Bacterial diversity in snow on North Pole ice floes

The microbial abundance and diversity in snow on ice floes at three sites near the North Pole was assessed using quantitative PCR and 454 pyrosequencing. Abundance of 16S rRNA genes in the samples ranged between 43 and 248 gene copies per millilitre of melted snow. A total of 291,331 sequences were obtained through 454 pyrosequencing of 16S rRNA genes, resulting in 984 OTUs at 97 % identity. Two sites were dominated by Cyanobacteria (72 and 61 %, respectively), including chloroplasts. The third site differed by consisting of 95 % Proteobacteria. Principal component analysis showed that the three sites clustered together when compared to the underlying environments of sea ice and ocean water. The Shannon indices ranged from 2.226 to 3.758, and the Chao1 indices showed species richness between 293 and 353 for the three samples. The relatively low abundances and diversity found in the samples indicate a lower rate of microbial input to this snow habitat compared to snow in the proximity of terrestrial and anthropogenic sources of microorganisms. The differences in species composition and diversity between the sites show that apparently similar snow habitats contain a large variation in biodiversity, although the differences were smaller than the differences to the underlying environment. The results support the idea that a globally distributed community exists in snow and that the global snow community can in part be attributed to microbial input from the atmosphere.     

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.     

Variations in bacterial and fungal communities through soil depth profiles in a <Emphasis Type="Italic">Betula albosinensis</Emphasis> forest

Microbial communities in subsurface soil are specialized for their environment, which is distinct from that of the surface communities. However, little is known about the microbial communities (bacteria and fungi) that exist in the deeper soil horizons. Vertical changes in microbial alpha-diversity (Chao1 and Shannon indices) and community composition were investigated at four soil depths (0–10, 10–20, 20–40, and 40–60 cm) in a natural secondary forest of Betula albosinensis by high-throughput sequencing of the 16S and internal transcribed spacer rDNA regions. The numbers of operational taxonomic units (OTUs), and the Chao1 and Shannon indices decreased in the deeper soil layers. Each soil layer contained both mutual and specific OTUs. In the 40–60 cm soil layer, 175 and 235 specific bacterial and fungal OTUs were identified, respectively. Acidobacteria was the most dominant bacterial group in all four soil layers, but reached its maximum at 40–60 cm (62.88%). In particular, the 40–60 cm soil layer typically showed the highest abundance of the fungal genus Inocybe (47.46%). The Chao1 and Shannon indices were significantly correlated with the soil organic carbon content. Redundancy analysis indicated that the bacterial communities were closely correlated with soil organic carbon content (P = 0.001). Collectively, these results indicate that soil nutrients alter the microbial diversity and relative abundance and affect the microbial composition.     

Effect of Condensed Tannins on Bovine Rumen Protist Diversity Based on 18S rRNA Gene Sequences

Molecular diversity of protists from bovine rumen fluid incubated with condensed tannins of Leucaena leucocephala hybrid‐Rendang at 20 mg/500 mg dry matter (treatment) or without condensed tannins (control) was investigated using 18S rRNA gene library. Clones from the control library were distributed within nine genera, but clones from the condensed tannin treatment clone library were related to only six genera. Diversity estimators such as abundance‐based coverage estimation and Chao1 showed significant differences between the two libraries, although no differences were found based on Shannon–Weaver index and Libshuff.     

