Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 8, 2026

Exploring the Root Microbiome: Extracting Bacterial Community Data from the Soil, Rhizosphere, and Root Endosphere
Published on: May 2, 2018
Bacterial diversity at different depths in lead-zinc mine tailings as revealed by 16S rRNA gene libraries
Han-Bo Zhang1, Wen Shi, Ming-Xia Yang
1Key Laboratory of Conservation and Utilization for Bio-resources, Yunnan University, Kunming, Yunnan Province, PR China. zhhb@ynu.edu.cn
Abstract:
Bacterial communities at 10 cm, 100 cm, and 200 cm depths in a 100-year-old lead-zinc tailing heap were evaluated by constructing 16S rRNA gene libraries. In total, 98 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were identified from 193 clones at a 3% sequence difference level. The OTU number and species richness decreased with the depth. Species composition was significantly different between the three libraries. Fifty-seven percent of the examined clones were Acidobacteria and 27% belonged to Proteobacteria. Other sequences included Chloroflexi, Firmicutes, Chlamydiae, Actinobacteria, Gemmatimonadetes, Nitrospira, and three unclassified OTUs. Alphaproteobacteria, Betaproteobacteria, Gammaproteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Actinobacteria were mainly distributed in the rhizosphere of naturally colonizing plants; however, Deltaproteobacteria, Acidobacteria, and Chloroflexi tended to inhabit the deeper tailings (below the 100 cm-depth).
Related Concept Videos
Applications of Molecular Taxonomy
Microbial Leaching
Diversity of Archaea III
Acid Mine Drainage
Diversity of Archaea I
Diversity of Archaea II

