Open AccessNeotropical A ndes hot springs harbor diverse and distinct planktonic microbial communities
Author(s) -
DelgadoSerrano Luisa,
López Gina,
Bohorquez Laura C.,
Bustos José R.,
Rubiano Carolina,
OsorioForero César,
Junca Howard,
Baena Sandra,
Zambrano María M.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
fems microbiology ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.377
H-Index - 155
eISSN - 1574-6941
pISSN - 0168-6496
DOI - 10.1111/1574-6941.12333
Subject(s) - biology , ecology , proteobacteria , firmicutes , chloroflexi (class) , microbial population biology , plankton , microbial ecology , extreme environment , microbial mat , phylum , community structure , pyrosequencing , taxon , cyanobacteria , 16s ribosomal rna , bacteria , biochemistry , genetics , gene
Microbial explorations of hot springs have led to remarkable discoveries and improved our understanding of life under extreme conditions. The Andean Mountains harbor diverse habitats, including an extensive chain of geothermal heated water sources. In this study, we describe and compare the planktonic microbial communities present in five high‐mountain hot springs with distinct geochemical characteristics, at varying altitudes and geographical locations in the C olombian A ndes. The diversity and structure of the microbial communities were assessed by pyrosequencing the V5 ‐ V6 region of the 16S r RNA gene. The planktonic communities varied in terms of diversity indexes and were dominated by the bacterial phyla P roteobacteria, A quificae, C hloroflexi, C yanobacteria, F irmicutes, N itrospirae, and T hermotogae, with site‐specific bacterial taxa also observed in some cases. Statistical analyses showed that these microbial communities were distinct from one another and that they clustered in a manner consistent with physicochemical parameters of the environment sampled. Multivariate analysis suggested that pH and sulfate were among the main variables influencing population structure and diversity. The results show that despite their geographical proximity and some shared geochemical characteristics, there were few shared operational taxonomic units ( OTU s) and that community structure was influenced mainly by environmental factors that have resulted in different microbial populations.