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Experimental sulfate amendment alters peatland bacterial community structure
R J S Strickman1, R R Fulthorpe1, J K Coleman Wasik2
1Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, Scarborough, Ontario, Canada.
The Science of the Total Environment
|June 9, 2016
Summary
Peatland bacterial communities show resilience to sulfate deposition changes. Methylmercury (MeHg) levels correlated with Deltaproteobacteria, indicating sulfate influences MeHg production by altering this microbial group.
Area of Science:
- Environmental microbiology
- Peatland biogeochemistry
- Methylmercury (MeHg) cycling
Background:
- Peatlands are sensitive ecosystems influenced by atmospheric deposition.
- Sulfate deposition can impact microbial communities and methylmercury (MeHg) production.
- Sulfate-reducing bacteria, particularly Deltaproteobacteria, are implicated in MeHg formation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess bacterial community responses to varying sulfate deposition levels in a peatland.
- To investigate the relationship between sulfate deposition, microbial community structure, and methylmercury (MeHg) accumulation.
- To evaluate the resilience of peatland microbial communities to sulfate perturbation.
Main Methods:
- Long-term peatland-scale sulfate addition experiment.
- 16S tag encoded pyrosequencing for bacterial community analysis.
- Measurement of methylmercury (MeHg) concentrations in peat.
Main Results:
- Bacterial and Deltaproteobacterial community structures differed significantly between experimental (elevated sulfate) and control/recovery treatments.
- The recovery treatment showed a rapid return (within three years) of bacterial community structure to control levels, indicating resilience.
- Changes in MeHg accumulation correlated with shifts in the Deltaproteobacterial community structure across treatments.
Conclusions:
- Peatland bacterial communities exhibit significant resilience to altered sulfate deposition.
- Sulfate deposition influences MeHg production, likely through its impact on Deltaproteobacterial community structure.
- Understanding these microbial dynamics is crucial for predicting MeHg cycling in peatlands under changing environmental conditions.
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