Molecular Evidence for Metabolically Active Bacteria in the Atmosphere
Ann M Klein1, Brendan J M Bohannan1, Daniel A Jaffe2
1Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Department of Biology, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR USA.
Frontiers in Microbiology
|June 3, 2016
Summary
Active bacteria exist in the atmosphere, with rare taxa showing disproportionate metabolic activity. Comparative rRNA/rDNA techniques reveal atmospheric bacterial community composition and function.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Environmental Science
- Biogeochemistry
Background:
- Bacterial metabolisms drive essential chemical transformations across diverse environments.
- The metabolic activity of atmospheric bacterial communities remains largely unexplored despite their ubiquity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the structure and composition of active bacterial communities in the atmosphere.
- To understand the metabolic functioning of atmospheric bacteria using a combined empirical and model-based approach.
Main Methods:
- Sampling air at a high-elevation research station.
- Analyzing bacterial communities using both ribosomal RNA (rRNA) for active members and ribosomal DNA (rDNA) for total community composition.
- Developing theoretical models to explain observed differences between rRNA and rDNA communities.
Main Results:
- The active bacterial community (rRNA) composition significantly differed from the total bacterial community (rDNA).
- Rare taxa within the total community were disproportionately active.
- Members of the order Rhodospirillales exhibited the highest potential for activity.
- Random sampling effects, especially with rare active taxa, can explain observed community differences and the appearance of 'phantom taxa'.
Conclusions:
- Comparative rRNA/rDNA techniques effectively reveal the structure and composition of metabolically active bacterial communities.
- Metabolically active bacteria are present in the atmosphere.
- Atmospheric bacterial communities may play a role in the cycling of atmospheric organic compounds.
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