
- College of Life Science, Yantai University, Yantai 264005, China; (J.Q.); (X.L.); (T.L.); (Y.Q.); (Z.X.); (S.W.); (S.J.)
| | - Xiaofei Lu
- College of Life Science, Yantai University, Yantai 264005, China; (J.Q.); (X.L.); (T.L.); (Y.Q.); (Z.X.); (S.W.); (S.J.)
| | - Tianyi Liu
- College of Life Science, Yantai University, Yantai 264005, China; (J.Q.); (X.L.); (T.L.); (Y.Q.); (Z.X.); (S.W.); (S.J.)
| | - Ying Qu
- College of Life Science, Yantai University, Yantai 264005, China; (J.Q.); (X.L.); (T.L.); (Y.Q.); (Z.X.); (S.W.); (S.J.)
| | - Zhikai Xing
- College of Life Science, Yantai University, Yantai 264005, China; (J.Q.); (X.L.); (T.L.); (Y.Q.); (Z.X.); (S.W.); (S.J.)
| | - Shuang Wang
- College of Life Science, Yantai University, Yantai 264005, China; (J.Q.); (X.L.); (T.L.); (Y.Q.); (Z.X.); (S.W.); (S.J.)
| | - Siluo Jing
- College of Life Science, Yantai University, Yantai 264005, China; (J.Q.); (X.L.); (T.L.); (Y.Q.); (Z.X.); (S.W.); (S.J.)
| | - Li Zheng
- First Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Qingdao 266061, China;
| | - Lijun Wang
- College of Life Science, Yantai University, Yantai 264005, China; (J.Q.); (X.L.); (T.L.); (Y.Q.); (Z.X.); (S.W.); (S.J.)
| | - Xumin Wang
- College of Life Science, Yantai University, Yantai 264005, China; (J.Q.); (X.L.); (T.L.); (Y.Q.); (Z.X.); (S.W.); (S.J.)
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Passarini MRZ, Robayo MIG, Ottoni JR, Duarte AWF, Rosa LH. Biotechnological potential in agriculture of soil Antarctic microorganisms revealed by omics approach. World J Microbiol Biotechnol 2024; 40:345. [PMID: 39394504 DOI: 10.1007/s11274-024-04114-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2024] [Accepted: 08/17/2024] [Indexed: 10/13/2024]
Abstract
The biotechnological potential for agricultural applications in the soil in the thawing process on Whalers Bay, Deception Island, Antarctica was evaluated using a metagenomic approach through high-throughput sequencing. Approximately 22.70% of the sequences were affiliated to the phyla of the Bacteria dominion, followed by 0.26% to the Eukarya. Proteobacteria (Bacteria) and Ascomycota (Fungi) were the most abundant phyla. Thirty-two and thirty-six bacterial and fungal genera associated with agricultural biotechnological applications were observed. Streptomyces and Pythium were the most abundant genera related to the Bacteria and Oomycota, respectively. The main agricultural application associated with bacteria was nitrogen affixation; in contrast for fungi, was associated with phytopathogenic capabilities. The present study showed the need to use metagenomic technology to understand the dynamics and possible metabolic pathways associated with the microbial communities present in the soil sample in the process of thawing recovered from the Antarctic continent, which presented potential application in processes of agro-industrial interest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michel Rodrigo Zambrano Passarini
- Laboratório de Biotecnologia Ambiental, Universidade Federal da Integração Latino- Americana, Av. Tarquίnio Joslin dos Santos, 1000 - Jd Universitário, Foz do Iguaçu, PR 85870-650, Brazil.
