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Area of Science:

  • Microbial Ecology
  • Geochemistry
  • Biogeochemistry

Background:

  • High-temperature ecosystems like Yellowstone hot springs harbor unique microbial communities.
  • Understanding substrate utilization is key to deciphering microbial metabolism in extreme environments.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the relative importance of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC), formate, and acetate in supporting microbial metabolism in Yellowstone hot springs.
  • To investigate the influence of environmental factors (pH, temperature) on substrate transformation rates.

Main Methods:

  • Quantified mineralization and assimilation rates of DIC, formate, and acetate in 13 hot springs (>73 °C).
  • Analyzed community composition using 16S rRNA gene sequencing.
  • Conducted short-term incubation experiments with formate amendments and community kinetic assays.

Main Results:

  • Most hot spring communities showed higher DIC assimilation, but some favored formate/acetate assimilation.
  • Substrate transformation rates correlated positively with pH, not temperature.
  • Formate addition suppressed DIC assimilation, indicating mixotrophic capabilities.

Conclusions:

  • Microbial communities in high-temperature hot springs are adaptable and can utilize both inorganic and organic carbon sources.
  • Dominant chemoautotrophs appear mixotrophic, utilizing organic substrates when available.
  • These findings highlight the flexibility of microbial metabolism in response to fluctuating nutrient conditions.