东天山地区庙儿沟雪坑中微生物多样性、群落结构与环境关系研究

通过荧光计数、恢复培养和变形梯度凝胶电泳(DGGE),分析了东天山地区庙儿沟不同深度积雪中的可培养细菌数量、多样性及其群落结构。结果表明,东天山地区冰雪微生物数量和多样性指数与气候环境替代指标钙离子、镁离子、氯离子等具有相关性。该地区雪坑中细菌隶属于4个不同系统发育群:proteobacteria(α-,β-,γ-),CFB,HGC和LGC,其中CFB类和proteobacteria类为主要类群。与青藏高原、南北极冰雪中微生物的比较分析发现Paracoccu和Aquasalina属是该地区的特殊微生物类群。直接培养和DGGE分析发现不同深度雪坑中微生物数量和群落结构都有明显的变化。结果表明,由于东天山地区的特殊地理位置,该地区冰雪微生物具有其特殊性。     

雪被去除对川西高山冷杉林冬季土壤微生物生物量碳氮和可培养微生物数量的影响

为了解气候变暖情景下雪被减少对冬季土壤微生物特征的影响,采用人工遮雪的方法,研究了雪被去除对原始冷杉林土壤微生物生物量和可培养微生物数量的影响.结果表明:雪被去除显著影响土壤微生物生物量碳(MBC)和氮(MBN)以及可培养细菌和真菌数量,但土壤微生物在雪被覆盖不同阶段具有不同的响应特征.在雪被去除处理下,土壤有机层MBC和MBN在雪被形成初期和雪被融化前期显著降低,而在雪被覆盖期和雪被融化后期显著增加;在雪被形成初期至雪被覆盖期,可培养细菌数量都显著降低,但可培养真菌数量都显著增加.雪被融化后,雪被去除显著降低土壤有机层MBC和可培养真菌数量,显著增加可培养细菌数量,对MBN无显著影响.矿质土壤层MBC、MBN和可培养微生物数量在雪被去除下的变化趋势与土壤有机层基本一致,但波动较小.雪被去除还改变了川西高山冷杉林冬季土壤微生物类群比,提高了土壤可培养真菌数量的冬季优势.     

聚焦中国

细菌有望成为气候变化新标尺我国科学家通过对青藏高原冰芯和雪样中的细菌含量进行研究,发现冰芯和雪中的细菌可能成为气候变化的新指标。该研究的冰芯和雪样采自格拉丹东山脉,包含了过去70年的气候变化数据。研究发现,冰芯中的细菌含量随着稳定氧同位素值的增高而增多,而后者与气温存在很好的正相关关系。此外,随着冰芯中沙尘含量的增高,细菌量也在增加。进一步的分析表明,在每年季风时节,微生物的来源迥异,而在后半年出现的细菌则来源单纯,且来源地较近,环境寒冷。     

低温细菌与古菌的生物多样性及其冷适应机制

低温细菌与古菌广泛分布于地球的低温环境,包括南极、北极及高山地带的冻土、低温土壤和荒漠、冰川、湖泊、海冰,以及深海、冰洞和大气平流层等.栖息在这些低温环境中的细菌与古菌具有丰富的多样性,主要为α,p和γ-Proteobacteria分支、CFB类群分支和革兰氏阳性细菌分支等.由于低温环境中的微生物流动性低,因而是研究微生物地理学理想的生态系统,有助于理解地球微生物的多样性、分布规律乃至形成机制.由于长期生活在冰冻环境中,低温细菌与古菌形成了多种适应低温环境的生理机制,如它们通过细胞膜脂类的组成来调节膜的流动性以维持正常的细胞生理功能;利用相容性溶质、抗冻蛋白、冰核蛋白及抗冰核形成蛋白等实现低温保护作用;产生冷激蛋白、冷适应蛋白和DEAD-box RNA解旋酶保持低温下RNA的正确折叠、蛋白质翻译等重要的生命活动;另外还产生低温酶,提高能量产生和储存效率等以适应低温环境.随着DNA序列分析技术的飞速发展,各类组学方法也用于揭示微生物全局性的冷适应机制.     

含金地质体表生带中主要微生物类群的研究

通过对16个含金矿区主要微生物类群的分布、生态结构的研究,发现不同类型的金矿具有不同的微生物类群.金矿矿石与金矿酸水中的自养硫细菌和异养菌分布具有明显差异,酸性水中含自养硫细菌较多,含异养菌极少;金矿氧化带中的异氧菌一般多于自氧硫细菌,其优势菌以芽孢杆菌属中蜡状芽孢杆菌为主.研究结果揭示了金矿中存在的主要微生物类群,对阐明表生金的形成、成岩和蚀变作用具有一定的意义,对发掘生物湿法冶金菌种资源具有重要作用.     

