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Spatial Variability in Streambed Microbial Community Structure across Two Watersheds.

Philips O Akinwole1,2, Jinjun Kan3, Louis A Kaplan3

  • 1Biology Department, DePauw University, Greencastle, Indiana, USA.

Microbiology Spectrum
|December 15, 2021
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Microbial communities in headwater streams show distinct watershed-level biogeography. Environmental factors like sediment C:N ratio and microeukaryotic photoautotrophs influence microbial biomass and structure.

Keywords:
DGGEPLFAmicrobial biogeographymicrobial biomassmicrobial community structuremicroeukaryoteswatershed

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Area of Science:

  • Environmental Microbiology
  • Aquatic Ecology
  • Biogeography

Background:

  • Spatial and temporal variability are crucial for sedimentary microbial communities.
  • Understanding fine-scale spatial variability in headwater stream microbial communities is limited.
  • Microorganisms drive significant biogeochemical reactions in streams.

Purpose of the Study:

  • Investigate microbial community structure (MCS) in streambed sediments across various spatial scales.
  • Determine factors influencing microbial biomass and community composition in headwater streams.
  • Elucidate the role of microeukaryotic photoautotrophs in structuring bacterial communities.

Main Methods:

  • Analyzed phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) profiles for microbial community structure.
  • Utilized PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE) for bacterial community analysis.
  • Assessed microbial biomass and correlated it with sediment characteristics (C:N ratio, carbon content, surface area, water content).

Main Results:

  • Microbial community structure varied significantly at the watershed level, indicating distinct biogeography.
  • Microeukaryotic photoautotrophs were key drivers of variations in microbial community structure and biomass.
  • Sediment characteristics, particularly C:N ratio, explained a substantial portion (68%) of microbial biomass variation in first-order streams.

Conclusions:

  • Headwater stream microbial communities exhibit nonrandom, watershed-level biogeography.
  • Environmental heterogeneity and geographical distance are significant drivers of microbial distribution.
  • Eukaryotic photoautotrophs play a critical role in shaping bacterial communities within streambed sediments.