Vulnerability of alpine stream biodiversity to shrinking glaciers and snowpacks

Climate change poses a considerable threat to the biodiversity of high latitude and altitude ecosystems, with alpine regions across the world already showing responses to warming. However, despite probable hydrological change as alpine glaciers and snowpacks shrink, links between alpine stream biota and reduced meltwater input are virtually unknown. Using data from the French Pyrénées, we demonstrate that taxonomic richness and total abundance of stream macroinvertebrates increase significantly as meltwater (snow melt and glacier melt) contributions to river flow decrease. Macroinvertebrate species showed a gradation of optimum meltwater conditions at which they persist. For example: Habroleptoides berthelemyi (Ephemeroptera), Perla grandis (Plecoptera) and Rhithrogena spp. (Ephemeroptera) increased in abundance when meltwater contributions to streamflow decrease, whereas in contrast, Rhyacophila angelieri (Trichoptera) and Diamesa latitarsis spp. (Diptera) decreased in abundance. Changes in alpine stream macroinvertebrate community composition as meltwater contributions decline were associated with lower suspended sediment concentration, and higher water temperature, electrical conductivity and pH. Our results suggest α diversity (at a site) of streams presently fed by meltwaters will increase with future meltwater reductions. However, β diversity (between‐sites) will be reduced as snow melt and glacier melt decrease because the habitat heterogeneity associated with spatiotemporal variability of water source contributions will become lower as meltwater contributions decline. Extinction of some endemic alpine aquatic species (such as the Pyrenean caddis fly R. angelieri) is predicted with reduced meltwater inputs, leading to decreases in γ diversity (region). Our identification of significant links between meltwater production and stream macroinvertebrate biodiversity has wider implications for the conservation of alpine river ecosystems under scenarios of climate change induced glacier and snowpack loss.     

川西亚高山三种天然次生林土壤微生物多样性变化特征

开展川西亚高山相似土壤母质背景下天然次生林土壤微生物群落结构及其多样性探究,可加深次生林更新过程中土壤微生物群落结构变化的认知。选取川西米亚罗林区20世纪60年代采伐后经自然更新恢复形成的3种天然次生林（槭-桦阔叶林,ABB;桦-槭-冷杉针阔混交林,BAA;岷江冷杉林,AFF）,分析林下表层（0-20 cm）土壤微生物群落结构变化及其影响因素,结果显示：（1）3种林型土壤细菌Chao1和Shannon指数均极显著高于真菌,但仅真菌群落的Shannon指数差异显著,表现为BAA > ABB > AFF;（2）细菌群落优势门主要为变形杆菌门、酸杆菌门、疣微菌门、拟杆菌门、绿弯菌门,相对丰度占比超过82%;真菌群落则为子囊菌门和担子菌门,占比超过85%,AFF担子菌门相对丰度最高而子囊菌门最低。（3） RDA分析显示,土壤pH和乔木物种多样性（Shannon指数）是影响微生物群落结构变化的主导因子;土壤养分元素对细菌群落影响不显著,真菌群落主要受TN、TP含量显著影响。总体上,林型间乔木层物种多样性、土壤酸碱度及其氮磷含量是导致微生物群落结构变化的关键因素。     

青海不同区域农田作物土壤细菌多样性及群落结构分析

【目的】探讨青海省农田土壤细菌多样性及群落结构组成。【方法】采用高通量测序技术分析都兰县、互助县、共和县和大通县种植小麦、油菜、青稞土壤细菌群落结构组成及多样性差异,并解析其与土壤理化特性的关系。【结果】4个地区的土壤pH、水分、有机质、Chao1指数、Shannon指数、线性判别分析效应大小(linear discriminant analysis effect size, LEfSe)组间差异这些指标中部分指标存在极显著差异性(P<0.01),而3种作物的这些指标无显著差异(P>0.05)。主成分分析(principal component analysis, PCA)显示,不同区域细菌群落组成差异性较大,3种作物农田土壤细菌群落、物种组成相似度较高。4个地区共有3 127个可操作性分类单元(operational taxonomic units, OTUs),3种作物农田土壤细菌共有OTUs为3 694个;细菌物种隶属于36门93纲192目276科450属423种;4个地区或3种作物土壤具有相似的优势门、属、种,但相对丰度不同。水分、pH、有机质与Chao1、Shannon存在显著相关性,pH、有机质与未分类种、unclassified RB41、unclassified Sphingomonas具有显著正相关或负相关。Chao1、Shannon与unclassified Sphingomonas显著负相关,与unclassified RB41、unclassified Vicinamibacteraceae显著正相关。【结论】区域差异对土壤的理化性质、细菌群落结构和多样性具有显著影响,相较于作物而言其影响更加明显。     