| | - Marahia Isabel Guevara Robayo
- Laboratório de Biotecnologia Ambiental, Universidade Federal da Integração Latino- Americana, Av. Tarquίnio Joslin dos Santos, 1000 - Jd Universitário, Foz do Iguaçu, PR 85870-650, Brazil
| | - Júlia Ronzella Ottoni
- Laboratório de Biotecnologia Ambiental, Universidade Federal da Integração Latino- Americana, Av. Tarquίnio Joslin dos Santos, 1000 - Jd Universitário, Foz do Iguaçu, PR 85870-650, Brazil
| | | | - Luiz Henrique Rosa
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
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Varliero G, Lebre PH, Adams B, Chown SL, Convey P, Dennis PG, Fan D, Ferrari B, Frey B, Hogg ID, Hopkins DW, Kong W, Makhalanyane T, Matcher G, Newsham KK, Stevens MI, Weigh KV, Cowan DA. Biogeographic survey of soil bacterial communities across Antarctica. MICROBIOME 2024; 12:9. [PMID: 38212738 PMCID: PMC10785390 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-023-01719-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Antarctica and its unique biodiversity are increasingly at risk from the effects of global climate change and other human influences. A significant recent element underpinning strategies for Antarctic conservation has been the development of a system of Antarctic Conservation Biogeographic Regions (ACBRs). The datasets supporting this classification are, however, dominated by eukaryotic taxa, with contributions from the bacterial domain restricted to Actinomycetota and Cyanobacteriota. Nevertheless, the ice-free areas of the Antarctic continent and the sub-Antarctic islands are dominated in terms of diversity by bacteria. Our study aims to generate a comprehensive phylogenetic dataset of Antarctic bacteria with wide geographical coverage on the continent and sub-Antarctic islands, to investigate whether bacterial diversity and distribution is reflected in the current ACBRs. RESULTS Soil bacterial diversity and community composition did not fully conform with the ACBR classification. Although 19% of the variability was explained by this classification, the largest differences in bacterial community composition were between the broader continental and maritime Antarctic regions, where a degree of structural overlapping within continental and maritime bacterial communities was apparent, not fully reflecting the division into separate ACBRs. Strong divergence in soil bacterial community composition was also apparent between the Antarctic/sub-Antarctic islands and the Antarctic mainland. Bacterial communities were partially shaped by bioclimatic conditions, with 28% of dominant genera showing habitat preferences connected to at least one of the bioclimatic variables included in our analyses. These genera were also reported as indicator taxa for the ACBRs. CONCLUSIONS Overall, our data indicate that the current ACBR subdivision of the Antarctic continent does not fully reflect bacterial distribution and diversity in Antarctica. We observed considerable overlap in the structure of soil bacterial communities within the maritime Antarctic region and within the continental Antarctic region. Our results also suggest that bacterial communities might be impacted by regional climatic and other environmental changes. The dataset developed in this study provides a comprehensive baseline that will provide a valuable tool for biodiversity conservation efforts on the continent. Further studies are clearly required, and we emphasize the need for more extensive campaigns to systematically sample and characterize Antarctic and sub-Antarctic soil microbial communities. Video Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gilda Varliero
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, Centre for Microbial Ecology and Genomics, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0002, South Africa
- Rhizosphere Processes Group, Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, 8903, Birmensdorf, Switzerland
| | - Pedro H Lebre
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, Centre for Microbial Ecology and Genomics, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0002, South Africa
| | - Byron Adams
- Department of Biology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, 84602, USA
- Monte L. Bean Life Science Museum, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, 84602, USA
| | - Steven L Chown
- Securing Antarctica's Environmental Future, School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VA, 3800, Australia
| | - Peter Convey
- British Antarctic Survey, Natural Environment Research Council, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0ET, UK
- Department of Zoology, University of Johannesburg, PO Box 524, Auckland Park, 2006, South Africa
- Biodiversity of Antarctic and Sub-Antarctic Ecosystems (BASE), Santiago, Chile
| | - Paul G Dennis
- School of the Environment, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Dandan Fan
- State Key Laboratory of Tibetan Plateau Earth System, Environment and Resources (TPESER), Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Belinda Ferrari
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of NSW, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - Beat Frey
- Rhizosphere Processes Group, Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, 8903, Birmensdorf, Switzerland
| | - Ian D Hogg
- School of Science, University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand
- Canadian High Arctic Research Station, Polar Knowledge Canada, Cambridge Bay, NU, Canada
| | - David W Hopkins
- SRUC - Scotland's Rural College, West Mains Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3JG, Scotland, UK
| | - Weidong Kong
- State Key Laboratory of Tibetan Plateau Earth System, Environment and Resources (TPESER), Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Thulani Makhalanyane
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0002, South Africa
| | - Gwynneth Matcher
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Rhodes University, Makhanda, South Africa
| | - Kevin K Newsham
- British Antarctic Survey, Natural Environment Research Council, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0ET, UK
| | - Mark I Stevens
- Securing Antarctica's Environmental Future, Earth and Biological Sciences, South Australian Museum, Adelaide, SA, 5000, Australia
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, 5005, Australia
| | - Katherine V Weigh
- School of the Environment, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Don A Cowan
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, Centre for Microbial Ecology and Genomics, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0002, South Africa.
