Co-occurrence pattern and function prediction of bacterial community in Karst cave
Yiyi Dong1,2,3, Jie Gao2,4, Qingshan Wu1
1School of Life Sciences, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang, 550001, Guizhou, China.
BMC Microbiology
|May 31, 2020
Summary
Zhijin cave harbors diverse bacteria with complex interactions and metabolic pathways, influenced by tourism. This research explores bacterial adaptation in extreme environments and cave ecosystem conservation.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Ecology
- Geology
Background:
- Karst caves are extreme environments with unique biodiversity and metabolic pathways.
- Microorganisms play roles in cave formation and indicate environmental changes.
- Zhijin cave, a popular tourist destination in China, has unclear bacterial diversity and composition.
Purpose of the Study:
- To reveal bacterial diversity and composition in Zhijin cave.
- To assess the impact of tourism on cave bacterial communities.
- To understand bacterial roles and co-occurrence patterns in extreme cave habitats.
Main Methods:
- Bacterial community analysis of rock, soil, and stalactite samples.
- Diversity index calculation (e.g., Shannon index).
- Functional prediction and co-occurrence network analysis.
Main Results:
- Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Firmicutes were dominant bacterial phyla.
- Bacterial diversity varied among sample types, with rock samples showing the highest diversity.
- Complex co-occurrence networks and interdependent bacterial interactions were observed, with potential roles in carbon and nitrogen cycles.
Conclusions:
- Zhijin cave supports bacterial communities with diverse metabolic pathways and cooperative interactions.
- Tourism activities influence the composition and diversity of the cave's bacterial communities.
- Findings offer insights into bacterial adaptation to extreme environments and cave ecosystem conservation.
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