基于高通量测序技术分析四川两个奶牛场乳汁的菌群差异

【目的】本试验测定了两个奶牛场健康乳汁和乳房炎乳汁中微生物菌群的变化,以揭示不同奶牛场之乳汁菌群的异同,评估其对乳汁代谢的影响是否相同。【方法】采用16S rRNA高通量测序技术,分别测定两个奶牛场6头健康奶牛和6头乳房炎奶牛乳汁中微生物16S rRNA V4区序列,并对菌群群落结构和多样性进行比较,分析场内及场间的乳汁菌群差异。【结果】四组乳汁样本共获得4013234条原始序列,经过滤后获得2887024条优化序列。Alpha多样性Chao指数、Ace指数、Shannon指数、Simpson指数差异均不显著(P0.05);Beta多样性四组样本均分别聚类;在场1和场2中,引起奶牛乳房炎的优势菌属分别是克雷伯氏菌属和埃希氏菌属;在2个奶牛场的健康乳汁中,场2的埃希氏菌属、葡萄球菌属的丰度显著高于场1;在2个奶牛场的乳房炎乳汁中,场2的埃希氏菌属、乳球菌属的丰度显著高于场1;2个奶牛场健康乳汁中的嗜冷菌总丰度分别为31.87%和38.72%;关联分析及功能预测分析表明,2个奶牛场健康乳汁与乳房炎乳汁优势物种之间的关系差异较大;场1无论是Level 1还是Level 2水平,均发现显著性差异的代谢通路,而场2均未发现显著性差异的代谢通路。【结论】本试验研究了两个奶牛场健康乳汁和乳房炎乳汁微生物菌群之间的异同,为两个奶牛场在乳房炎的预防工作以及原料奶在冷链运输过程中质量控制提供理论依据。     

Microbial diversity and activity through a permafrost/ground ice core profile from the Canadian high Arctic

Culture‐dependent and culture‐independent methods were used in an investigation of the microbial diversity in a permafrost/massive ground ice core from the Canadian high Arctic. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis as well as Bacteria and Archaea 16S rRNA gene clone libraries showed differences in the composition of the microbial communities in the distinct core horizons. Microbial diversity was similar in the active layer (surface) soil, permafrost table and permafrost horizons while the ground ice microbial community showed low diversity. Bacteria and Archaea sequences related to the Actinobacteria (54%) and Crenarchaeota (100%) respectively were predominant in the active layer while the majority of sequences in the permafrost were related to the Proteobacteria (57%) and Euryarchaeota (76%). The most abundant phyla in the ground ice clone libraries were the Firmicutes (59%) and Crenarchaeota (82%). Isolates from the permafrost were both less abundant and diverse than in the active layer soil, while no culturable cells were recovered from the ground ice. Mineralization of [1‐¹⁴C] acetic acid and [2‐¹⁴C] glucose was used to detect microbial activity in the different horizons in the core. Mineralization was detected at near ambient permafrost temperatures (?15°C), indicating that permafrost may harbour an active microbial population, while the low microbial diversity, abundance and activity in ground ice suggests a less hospitable microbial habitat.     

Diversity and phylogeny of bacteria on Zimbabwe tobacco leaves estimated by 16S rRNA sequence analysis