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Pushkareva E, Elster J, Kudoh S, Imura S, Becker B. Microbial community composition of terrestrial habitats in East Antarctica with a focus on microphototrophs. Front Microbiol 2024; 14:1323148. [PMID: 38249463 PMCID: PMC10797080 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1323148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
The Antarctic terrestrial environment harbors a diverse community of microorganisms, which have adapted to the extreme conditions. The aim of this study was to describe the composition of microbial communities in a diverse range of terrestrial environments (various biocrusts and soils, sands from ephemeral wetlands, biofilms, endolithic and hypolithic communities) in East Antarctica using both molecular and morphological approaches. Amplicon sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene revealed the dominance of Chloroflexi, Cyanobacteria and Firmicutes, while sequencing of the 18S rRNA gene showed the prevalence of Alveolata, Chloroplastida, Metazoa, and Rhizaria. This study also provided a comprehensive assessment of the microphototrophic community revealing a diversity of cyanobacteria and eukaryotic microalgae in various Antarctic terrestrial samples. Filamentous cyanobacteria belonging to the orders Oscillatoriales and Pseudanabaenales dominated prokaryotic community, while members of Trebouxiophyceae were the most abundant representatives of eukaryotes. In addition, the co-occurrence analysis showed a prevalence of positive correlations with bacterial taxa frequently co-occurring together.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ekaterina Pushkareva
- Department of Biology, Botanical Institute, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Josef Elster
- Institute of Botany, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Třeboň, Czechia
- Centre for Polar Ecology, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czechia
| | - Sakae Kudoh
- Department of Polar Science, The Graduate University for Advanced Studies, SOKENDAI, Tachikawa, Japan
- National Institute of Polar Research, Research Organization of Information and Systems, Tachikawa, Japan
| | - Satoshi Imura
- Department of Polar Science, The Graduate University for Advanced Studies, SOKENDAI, Tachikawa, Japan
- National Institute of Polar Research, Research Organization of Information and Systems, Tachikawa, Japan
| | - Burkhard Becker
- Department of Biology, Botanical Institute, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
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Bendia AG, Moreira JCF, Ferreira JCN, Romano RG, Ferreira IGC, Franco DC, Evangelista H, Montone RC, Pellizari VH. Insights into Antarctic microbiomes: diversity patterns for terrestrial and marine habitats. AN ACAD BRAS CIENC 2023; 95:e20211442. [PMID: 37820122 DOI: 10.1590/0001-3765202320211442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2021] [Accepted: 08/27/2022] [Indexed: 10/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Microorganisms in Antarctica are recognized for having crucial roles in ecosystems functioning and biogeochemical cycles. To explore the diversity and composition of microbial communities through different terrestrial and marine Antarctic habitats, we analyze 16S rRNA sequence datasets from fumarole and marine sediments, soil, snow and seawater environments. We obtained measures of alpha- and beta-diversities, as well as we have identified the core microbiome and the indicator microbial taxa of a particular habitat. Our results showed a unique microbial community structure according to each habitat, including specific taxa composing each microbiome. Marine sediments harbored the highest microbial diversity among the analyzed habitats. In the fumarole sediments, the core microbiome was composed mainly of thermophiles and hyperthermophilic Archaea, while in the majority of soil samples Archaea was absent. In the seawater samples, the core microbiome was mainly composed by cultured and uncultured orders usually identified on Antarctic pelagic ecosystems. Snow samples exhibited common taxa previously described for habitats of the Antarctic Peninsula, which suggests long-distance dispersal processes occurring from the Peninsula to the Continent. This study contributes as a baseline for further efforts on evaluating the microbial responses to environmental conditions and future changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda G Bendia
- Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Departamento de Oceanografia Biológica, Instituto Oceanográfico, Cidade Universitária, Praça do Oceanográfico, 191, 05508-900 São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Julio Cezar F Moreira
- Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Departamento de Oceanografia Biológica, Instituto Oceanográfico, Cidade Universitária, Praça do Oceanográfico, 191, 05508-900 São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Juliana C N Ferreira
- Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Departamento de Oceanografia Biológica, Instituto Oceanográfico, Cidade Universitária, Praça do Oceanográfico, 191, 05508-900 São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Renato G Romano
- Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Departamento de Oceanografia Biológica, Instituto Oceanográfico, Cidade Universitária, Praça do Oceanográfico, 191, 05508-900 São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Ivan G C Ferreira
- Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Departamento de Oceanografia Biológica, Instituto Oceanográfico, Cidade Universitária, Praça do Oceanográfico, 191, 05508-900 São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Diego C Franco
- Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Departamento de Oceanografia Biológica, Instituto Oceanográfico, Cidade Universitária, Praça do Oceanográfico, 191, 05508-900 São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Heitor Evangelista
- Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Instituto de Biologia Roberto Alcantara Gomes, Maracanã, 20550-013 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Rosalinda C Montone
- Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Departamento de Oceanografia Física, Química e Geológica, Instituto Oceanográfico, Cidade Universitária, Praça do Oceanográfico, 191, 05508-900 São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Vivian Helena Pellizari
- Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Departamento de Oceanografia Biológica, Instituto Oceanográfico, Cidade Universitária, Praça do Oceanográfico, 191, 05508-900 São Paulo, SP, Brazil
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8
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Kollár J, Kopalová K, Kavan J, Vrbická K, Nývlt D, Nedbalová L, Stibal M, Kohler TJ. Recently formed Antarctic lakes host less diverse benthic bacterial and diatom communities than their older counterparts. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2023; 99:fiad087. [PMID: 37516444 PMCID: PMC10446143 DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiad087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2023] [Revised: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 07/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Glacier recession is creating new water bodies in proglacial forelands worldwide, including Antarctica. Yet, it is unknown how microbial communities of recently formed "young" waterbodies (originating decades to a few centuries ago) compare with established "old" counterparts (millennia ago). Here, we compared benthic microbial communities of different lake types on James Ross Island, Antarctic Peninsula, using 16S rDNA metabarcoding and light microscopy to explore bacterial and diatom communities, respectively. We found that the older lakes host significantly more diverse bacterial and diatom communities compared to the young ones. To identify potential mechanisms for these differences, linear models and dbRDA analyses suggested combinations of water temperature, pH, and conductivity to be the most important factors for diversity and community structuring, while differences in geomorphological and hydrological stability, though more difficult to quantify, are likely also influential. These results, along with an indicator species analysis, suggest that physical and chemical constraints associated with individual lakes histories are likely more influential to the assembly of the benthic microbial communities than lake age alone. Collectively, these results improve our understanding of microbial community drivers in Antarctic freshwaters, and help predict how the microbial landscape may shift with future habitat creation within a changing environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Kollár
- Faculty of Science, Department of Ecology, Charles University, Viničná 7, Prague 2, CZ-12844, Czech Republic
| | - Kateřina Kopalová
- Faculty of Science, Department of Ecology, Charles University, Viničná 7, Prague 2, CZ-12844, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Kavan
- Polar-Geo-Lab, Faculty of Science, Department of Geography, Masaryk University, Kotlářská 2, Brno, CZ-61137, Czech Republic
- Alfred Jahn Cold Regions Research Centre, University of Wroclaw, pl. Uniwersytecki 1, Wroclaw 50-137, Poland
| | - Kristýna Vrbická
- Faculty of Science, Department of Ecology, Charles University, Viničná 7, Prague 2, CZ-12844, Czech Republic
| | - Daniel Nývlt
- Polar-Geo-Lab, Faculty of Science, Department of Geography, Masaryk University, Kotlářská 2, Brno, CZ-61137, Czech Republic
| | - Linda Nedbalová
- Faculty of Science, Department of Ecology, Charles University, Viničná 7, Prague 2, CZ-12844, Czech Republic
| | - Marek Stibal
- Faculty of Science, Department of Ecology, Charles University, Viničná 7, Prague 2, CZ-12844, Czech Republic
| | - Tyler J Kohler
- Faculty of Science, Department of Ecology, Charles University, Viničná 7, Prague 2, CZ-12844, Czech Republic
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9
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Santos A, Gómez-Espinoza O, Núñez-Montero K, Zárate A, Andreote FD, Pylro VS, Bravo L, Barrientos L. Measuring the effect of climate change in Antarctic microbial communities: toward novel experimental approaches. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2023; 81:102918. [PMID: 36972633 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2023.102918] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 02/05/2023] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023]
Abstract