三极冰川冰尘微生物及其介导的碳氮生物地球化学循环研究进展

冰尘是散落在冰川表面由矿物质、有机质和微生物组成的聚合体,其主要来源包括远源输送来的细粉尘和气溶胶组分、局地源的粗冰碛物及来自周围生态系统的土壤和植物碎屑等。冰尘对太阳辐射具有较强的吸收作用,可降低冰面反照率、促进冰川融化。冰尘也是迄今为止生物多样性最高的冰川表面微生物栖息地,生活着细菌、真菌、藻类等。冰尘微生物是冰川表面地球化学循环的主要驱动者,微生物分解转化冰尘内有机质,降低冰川表面反照率影响冰川物质平衡。基于冰尘的重要性,本文综述了南极、北极、青藏高原第三极冰川冰尘的物理和化学特征及其影响因素,冰尘微生物群落组成及其介导的碳氮生物地球化学循环过程,并展望了冰尘微生物研究的前景。     

崇测冰帽不同的冰川样品可培养细菌群落结构差异北大核心CSCD

【目的】研究细菌群落组成在西昆仑崇测冰帽冰川雪样、冰碛物和土样中的差异。【方法】通过传统的纯培养和菌株16S r RNA基因序列鉴定,分析菌株在门水平和属水平的群落结构。【结果】冰川细菌由Actinobacteria、Firmicutes、Proteobacteria和Bacteroidetes 4个门组成。雪样以Proteobacteria为优势,而土样和冰碛物则以Actinobacteria为优势。在属的水平上,冰川土样中的优势属仅有Arthrobacter,雪样中的优势属主要有Methylobacterium、Modestobacter、Hymenobacter、Brevundimonas、Bacillus这5种。雪环境的细菌群落结构与冰碛物和土样的差异性较大,而冰碛物和土样之间的差异性不大。Skermanella可能为崇测冰帽所特有的细菌。【结论】初步说明了在冰川退缩的气候环境下,冰川雪样细菌多样性的脆弱性,以及冰川雪环境细菌资源保护的重要性。     

冰川微生物菌群分布及多样性研究技术进展

冰川微生物蕴涵着生命进化历程的丰富信息,对冰川微生物的研究将为揭示遗传多样性、气候环境变迁及其对环境变化的响应机制等开辟新途径。阐述了冰川微生物的多样性和群落结构特征、影响其分布的生态因素,并进一步对冰川微生物研究所涉及的分子生物学方法进行了综述。     

微生物物种多样性、群落构建与功能性状研究进展

微生物主要包括细菌、真菌、古菌、病毒等类群, 是地球上出现时间最早、分布最广泛、个体数量最多, 以及物种和基因多样性十分丰富的生物类群。为了适应各种生境, 微生物衍生出腐生、寄生、共生等多样的生存策略, 在生物地球化学循环、生态系统演替与稳定性、环境修复以及人类健康等方面发挥着重要作用。传统的微生物监测方法限制了我们对微生物多样性的认知; 但是, 近年来高通量测序技术和生物信息学的发展极大推动了微生物多样性的研究进展。本文概述了近年来在微生物多样性分布格局与维持、群落构建以及功能属性多样性的最新进展; 总结分析了细菌、古菌、真菌的多样性纬度分布格局及其驱动因子, 选择、扩散、成种、漂变等过程对细菌、古菌、真菌的群落构建的贡献, 以及细菌和真菌的形态、生理生化、生长繁殖、扩散、基因组等功能性状的多样性; 提出了未来微生物多样性研究的重要领域: 环境宏真菌组研究, 微生物多样性与生态系统多功能性的关系研究, 以及微生物互作网络的生态功能研究。     

海洋微型生物储碳过程与机制概论

在全球气候环境演变的背景下,认识海洋微型生物对碳循环的贡献,需要了解其过程和机制.最近提出的“微型生物碳泵”理论阐释了海洋储碳的一个新机制:微型生物活动把溶解有机碳从活性向惰性转化,从而构成了海洋储碳.这个过程当中,自养与异养细菌、病毒、原生动物等具有不同生理特性微型生物类群扮演着不同的生态角色,本文将围绕微型生物碳泵主线分别论述之.     

Deposition and postdeposition mechanisms as possible drivers of microbial population variability in glacier ice

Glaciers accumulate airborne microorganisms year by year and thus are good archives of microbial communities and their relationship to climatic and environmental changes. Hypotheses have focused on two possible drivers of microbial community composition in glacier systems. One is aeolian deposition, in which the microbial load by aerosol, dust, and precipitation events directly determines the amount and composition of microbial species in glacier ice. The other is postdepositional selection, in which the metabolic activity in surface snow causes microbial community shifts in glacier ice. An additional possibility is that both processes occur simultaneously. Aeolian deposition initially establishes a microbial community in the ice, whereas postdeposition selection strengthens the deposition patterns of microorganisms with the development of tolerant species in surface snow, resulting in varying structures of microbial communities with depth. In this minireview, we examine these postulations through an analysis of physical–chemical and biological parameters from the Malan and Vostok ice cores, and the Kuytun 51 Glacial surface and deep snow. We discuss these and other recent results in the context of the hypothesized mechanisms driving microbial community succession in glaciers. We explore our current gaps in knowledge and point out future directions for research on microorganisms in glacial ecosystems.     