Microorganisms play important roles in the tobacco aging process. However, microbial communities on flue-cured tobacco leaves (FCTL) remain largely unknown. In this study, the total microbial genomic DNA of unaged and aging FCTL from Zimbabwe were isolated using a culture-independent method, and the bacterial communities were investigated through analyzing two 16S rRNA gene libraries. Eighty-four and 65 operational taxonomic units were obtained from the libraries of the unaged and aging FCTL, respectively. The following genera were represented more than 4% in both libraries (aging and unaged library): Sphingomonas (4.84%, 4.18%), Stenotrophomonas (4.84%, 5.23%), Erwinia (5.81%, 4.88%), Pantoea (19.35%, 18.47%), and Pseudomonas (21.29%, 24.04%). The dominant species varied between the two libraries. Specifically, several dominant species in unaged FCTL including Pseudomonas fulva, Pseudomonas sp. (AM909658), Klebsiella sp. (HM584796), and Pantoea sp. (AY501386) were not identified in aging FCTL, while several dominant species in aging FCTL such as Pantoea sp. (GU566350), Pseudomonas sp. (EF157292), and Buttiauxella izardii were not found in unaged FCTL. The phylogenetic analysis showed that bacteria from unaged and aging FCTL were divided into two clades, and two unique subclades were identified in aging FCTL. Our results revealed for the first time the bacterial diversities on Zimbabwe tobacco, and provided a basis for clarifying the roles of bacteria in aging process of FCTL.     

Archaea, Bacteria, and Algal Plastids Associated with the Reef-Building Corals Siderastrea stellata and Mussismilia hispida from Búzios, South Atlantic Ocean, Brazil

Reef-building corals may be seen as holobiont organisms, presenting diverse associated microbial communities. Best known is the symbiotic relationship with zooxanthellae, but Archaea, Bacteria, fungi, viruses, and algal plastids are also abundant. Until now, there is little information concerning microbial communities associated with Brazilian corals. The present study aims to describe the diversity of Archaea, Bacteria, and eukaryotic algal plastid communities associated with two sympatric species, Siderastrea stellata and Mussismilia hispida, from Southeastern Brazil, using 16S rRNA gene libraries. Since corals present a high number of other associated invertebrates, coral barcoding (COI) was performed to confirm the exclusive occurrence of coral DNA in our samples. Our analysis yielded 354 distinct microbial OTUs, represented mainly by novel phylotypes. Richness (Chao1 and ACE) and diversity (H') estimations of the microbial communities associated with both species were high and comparable to other studies. Rarefaction analyses showed that microbial diversity of S. stellata is higher than that of M. hispida. Libshuff comparative analyses showed that the highest microbial community similarity between the two coral species occurred in the bacterial libraries, while archaeal and plastidial communities were significantly different. Crenarchaeota dominated archaeal communities, while Proteobacteria was the most abundant bacterial phylum, dominated by alpha-Proteobacteria. Plastids were also represented by novel phylotypes and did not match with any 16S rRNA sequences of Cyanobacteria and zooxanthellae from GenBank. Our data improves the pool of available information on Brazilian coral microbes and shows corals as sources of diverse prokaryotic and picoeukaryotic communities.     

干旱区典型盐生植物群落下土壤微生物群落特征

运用Biolog技术,对干旱区玛纳斯河流域扇缘带的6种典型盐生植物群落下土壤微生物群落特征差异性进行了研究,探讨不同植物群落对土壤微生物群落的影响。结果表明:不同盐生植物群落土壤平均颜色变化率(AWCD)随培养时间的延长而逐渐增加,大小顺序依次为:梭梭花花柴白刺绢蒿柽柳雾冰藜,且差异显著。不同植物群落土壤微生物对6类碳源利用差异显著(P0.05),其中梭梭群落利用率最高,雾冰藜群落利用率最低。碳水化合物类和氨基酸类是主要碳源,胺类的利用率最低。主成分分析(PCA)表明,在31种因子中提取的2个主成分因子,分别可以解释所有变量方差的41.51%和25.35%,对PC1和PC2起分异作用的主要碳源分别为碳水化合物类和氨基酸类。土壤微生物群落Shannon指数、Simpson指数上,除雾冰藜群落较低,其他群落之间均差异不显著(P0.05)。植物群落Margalef指数,Shannon指数和Simpson指数上,均为绢蒿,梭梭和柽柳群落较为优势。相关性分析表明,植物群落多样性指数与土壤微生物多样性指数呈显著正相关关系(P0.05),说明了植物多样性越丰富,土壤微生物越丰富。总体来说,干旱区不同盐生植物群落对土壤微生物群落多样性具有重要影响。其中,梭梭群落的土壤微生物群落具有较强的微生物总体活性和功能多样性。     