The Antarctic continent is undergoing a rapid warming, affecting microbial communities throughout its ecosystems. This continent is a natural laboratory for studying the effect of climate change, however, assessing the microbial communities' responses to environmental changes is challenging from a methodological point of view. We suggest novel experimental designs, including multivariable assessments that apply multiomics methods in combination with continuous environmental data recording and new warming simulation systems. Moreover, we propose that climate change studies in Antarctica should consider three main objectives, including descriptive studies, short-term temporary adaptation studies, and long-term adaptive evolution studies. This will help us to understand and manage the effects of climate change on the Earth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrés Santos
- Institut de Biotecnologia i de Biomedicina, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain
| | - Olman Gómez-Espinoza
- Biotechnology Research Center, Department of Biology, Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica, Cartago, Costa Rica
| | - Kattia Núñez-Montero
- Biotechnology Research Center, Department of Biology, Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica, Cartago, Costa Rica
| | - Ana Zárate
- Extreme Environments Biotechnology Lab, Center of Excellence in Translational Medicine, Universidad de La Frontera, Avenida Alemania 0458, Temuco 4810296, Chile
| | - Fernando D Andreote
- Department of Soil Science, "Luiz de Queiroz" College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Victor S Pylro
- Department of Biology, Federal University of Lavras - UFLA, Lavras, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - León Bravo
- Soil Interaction and Natural Resources Biotechnology, Scientific and Technological Bioresource Nucleus, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco 4811230, Chile
| | - Leticia Barrientos
- Extreme Environments Biotechnology Lab, Center of Excellence in Translational Medicine, Universidad de La Frontera, Avenida Alemania 0458, Temuco 4810296, Chile; Núcleo Científico y Tecnológico en Biorecursos (BIOREN), Universidad de La Frontera, Avenida Francisco Salazar 01145, Temuco 4811230, Chile.
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10
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Son D, Lee EJ. Soil Microbial Communities Associated with Three Arctic Plants in Different Local Environments in Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard. J Microbiol Biotechnol 2022; 32:1275-1283. [PMID: 36198667 PMCID: PMC9668094 DOI: 10.4014/jmb.2208.08009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2022] [Revised: 09/02/2022] [Accepted: 09/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Understanding soil microbial community structure in the Arctic is essential for predicting the impact of climate change on interactions between organisms living in polar environments. The hypothesis of the present study was that soil microbial communities and soil chemical characteristics would vary depending on their associated plant species and local environments in Arctic mature soils. We analyzed soil bacterial communities and soil chemical characteristics from soil without vegetation (bare soil) and rhizosphere soil of three Arctic plants (Cassiope tetragona [L.] D. Don, Dryas octopetala L. and Silene acaulis [L.] Jacq.) in different local environments (coal-mined site and seashore-adjacent site). We did not observe any clear differences in microbial community structure in samples belonging to different plant rhizospheres; however, samples from different environmental sites had distinct microbial community structure. The samples from coal-mined site had a relatively higher abundance of Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes. On the other hand, Acidobacteria was more prevalent in seashore-adjacent samples. The relative abundance of Proteobacteria and Acidobacteria decreased toward higher soil pH, whereas that of Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes was positively correlated with soil pH. Our results suggest that soil bacterial community dissimilarity can be driven by spatial heterogeneity in deglaciated mature soil. Furthermore, these results indicate that soil microbial composition and relative abundance are more affected by soil pH, an abiotic factor, than plant species, a biotic factor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deokjoo Son
- College of Education Department of Science Education, Dankook University, Gyeonggi-do 16890, Republic of Korea,Corresponding author Phone: +82-31-8005-3844 E-mail:
| | - Eun Ju Lee
- Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
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11
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Guajardo-Leiva S, Alarcón J, Gutzwiller F, Gallardo-Cerda J, Acuña-Rodríguez IS, Molina-Montenegro M, Crandall KA, Pérez-Losada M, Castro-Nallar E. Source and acquisition of rhizosphere microbes in Antarctic vascular plants. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:916210. [PMID: 36160194 PMCID: PMC9493328 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.916210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2022] [Accepted: 08/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Rhizosphere microbial communities exert critical roles in plant health, nutrient cycling, and soil fertility. Despite the essential functions conferred by microbes, the source and acquisition of the rhizosphere are not entirely clear. Therefore, we investigated microbial community diversity and potential source using the only two native Antarctic plants, Deschampsia antarctica (Da) and Colobanthus quitensis (Cq), as models. We interrogated rhizosphere and bulk soil microbiomes at six locations in the Byers Peninsula, Livingston Island, Antarctica, both individual plant species and their association (Da.Cq). Our results show that host plant species influenced the richness and diversity of bacterial communities in the rhizosphere. Here, the Da rhizosphere showed the lowest richness and diversity of bacteria compared to Cq and Da.Cq rhizospheres. In contrast, for rhizosphere fungal communities, plant species only influenced diversity, whereas the rhizosphere of Da exhibited higher fungal diversity than the Cq rhizosphere. Also, we found that environmental geographic pressures (i.e., sampling site, latitude, and altitude) and, to a lesser extent, biotic factors (i.e., plant species) determined the species turnover between microbial communities. Moreover, our analysis shows that the sources of the bacterial communities in the rhizosphere were local soils that contributed to homogenizing the community composition of the different plant species growing in the same sampling site. In contrast, the sources of rhizosphere fungi were local (for Da and Da.Cq) and distant soils (for Cq). Here, the host plant species have a specific effect in acquiring fungal communities to the rhizosphere. However, the contribution of unknown sources to the fungal rhizosphere (especially in Da and Da.Cq) indicates the existence of relevant stochastic processes in acquiring these microbes. Our study shows that rhizosphere microbial communities differ in their composition and diversity. These differences are explained mainly by the microbial composition of the soils that harbor them, acting together with plant species-specific effects. Both plant species acquire bacteria from local soils to form part of their rhizosphere. Seemingly, the acquisition process is more complex for fungi. We identified a significant contribution from unknown fungal sources due to stochastic processes and known sources from soils across the Byers Peninsula.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergio Guajardo-Leiva
- Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Talca, Talca, Chile
- Centro de Ecología Integrativa, Universidad de Talca, Talca, Chile
| | - Jaime Alarcón
- Center for Bioinformatics and Integrative Biology, Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Chile
| | - Florence Gutzwiller
- Center for Bioinformatics and Integrative Biology, Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Chile
| | - Jorge Gallardo-Cerda
- Laboratorio de Ecología Integrativa, Instituto de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Talca, Talca, Chile
| | | | - Marco Molina-Montenegro
- Centro de Ecología Integrativa, Universidad de Talca, Talca, Chile
- Laboratorio de Ecología Integrativa, Instituto de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Talca, Talca, Chile
- Centro de Estudios Avanzados en Zonas Áridas, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar, Universidad Católica del Norte, Coquimbo, Chile
- Centro de Investigación en Estudios Avanzados del Maule, Universidad Católica del Maule, Talca, Chile
| | - Keith A. Crandall
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Computational Biology Institute, George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Marcos Pérez-Losada
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Computational Biology Institute, George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States
- Division of Emergency Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Children’s National Hospital, Washington, DC, United States
- CIBIO-InBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, Universidade do Porto, Vairão, Portugal
| | - Eduardo Castro-Nallar
- Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Talca, Talca, Chile
- Centro de Ecología Integrativa, Universidad de Talca, Talca, Chile
- *Correspondence: Eduardo Castro-Nallar,
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12
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Madirisha M, Hack R, van der Meer F. The role of organic acid metabolites in geo-energy pipeline corrosion in a sulfate reducing bacteria environment. Heliyon 2022; 8:e09420. [PMID: 35647338 PMCID: PMC9136253 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e09420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Revised: 01/15/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The dominant factors in Microbial Influenced Corrosion (MIC) are hard to determine because normally several individual species and their metabolites are involved, and, moreover, different metabolites may cause opposing effects. To address this problem, the effects of individual metabolites from different species should be elucidated when at the same time other metabolites are held constant. In this study, the role is investigated of simulated organic acid metabolites, namely, acetic and L–ascorbic acids, on corrosion of geo-energy pipelines (carbon steel) in a simulated Sulfate Reducing Bacteria (SRB) environment. The SRB environment is simulated using a calcium alginate biofilm, abiotic sulfide, CO2, and NaCl brine. The electrochemical results show that both simulated organic acid metabolites accelerate corrosion in a simulated SRB environment. The results are further supported by electrochemical weight losses, kinetic corrosion activation parameters, multiple linear regression, ICP-OES, pH, and XRD. However, a comparison of electrochemical results with those published in the literature for a simulated SRB environment without acetic or L-ascorbic acid under similar experimental conditions shows that the presence of acetic in this study results in lower corrosion current densities while in presence of L-ascorbic acid results into higher corrosion current densities. This implies that acetic and L-ascorbic acids inhibit and accelerate corrosion, respectively. In addition, the results highlight that H2S is a key role of corrosion in the presence of organic acid. The results of this study are important new and novel information on the role of acetic and L-ascorbic acids in corrosion of geo-energy pipelines in the SRB environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Makungu Madirisha