Microbial biodiversity in glacier-fed streams

While glaciers become increasingly recognised as a habitat for diverse and active microbial communities, effects of their climate change-induced retreat on the microbial ecology of glacier-fed streams remain elusive. Understanding the effect of climate change on microorganisms in these ecosystems is crucial given that microbial biofilms control numerous stream ecosystem processes with potential implications for downstream biodiversity and biogeochemistry. Here, using a space-for-time substitution approach across 26 Alpine glaciers, we show how microbial community composition and diversity, based on 454-pyrosequencing of the 16S rRNA gene, in biofilms of glacier-fed streams may change as glaciers recede. Variations in streamwater geochemistry correlated with biofilm community composition, even at the phylum level. The most dominant phyla detected in glacial habitats were Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria and Cyanobacteria/chloroplasts. Microorganisms from ice had the lowest α diversity and contributed marginally to biofilm and streamwater community composition. Rather, streamwater apparently collected microorganisms from various glacial and non-glacial sources forming the upstream metacommunity, thereby achieving the highest α diversity. Biofilms in the glacier-fed streams had intermediate α diversity and species sorting by local environmental conditions likely shaped their community composition. α diversity of streamwater and biofilm communities decreased with elevation, possibly reflecting less diverse sources of microorganisms upstream in the catchment. In contrast, β diversity of biofilms decreased with increasing streamwater temperature, suggesting that glacier retreat may contribute to the homogenisation of microbial communities among glacier-fed streams.     

Preliminary Study on Effects of Glacial Retreat on the Dominant Glacial Snow Bacteria in Laohugou Glacier No. 12

One impact of climate change is the rapid shrinking of glaciers, resulting in microorganisms deposited into glacial snow or ice being exposed to new environments such as glacier foreland. A pyrosequencing analysis based on the bacterial 16S rRNA gene showed that bacterial diversity was the highest in proglacial soil, followed by that of glacial snow in ablation zone, then by that of glacial snow in the accumulation area, finally by that of glacial snow in glacier terminus, with the combination of Chao1, ACE, Shannon and Simpson analysis. Eighteen phyla were detected from the 7 samples, but mainly composed of Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria and Bacteroidetes. Flavobacterium, Massilia, Pedobacter, Polaromonas were more abundant in glacial snow samples than in glacial soil sample. Massilia was rarely reported in other environments, implying the necessity for its conservation under scenarios of glacier and snowpack loss induced by climate change.     

Microbial primary production on an Arctic glacier is insignificant in comparison with allochthonous organic carbon input

Cryoconite holes are unique freshwater environments on glacier surfaces, formed when solar-heated dark debris melts down into the ice. Active photoautotrophic microorganisms are abundant within the holes and fix inorganic carbon due to the availability of liquid water and solar radiation. Cryoconite holes are potentially important sources of organic carbon to the glacial ecosystem, but the relative magnitudes of autochthonous microbial primary production and wind-borne allochthonous organic matter brought are unknown. Here, we compare an estimate of annual microbial primary production in 2006 on Werenskioldbreen, a Svalbard glacier, with the organic carbon content of cryoconite debris. There is a great disparity between annual primary production (4.3 μg C g⁻¹ year⁻¹) and the high content of organic carbon within the debris (1.7–4.5%, equivalent to 8500–22 000 μg C g⁻¹ debris). Long-term accumulation of autochthonous organic matter is considered unlikely due to ablation dynamics and the surface hydrology of the glacier. Rather, it is more likely that the majority of the organic matter on Werenskioldbreen is allochthonous. Hence, although glacier surfaces can be a significant source of organic carbon for glacial environments on Svalbard, they may be reservoirs rather than oases of high productivity.     

New subgroup of Bacteroidetes and diverse microorganisms in Tibetan plateau glacial ice provide a biological record of environmental conditions

We recovered microorganisms from five ice core samples from three glaciers (Puruogangri, Malan, and Dunde) located in the Tibetan Plateau in China and analyzed their small subunit rRNA gene sequences. Most of the bacterial sequences were unknown previously; the most closely related known sequences were from bacteria of the Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes , and Actinobacteria phyla. Chlorophyta, Streptophyta, Ciliophora , and fungal groups were represented among the 18S rRNA gene sequences that we obtained. The most abundantly represented glacial bacteria were Bacteroidetes , and Chlamydomonas was the predominant eukaryote. Comparative analysis showed that the Bacteroidetes sequences obtained from this study were highly similar to one another but most were only distantly related to previously characterized Bacteroidetes (<92% identity). We propose that our Bacteroidetes sequences represent two novel subgroups: one at the family level and one at the genus level. The unique ice environment and the high abundance of Bacteroidetes , combined with the coexistence of a high abundance of psychrophilic Chlamydomonas , strongly suggests that there is a viable ecosystem on the surface of Tibetan glaciers. Comparisons of microbial community structures in the five ice samples showed distinct differences, likely due to environmental differences in the locations in which the samples were obtained.     

