Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 6, 2026
07:19
Compost Microcosms as Microbially Diverse, Natural-like Environments for Microbiome Research in Caenorhabditis elegans
Published on: September 13, 2022
2.7K
Microbial diversity along a gradient in peatlands treating mining-affected waters
Katharina Kujala1, Anu Mikkonen2, Karita Saravesi3
1Water Resources and Environmental Engineering Research Unit, University of Oulu, PO Box 4300, FI-90014 Oulu, Finland.
FEMS Microbiology Ecology
|August 24, 2018
Summary
Microbial communities in Northern Finland
Area of Science:
- Environmental microbiology
- Peatland ecosystems
- Bioremediation
Background:
- Peatlands are vital for purifying mining-affected waters in Northern Finland.
- Microorganisms in these treatment peatlands (TPs) face harsh Northern climates.
- Research on these microbial communities is limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate bacterial, archaeal, and fungal communities in TPs.
- Analyze microbial responses to mine water contaminants like arsenic (As), sulfate (SO42-), and nitrate (NO3-).
- Assess the functional potential of microbial communities for contaminant removal.
Main Methods:
- Community analysis of bacteria, archaea, and fungi along contaminant gradients.
- Utilized PICRUSt for predicting functional potential of bacterial and archaeal communities.
- Compared microbial composition and predicted functions between two TPs.
Main Results:
- High microbial diversity observed in both TPs, with distinct community compositions.
- Bacterial communities dominated by Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Chloroflexi, and Acidobacteria.
- Archaeal communities featured Methanomicrobia and Bathyarchaeota; fungal communities were dominated by Ascomycota.
- Predicted functions related to As resistance were abundant at high As concentrations.
- Functions for nitrogen and sulfate turnover were predicted in both TPs.
Conclusions:
- Northern TPs harbor diverse microbial communities.
- Microbial functional potential supports contaminant removal in TPs.
- Microorganisms are adapted to high contaminant levels and the Northern climate.
Related Concept Videos
01:26What is an Electrochemical Gradient?
128.1K
Adenosine triphosphate, or ATP, is considered the primary energy source in cells. However, energy can also be stored in the electrochemical gradient of an ion across the plasma membrane, which is determined by two factors: its chemical and electrical gradients.
The chemical gradient relies on differences in the abundance of a substance on the outside versus the inside of a cell and flows from areas of high to low ion concentration. In contrast, the electrical gradient revolves around an...
The chemical gradient relies on differences in the abundance of a substance on the outside versus the inside of a cell and flows from areas of high to low ion concentration. In contrast, the electrical gradient revolves around an...
128.1K
01:30Diversity of Archaea I
660
Archaea, a domain of single-celled microorganisms, are classified into five major phyla based on genetic and biochemical characteristics: Euryarchaeota, Crenarchaeota, Thaumarchaeota, Korarchaeota, and Nanoarchaeota. Among these, the phylum Euryarchaeota is notable for its remarkable diversity in morphology, metabolism, and ecological adaptations.Morphological and Metabolic DiversityMembers of Euryarchaeota exhibit a variety of cellular shapes, including rods and cocci. Their metabolic pathways...
660
01:13Cell Diversity
5.1K
The concept of a cell started with microscopic observations of dead cork tissue by Robert Hooke in 1665. Hooke coined the term "cell" based on the resemblance of the small subdivisions in the cork to the rooms that monks inhabited, called cells. About ten years later, Antonie van Leeuwenhoek became the first person to observe the living and moving cells under a microscope. In the century that followed, the theory that cells represented the basic unit of life developed.
Multicellular...
Multicellular...
5.1K
01:24Diversity of Archaea II
529
Archaea, one of the three domains of life, exhibit remarkable diversity and adaptability, thriving in both extreme and moderate environments. Historically, most identified archaea have been classified into two major phyla: Euryarchaeota and Crenarchaeota. However, recent molecular studies have expanded this classification to include three additional phyla: Thaumarchaeota, Nanoarchaeota, and Korarchaeota, each exhibiting unique characteristics and ecological roles.Thaumarchaeota: Mesophiles...
529
01:15Diversity of Protists I
1.2K
Excavata is a diverse group of protists that includes both chemoorganotrophic and phototrophic species, with some thriving in anaerobic environments. Among the key groups within Excavata are diplomonads and parabasalids, which are flagellated protists that lack mitochondria and chloroplasts. These microorganisms typically inhabit anoxic environments, such as the intestines of animals, where they exist either symbiotically or as parasites, relying on fermentation for energy production. Some...
1.2K
01:27Diversity of Protists II
1.1K
Alveolates are a group of organisms recognized by the presence of alveoli, which are cytoplasmic sacs located beneath the cell membrane. While their function remains uncertain, alveoli may help regulate water balance by controlling how much water enters and leaves the cell. In dinoflagellates, these structures may serve as armor plates. There are three major types of alveolates: ciliates, which move using cilia; dinoflagellates, which use flagella for movement; and apicomplexans, which are...
1.1K