A functional microbiome catalogue crowdsourced from North American rivers

Area of Science:

• Environmental microbiology
• Biogeochemistry
• Genomics

Background:

• Understanding river microbiomes is crucial for predicting elemental cycles and water quality under anthropogenic stress.
• Current knowledge is limited by a lack of genome-resolved functional data and multi-river sampling.

Purpose of the Study:

• To create a comprehensive, genome-resolved database of river microbiomes across the United States.
• To identify spatial drivers of microbial community structure and function in rivers.
• To develop predictive models for riverine ecosystems.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a community science approach for accelerated sampling and sequencing of river surface waters.
• Generated genome-resolved analyses to create the Genome Resolved Open Watersheds database (GROWdb).
• Integrated extensive geospatial data with microbiome profiles.

Main Results:

• GROWdb profiles microbial genomes from 27 phyla across 90% of US watersheds, including novel lineages.
• Identified local and regional drivers shaping river microbial community structure.
• Demonstrated that river microbiome structure and function are predictable, extending the River Continuum Concept with functional trait expression.

Conclusions:

• The Genome Resolved Open Watersheds database provides a foundational resource for understanding river microbiomes.
• Findings enable predictive watershed modeling and microbiome-based management practices.
• Highlights the power of community science in advancing ecological research.