- Department of Applied Earth Sciences, Faculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation (ITC), University of Twente, P.O. Box 217, 7500 AE, Enschede, the Netherlands.,Chemistry Department, College of Natural and Applied Sciences (CoNAS), University of Dar es Salaam, P. O. Box 35061, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Robert Hack
- Department of Applied Earth Sciences, Faculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation (ITC), University of Twente, P.O. Box 217, 7500 AE, Enschede, the Netherlands
| | - Freek van der Meer
- Department of Applied Earth Sciences, Faculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation (ITC), University of Twente, P.O. Box 217, 7500 AE, Enschede, the Netherlands
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13
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OUP accepted manuscript. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2022; 98:6551890. [DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiac029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2021] [Revised: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
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14
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Krucon T, Dziewit L, Drewniak L. Insight Into Ecology, Metabolic Potential, and the Taxonomic Composition of Bacterial Communities in the Periodic Water Pond on King George Island (Antarctica). Front Microbiol 2021; 12:708607. [PMID: 34690951 PMCID: PMC8531505 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.708607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Polar regions contain a wide variety of lentic ecosystems. These include periodic ponds that have a significant impact on carbon and nitrogen cycling in polar environments. This study was conducted to assess the taxonomic and metabolic diversity of bacteria found in Antarctic pond affected by penguins and sea elephants and to define their role in ongoing processes. Metabolic assays showed that of the 168 tested heterotrophic bacteria present in the Antarctic periodic pond, 96% are able to degrade lipids, 30% cellulose, 26% proteins, and 26% starch. The taxonomic classification of the obtained isolates differs from that based on the composition of the 16S rRNA relative abundances in the studied pond. The dominant Actinobacteria constituting 45% of isolates represents a low proportion of the community, around 4%. With the addition of run-off, the proportions of inhabiting bacteria changed, including a significant decrease in the abundance of Cyanobacteria, from 2.38 to 0.33%, increase of Firmicutes from 9.32 to 19.18%, and a decreasing richness (Chao1 index from 1299 to 889) and diversity (Shannon index from 4.73 to 4.20). Comparative studies of communities found in different Antarctic environments indicate a great role for penguins in shaping bacterial populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomasz Krucon
- Department of Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology, Institute of Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Lukasz Dziewit
- Department of Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology, Institute of Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Lukasz Drewniak
- Department of Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology, Institute of Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
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15
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Fernández-Martínez MÁ, García-Villadangos M, Moreno-Paz M, Gangloff V, Carrizo D, Blanco Y, González S, Sánchez-García L, Prieto-Ballesteros O, Altshuler I, Whyte LG, Parro V, Fairén AG. Geomicrobiological Heterogeneity of Lithic Habitats in the Extreme Environment of Antarctic Nunataks: A Potential Early Mars Analog. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:670982. [PMID: 34276605 PMCID: PMC8284421 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.670982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2021] [Accepted: 05/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Nunataks are permanent ice-free rocky peaks that project above ice caps in polar regions, thus being exposed to extreme climatic conditions throughout the year. They undergo extremely low temperatures and scarcity of liquid water in winter, while receiving high incident and reflected (albedo) UVA-B radiation in summer. Here, we investigate the geomicrobiology of the permanently exposed lithic substrates of nunataks from Livingston Island (South Shetlands, Antarctic Peninsula), with focus on prokaryotic community structure and their main metabolic traits. Contrarily