Spatial and Temporal Patterns in the Microbial Diversity of a Meromictic Soda Lake in Washington State

The microbial community diversity and composition of meromictic Soap Lake were studied using culture-dependent and culture-independent approaches. The water column and sediments were sampled monthly for a year. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis of bacterial and archaeal 16S rRNA genes showed an increase in diversity with depth for both groups. Late-summer samples harbored the highest prokaryotic diversity, and the bacteria exhibited less seasonal variability than the archaea. Most-probable-number assays targeting anaerobic microbial guilds were performed to compare summer and fall samples. In both seasons, the anoxic samples appeared to be dominated by lactate-oxidizing sulfate-reducing prokaryotes. High numbers of lactate- and acetate-oxidizing iron-reducing bacteria, as well as fermentative microorganisms, were also found, whereas the numbers of methanogens were low or methanogens were undetectable. The bacterial community composition of summer and fall samples was also assessed by constructing 16S rRNA gene clone libraries. A total of 508 sequences represented an estimated >1,100 unique operational taxonomic units, most of which were from the monimolimnion, and the summer samples were more diverse than the fall samples (Chao1 = 530 and Chao1 = 295, respectively). For both seasons, the mixolimnion sequences were dominated by Gammaproteobacteria, and the chemocline and monimolimnion libraries were dominated by members of the low-G+C-content group, followed by the Cytophaga-Flexibacter-Bacteroides (CFB) group; the mixolimnion sediments contained sequences related to uncultured members of the Chloroflexi and the CFB group. Community overlap and phylogenetic analyses, however, not only demonstrated that there was a high degree of spatial turnover but also suggested that there was a degree of temporal variability due to differences in the members and structures of the communities.     

Three events of Saharan dust deposition on the Mont Blanc glacier associated with different snow-colonizing bacterial phylotypes

A preliminary study has demonstrated that the structure and species composition of microbial communities associated with events of dust deposition from the Sahara Desert to the Mont Blanc glacier varied considerably between samples originating from different time periods. Even for depositions within a single month, the dominant microbial phylotypes and candidates to colonize the snow pack were different. It is therefore highly probable that the structure and species composition of microbial communities will be different between any events of the kind. Apparently, the phenomenon does not correlate with the time the dust stays in the snow cover and consequently with the probable development of microorganisms in situ (three months, one month, and one week). The reasons for the variation may be the differences in conditions in the epicenter of a specific North African dust storm, as well as the history of the dust transport in the atmosphere. The candidates for joining the snow biome of Mont Blanc turned out to be different for three dust events (DEs) and belong to different, mostly minor, phylotypes related to Crossiella cryophilus (Actinobacteria), Devosia limi (α-Proteobacteria), Deinococcus claudionis Deinococcus-Thermus), Anabaena sp. (Cyanobacteria), and Hymenobacter soli (Bacteroidetes). Since all these phylotypes have been previously isolated from soil samples of the Antarctic and Arctic, Arctic snow and ice, and the Alpine belt soils and sedimentary rocks of the glacier bed, they were tentatively ascribed to the group of snow pack colonizers.     

