Composition and distribution of bacterial communities and potential radiation-resistant bacteria at different elevations in the eastern Pamirs

Jing Zhu ¹, Hui-Nan Wang ¹, Qi-Yong Tang ¹

⁰Xinjiang Laboratory of Special Environmental Microbiology, Institute of Applied Microbiology, Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Urumqi, China.

Frontiers in Microbiology +

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July 4, 2024

View abstract on PubMed

Summary

Soil microbial communities on the Pamir Plateau are shaped by elevation and ultraviolet radiation. Radiation-resistant bacteria, including Rubrobacter and Sphingomonas, dominate these high-altitude ecosystems.

Area Of Science

Microbial Ecology
Soil Science
Environmental Microbiology

Background

Altitude and ultraviolet (UV) radiation are critical environmental factors influencing soil microbial communities.
Understanding microbial distribution and function in extreme environments like high-altitude plateaus is essential.

Purpose Of The Study

To investigate the impact of varying elevations on soil microbial community structure and function on the Eastern Pamir Plateau.
To identify key microbial taxa and their adaptations to high-altitude and high-UV conditions.

Main Methods

Collected 49 soil samples from 10 distinct elevations on the Eastern Pamir Plateau.
Utilized high-throughput sequencing to analyze soil microbial community composition and structure.
Applied KEGG pathway analysis to assess functional differences.

Main Results

Identified 6834 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) across 26 phyla and 399 genera, with Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria, and Bacteroidota being dominant phyla.
Observed a slight increase in species richness with elevation and significant shifts in community composition.
Detected enrichment of radiation-resistant microorganisms, notably genera like Rubrobacter, Sphingomonas, and Nocardioides, with specific metabolic pathways (drug resistance, aging) influenced by elevation.

Conclusions

Elevation and UV exposure are significant drivers of soil bacterial community composition and function in the Eastern Pamir Plateau.
The soil harbors a diverse community rich in radiation-tolerant bacteria, important for understanding microbial succession and biofunctionality in plateau ecosystems.
Findings highlight the ecological significance of microbial adaptations to extreme environmental conditions.

Keywords:

Pamir plateau bacterial communities elevation gradient environmental adaptation radiation resistance