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Global ecological pattern of ammonia-oxidizing archaea
Huiluo Cao1, Jean-Christophe Auguet, Ji-Dong Gu
1Laboratory of Environmental Microbiology and Toxicology, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
Plos One
|March 8, 2013
Summary
Global distribution of ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) is widespread. Marine planktonic AOA show recent, rapid diversification, suggesting varied evolutionary histories across habitats.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Ecology
- Evolutionary Biology
Background:
- Ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) are crucial for nitrification globally.
- Existing studies confirm widespread AOA distribution.
- Limited understanding of factors shaping global AOA community assembly.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze global distribution patterns of uncultured AOA.
- To investigate ecological and evolutionary factors influencing AOA community assembly.
- To reveal diversification patterns of nitrifying archaea.
Main Methods:
- Meta-analysis of over 6,200 archaeal amoA gene sequences.
- Dataset of 1,476 sequences from eight habitat types.
- Phylogenetic and macroevolutionary analyses.
Main Results:
- Identified three major monophyletic clusters (Nitrosopumilus, Nitrosotalea, Nitrosocaldus) and a Nitrososphaera cluster.
- Marine/estuarine sediments and symbionts are potential AOA diversity reservoirs.
- Marine planktonic AOA exhibit recent, accelerating diversification, unlike other habitats.
Conclusions:
- Up-to-date amoA phylogeny provides insights into AOA evolutionary mechanisms.
- Environmental parameters significantly shape global AOA community assembly.
- Habitat-specific evolutionary histories are evident for AOA.
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