Naslov
Effects of salinity gradient on microbial diversity: case study of Sarcophagus cave

Autori
Kajan, Katarina ; Jalžić, Branko ; Cukrov, Neven ; Marguš, Marija ; Marković, Tamara ; Pjevac, Petra ; Orlić, Sandi

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Sažeci sa skupova, sažetak, znanstveni

Skup
5th International Symposium on Anchialine Ecosystems

Mjesto i datum
Kailua-Kona (HI), Sjedinjene Američke Države, 03-05.11.2022

Vrsta sudjelovanja
Predavanje

Vrsta recenzije
Međunarodna recenzija

Ključne riječi
anchialine cave ; salinity gradient ; microbial community diversity
(anchialine cave ; microbial community)

Sažetak
Defined clines in anchialine ecosystems act as selection barriers that influence species distributions. Along with light resources and nutrient limitations, cline areas are recognized promoters of microbial evolution in these complex habitats. To reveal microbial diversity and its potential ecological role in biogeochemical cycles along a salinity gradient, we sampled different water masses and analyzed microbial diversity using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing along with physicochemical parameters during two seasons (spring and summer). Our results showed that a well-defined halocline maintained the stratification of the water column in both seasons, with a slight shift in the position of the halocline. The stabile halocline promoted the accumulation of the sulfide in anoxic (euxinic) water layers situated between the oxic surface layer (characterized by lower salinity and impacted by precipitation) and the seawater layer (characterized by oxygen saturated seawater of high salinity entering the cave). The oxic and anoxic layers exhibited notable differences in microbial community composition at all depths. Interestingly, the oxygenic and brackish depths were predominantly inhabited by bacterial lineages, while the saline and anoxic depths were dominated by archeal lineages. In terms of average relative abundance, Nanoarchaeota were the most abundant archaeal lineage, accounting for more than 40% of ASVs in the anoxic depths and exhibiting high diversity in 16S rRNA gene sequences. During summer, bacterial lineages of Campylobacterota co-occurred with Nanoarchaeota, with the highest abundance of ~50% in the photic surface layer.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Biologija, Interdisciplinarne prirodne znanosti

POVEZANOST RADA