to first hypothesis, an extensive sampling based on different gradients and multianalytical approaches demonstrated significant differences for most geomicrobiological parameters between the bedrock, soil, and loose rock substrates, which overlapped any other regional variation. Brevibacillus genus dominated on bedrock and soil substrates, while loose rocks contained a diverse microbial community, including Actinobacteria, Alphaproteobacteria and abundant Cyanobacteria inhabiting the milder and diverse microhabitats within. Archaea, a domain never described before in similar Antarctic environments, were also consistently found in the three substrates, but being more abundant and potentially more active in soils. Stable isotopic ratios of total carbon (δ 13C) and nitrogen (δ 15N), soluble anions concentrations, and the detection of proteins involved in key metabolisms via the Life Detector Chip (LDChip), suggest that microbial primary production has a pivotal role in nutrient cycling at these exposed areas with limited deposition of nutrients. Detection of stress-resistance proteins, such as molecular chaperons, suggests microbial molecular adaptation mechanisms to cope with these harsh conditions. Since early Mars may have encompassed analogous environmental conditions as the ones found in these Antarctic nunataks, our study also contributes to the understanding of the metabolic features and biomarker profiles of a potential Martian microbiota, as well as the use of LDChip in future life detection missions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel Ángel Fernández-Martínez
- Centro de Astrobiología, CSIC-INTA, Madrid, Spain.,Department of Natural Resource Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC, Canada
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Sergi González
- Antarctic Group, Agencia Estatal de Meteorología, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | | | - Ianina Altshuler
- Department of Natural Resource Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC, Canada
| | - Lyle G Whyte
- Department of Natural Resource Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC, Canada
| | - Victor Parro
- Centro de Astrobiología, CSIC-INTA, Madrid, Spain
| | - Alberto G Fairén
- Centro de Astrobiología, CSIC-INTA, Madrid, Spain.,Department of Astronomy, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States
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16
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Canini F, Geml J, Buzzini P, Turchetti B, Onofri S, D’Acqui LP, Ripa C, Zucconi L. Growth Forms and Functional Guilds Distribution of Soil Fungi in Coastal Versus Inland Sites of Victoria Land, Antarctica. BIOLOGY 2021; 10:biology10040320. [PMID: 33920495 PMCID: PMC8070035 DOI: 10.3390/biology10040320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2021] [Revised: 04/02/2021] [Accepted: 04/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
In Victoria Land, Antarctica, ice-free areas are restricted to coastal regions and dominate the landscape of the McMurdo Dry Valleys. These two environments are subjected to different pressures that determine the establishment of highly adapted fungal communities. Within the kingdom of fungi, filamentous, yeasts and meristematic/microcolonial growth forms on one side and different lifestyles on the other side may be considered adaptive strategies of particular interest in the frame of Antarctic constraints. In this optic, soil fungal communities from both coastal and Dry Valleys sites, already characterized thorough ITS1 metabarcoding sequencing, have been compared to determine the different distribution of phyla, growth forms, and lifestyles. Though we did not find significant differences in the richness between the two environments, the communities were highly differentiated and Dry Valleys sites had a higher evenness compared to coastal ones. Additionally, the distribution of different growth forms and lifestyles were well differentiated, and their diversity and composition were likely influenced by soil abiotic parameters, among which soil granulometry, pH, P, and C contents were the potential main determinants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabiana Canini
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, 01100 Viterbo, Italy; (S.O.); (C.R.); (L.Z.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-0761357138
| | - József Geml
- Biodiversity Dynamics Research Group, Naturalis Biodiversity Center, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands;
- MTA-EKE Lendület Environmental Microbiome Research Group, Eszterházy Károly University, H-3300 Eger, Hungary
| | - Pietro Buzzini
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, 06121 Perugia, Italy; (P.B.); (B.T.)
| | - Benedetta Turchetti
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, 06121 Perugia, Italy; (P.B.); (B.T.)
| | - Silvano Onofri
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, 01100 Viterbo, Italy; (S.O.); (C.R.); (L.Z.)
| | - Luigi Paolo D’Acqui
- Research Institute of Terrestrial Ecosystems, National Research Council of Italy (IRET-CNR), 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy;
| | - Caterina Ripa
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, 01100 Viterbo, Italy; (S.O.); (C.R.); (L.Z.)
| | - Laura Zucconi
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, 01100 Viterbo, Italy; (S.O.); (C.R.); (L.Z.)
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