Isolation of oligotrophic yeasts from supraglacial environments of different altitude on the Gulkana Glacier (Alaska)

Psychrophilic yeasts have been isolated from supra- and subglacial ice at many sites worldwide. To understand the ecology of psychrophilic yeasts on glaciers, we focused on their adaptation to wide range of nutrient concentrations and their distribution with altitude on the Gulkana Glacier in Alaska. We found various culturable psychrophilic yeasts on the ice surfaces of the glacier, and 11 species were isolated with incubation at 4?°C in four different dilutions of agar medium. Some of our isolated species (Rhodotorula psychrophenolica, Rhodotorula aff. psychrophenolica, Rhodotorula glacialis, and Basidiomycota sp. 1) can grow on the low dissolved organic matter (DOC) concentrations medium (7.6?mg?L(-1) ) which is close to the typical level of supraglacial melt water, suggesting that these species can inhabit in any supraglacial meltwater. Otherwise, most of other species were isolated only from higher DOC concentration medium (183?mg?L(-1) -18.3?g?L(-1) ), suggesting that these are inhabitant around the cryoconite, because DOC concentrations in melted surface-ice contained cryoconite is much higher than in melted water. Similarity of altitudinal distribution between culturable yeast and algal biomass suggests that the ecological role played by the cold-adapted yeasts is as organic matter decomposers and nutrient cyclers in glacier ecosystem.     

High microbial activity on glaciers: importance to the global carbon cycle

Cryoconite holes, which can cover 0.1–10% of the surface area of glaciers, are small, water-filled depressions (typically <1 m in diameter and usually <0.5 m deep) that form on the surface of glaciers when solar-heated inorganic and organic debris melts into the ice. Recent studies show that cryoconites are colonized by a diverse range of microorganisms, including viruses, bacteria and algae. Whether microbial communities on the surface of glaciers are actively influencing biogeochemical cycles or are just present in a dormant state has been a matter of debate for long time. Here, we report primary production and community respiration of cryoconite holes upon glaciers in Svalbard, Greenland and the European Alps. Microbial activity in cryoconite holes is high despite maximum temperatures seldom exceeding 0.1 °C. In situ primary production and respiration in cryoconites during the summer is often comparable with that found in soils in warmer and nutrient richer regions. Considering only glacier areas outside Antarctica and a conservative average cryoconite distribution on glacial surfaces, we found that on a global basis cryoconite holes have the potential to fix as much as 64 Gg of carbon per year (i.e. 98 Gg of photosynthesis minus 34 Gg of community respiration). Most lakes and rivers are generally considered as heterotrophic systems, but our results suggest that glaciers, which contain 75% of the freshwater of the planet, are largely autotrophic systems.     

Relative Incidence of Ascomycetous Yeasts in Arctic Coastal Environments

Previous studies of fungi in polar environments have revealed a prevalence of basidiomycetous yeasts in soil and in subglacial environments of polythermal glaciers. Ascomycetous yeasts have rarely been reported from extremely cold natural environments, even though they are known contaminants of frozen foods. Using media with low water activity, we have isolated various yeast species from the subglacial ice of four glaciers from the coastal Arctic environment of Kongsfjorden, Spitzbergen, including Debaryomyces hansenii and Pichia guillermondii, with counts reaching 10⁴ CFU L⁻¹. Together with the basidiomycetes Cryptococcus liquefaciens and Rhodotorula mucilaginosa, these yeasts represent the stable core of the subglacial yeast communities. Other glacial ascomycetous species isolated included Candida parapsilosis and a putative new species that resembles Candida pseudorugosa. The archiascomycete Protomyces inouyei has seldom been detected anywhere in the world but was here recovered from ice in a glacier cave. The glacier meltwater contained only D. hansenii, whereas the seawater contained D. hansenii, Debaryomyces maramus, Pichia guilliermondii, what appears to represent a novel species resembling Candida galli and Metschnikowia bicuspidata. Only P. guilliermondii was isolated from sea ice, while snow/ice in the fjord tidal zone included C. parapsilosis, D. hansenii, P. guilliermondii and Metschnikowia zobellii. All of these isolated strains were characterized as psychrotolerant and xero/halotolerant, with the exception of P. inouyei.