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Long-term dynamics in microbial eukaryotes communities: a palaeolimnological view based on sedimentary DNA
Eric Capo1, Didier Debroas2,3, Fabien Arnaud4
1CARRTEL, INRA, Université de Savoie Mont Blanc, 74200, Thonon-les-bains, France.
Molecular Ecology
|October 21, 2016
Summary
Ancient DNA from lake sediments reveals microbial eukaryote shifts over 2200 years. Eutrophication significantly impacted biodiversity more than climate change in Lake Bourget.
Area of Science:
- Palaeolimnology
- Eukaryotic Ecology
- Environmental DNA (eDNA)
Background:
- Assessing long-term lacustrine biodiversity changes requires extensive palaeolimnological data.
- Microbial eukaryotes (protists and Fungi) play crucial roles in aquatic ecosystems.
- Sedimentary DNA offers a promising archive for reconstructing past biodiversity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To reconstruct 2200 years of microbial eukaryote diversity changes in two lakes using sedimentary DNA.
- To identify potential biological markers for trophic status changes.
- To investigate the relative impacts of climate change and eutrophication on lacustrine biodiversity.
Main Methods:
- High-throughput sequencing of sedimentary DNA from 176 samples spanning over 2200 years.
- Analysis of microbial eukaryotes, including protists and Fungi.
- Identification of 16,386 operational taxonomic units within 50 phylogenetic groups.
Main Results:
- Diverse microbial eukaryotes were identified, including groups not previously studied in lake sediments.
- Shifts in the relative abundance of species, including rare and abundant taxa, correlated with environmental changes.
- Community structure shifts coincided with climate variations, but eutrophication impacts were more pronounced in Lake Bourget.
Conclusions:
- Sedimentary DNA is a valuable archive for past biodiversity changes.
- Microbial eukaryotes like Chlorophyta, Dinophyceae, Haptophyceae, and Ciliophora can serve as bio-indicators of trophic status.
- Eutrophication can exert a stronger influence on lacustrine biodiversity than climate change over millennial timescales.
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