东南极达尔克冰川-183m深处冰层融水细菌多样性研究

【目的】目前对于南极冰层微生物研究较少,而且研究手段多为纯培养和高通量测序,对于其中的微生物群落多样性仍知之甚少。本研究拟研究东南极达尔克冰川冰层中微生物群落组成。【方法】采用纯培养法、单细胞分选和高通量测序3种方法对东南极达尔克冰川冰层微生物进行研究,探究该生境中微生物的群落组成。【结果】从达尔克冰川中分离出10门19纲94属。其中,变形菌门(Proteobacteria)为优势菌门,α-变形菌纲(Alphaproteobacteria)为优势纲,鞘氨醇单胞菌属(Sphingomonas)为优势属,结果显示冰层中存在较为丰富的微生物多样性。其中,纯培养法分离出25株细菌。单细胞分选方法分离得到24株细菌。高通量测序共得到55 183条序列,聚类出116个操作分类单元(operational taxonomic unit, OTU)。3种研究方法得出的优势种群不尽相同。通过单细胞分选和纯培养法共获得7株细菌,它们与数据库最近源16S rRNA基因序列的相似度小于98.65%,其中有2株菌株与最近源16S rRNA基因序列的相似度小于95.00%,推测可能有2个潜在新属,5个潜在新种。【结论】本研究通过纯培养法、单细胞分选以及高通量测序3种方法对东南极达尔克冰川冰层微生物多样性进行研究发现,该生境中细菌多样性复杂。对比3种方法,其各有优势和局限性。这意味着结合使用多种研究方法研究微生物多样性,可获得更加全面的微生物群落组成。研究结果可为挖掘南极微生物资源提供数据基础。     

基于梯度稀释法分析细菌多样性对土壤碳代谢的影响

为探究土壤微生物多样性对土壤碳代谢过程的影响,利用梯度稀释法(处理D1、D3和D5分别为稀释10-1、10-3和10-5倍)改变土壤样品中原始土壤微生物群落的多样性,以探究土壤微生物群落多样性减少对土壤碳代谢的影响。进行为期6周的预培养实验,以消除梯度稀释法对土壤样品中微生物群落丰度的影响,并通过Q-PCR和高通量测序测定预培养结束后3种土壤样品中细菌丰度及其基因多样性指数(ACE、Chao1、Shannon),以验证预培养实验结果。后加入等量葡萄糖(0.5g/100g干土)继续培养,并于培养期间测定3种处理土壤的碳矿化速率,进行biolog ECO板实验,分析计算各土壤样品中细菌的功能多样性指数(Shannon指数(H)、Simpson指数(D)、McIntosh指数(U))及碳源代谢强度。结果表明:(1)3种处理土壤样品碳矿化速率及累积碳矿化量大小排序为:D1> D3> D5,且D1与D3、D5处理均有显著差异(P<0.05)。(2)D1处理下土壤样品中微生物群落的孔平均颜色变化率(AWCD)、功能多样性指数(Shannon指数(H)、McIntosh指数(U))均显著高于D3、D5处理(P<0.05)。(3)对31种碳源吸光度做主成分分析(PCA)分析,发现3种稀释处理下土壤样品的碳源利用模式存在差异,且D1处理下的土壤微生物群落对碳源的代谢功能大于D3、D5处理。因此,该研究表明土壤微生物多样性的减少会降低土壤的碳矿化速率及其碳源代谢强度,对土壤碳代谢过程产生一定程度的不利影响。     

Interactions between Snow Chemistry,Mercury Inputs and Microbial Population Dynamics in an Arctic Snowpack

We investigated the interactions between snowpack chemistry, mercury (Hg) contamination and microbial community structure and function in Arctic snow. Snowpack chemistry (inorganic and organic ions) including mercury (Hg) speciation was studied in samples collected during a two-month field study in a high Arctic site, Svalbard, Norway (79°N). Shifts in microbial community structure were determined by using a 16S rRNA gene phylogenetic microarray. We linked snowpack and meltwater chemistry to changes in microbial community structure by using co-inertia analyses (CIA) and explored changes in community function due to Hg contamination by q-PCR quantification of Hg-resistance genes in metagenomic samples. Based on the CIA, chemical and microbial data were linked (p = 0.006) with bioavailable Hg (BioHg) and methylmercury (MeHg) contributing significantly to the ordination of samples. Mercury was shown to influence community function with increases in merA gene copy numbers at low BioHg levels. Our results show that snowpacks can be considered as dynamic habitats with microbial and chemical components responding rapidly to environmental changes.     

Phylogenetic profiling of bacterial community from two intimately located sites in Balramgari,North-East coast of India

Microbial communities in coastal subsurface sediments play an important role in biogeochemical cycles. In this study microbial communities in tidal subsurface sediments of Balramgari in the state of Orissa, India were investigated using a culture independent approach. Two 16S rDNA cloned libraries were prepared from the closely located (100 m along the coast) subsurface sediment samples. Library I sediment samples had higher organic carbon content but lower sand percentage in comparison to Library II. A total of 310 clone sequences were used for DOTUR analysis which revealed 51 unique phylotypes or operational taxonomic units (OTUs) for both libraries. The OTUs were affiliated with 13 major lineages of domain bacteria including Proteobacteria (α, β, δ and λ), Acidobacteria, Actinobacteria, Cyanobacteria, Chloroflexi, Firmicutes, Verrucomicrobia, Bacteroidetes, Gemmatimonadetes and TM7. We encountered few pathogenic bacteria such as Aeromonas hydrophila and Ochrobactrum intermedium, in sediment from Library I. ∫-LIBSHUFF comparison depicts that the two libraries were significantly different communities. Most of the OTUs from both libraries possessed ≥85% to <97% similarity to RDP database sequences depicting the putative presence of new species, genera and phylum. This work revealed the complex and unique bacterial diversity from coastal habitat of Balramgari and shows that, in coastal habitat a variability of physical and chemical parameter has a prominent impact on the microbial community structure.     

Comparison of Microbial Community Compositions of Two Subglacial Environments Reveals a Possible Role for Microbes in Chemical Weathering Processes

Viable microbes have been detected beneath several geographically distant glaciers underlain by different lithologies, but comparisons of their microbial communities have not previously been made. This study compared the microbial community compositions of samples from two glaciers overlying differing bedrock. Bulk meltwater chemistry indicates that sulfide oxidation and carbonate dissolution account for 90% of the solute flux from Bench Glacier, Alaska, whereas gypsum/anhydrite and carbonate dissolution accounts for the majority of the flux from John Evans Glacier, Ellesmere Island, Nunavut, Canada. The microbial communities were examined using two techniques: clone libraries and dot blot hybridization of 16S rRNA genes. Two hundred twenty-seven clones containing amplified 16S rRNA genes were prepared from subglacial samples, and the gene sequences were analyzed phylogenetically. Although some phylogenetic groups, including the Betaproteobacteria, were abundant in clone libraries from both glaciers, other well-represented groups were found at only one glacier. Group-specific oligonucleotide probes were developed for two phylogenetic clusters that were of particular interest because of their abundance or inferred biochemical capabilities. These probes were used in quantitative dot blot hybridization assays with a range of samples from the two glaciers. In addition to shared phyla at both glaciers, each glacier also harbored a subglacial microbial population that correlated with the observed aqueous geochemistry. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that microbial activity is an important contributor to the solute flux from glaciers.     

Diversity of Snow Bacteria from the Zangser Kangri Glacier in the Tibetan Plateau Environment

Bacterial abundance and community diversity were investigated in a snow pit on the Zangser Kangri (ZSGR) glacier on the Tibetan Plateau by epifluorescence microscopy and small subunit 16 S rRNA gene sequence analyses. Cell abundance and bacterial colony-forming units (CFUs) ranged from 3 × 10³ to 1.5 × 10⁴ cells/ml and 0 to 2.2 CFU/ml, respectively. All isolates were classified into four major groups: Actinobacteria (68%), Alphaproteobacteria (18%), Gammaproteobacteria (9%) and Firmicutes (5%). Principal component analysis of the biochemical data combined with linear correlation analysis revealed two main sources of bacteria on the ZSGR glacier. Considerable amounts of bacteria were probably emitted by vegetation of Qangtang Grassland and transported by the Indian monsoon, some of which might have originated from the Taklimakan Desert and undergone long-range transportation by westerly winds. Bacterial abundance was positively correlated with both Ca²⁺ and HCOO^? concentrations, suggesting two microbial transport carriers, including mineral and organic particles. Members of Caulobacter and Roseomonas that participate in nitrogen transformations were observed in the uppermost snow pit layer, suggesting that they are involved in nitrogen cycling on this glacial surface.