Open AccessBacterial composition in Swedish raw drinking water reveals three major interacting ubiquitous metacommunities
Author(s) -
Brindefalk Björn,
Brolin Harald,
SäveSöderbergh Melle,
Karlsson Edvin,
Sundell David,
Wikström Per,
Jacobsson Karin,
Toljander Jonas,
Stenberg Per,
Sjödin Andreas,
Dryselius Rikard,
Forsman Mats,
Ahlinder Jon
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
microbiologyopen
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.881
H-Index - 36
ISSN - 2045-8827
DOI - 10.1002/mbo3.1320
Subject(s) - ecology , biology , habitat , microbial population biology , water quality , microbial ecology , community structure , bacteria , genetics
Background Surface raw water used as a source for drinking water production is a critical resource, sensitive to contamination. We conducted a study on Swedish raw water sources, aiming to identify mutually co‐occurring metacommunities of bacteria, and environmental factors driving such patterns. Methods The water sources were different regarding nutrient composition, water quality, and climate characteristics, and displayed various degrees of anthropogenic impact. Water inlet samples were collected at six drinking water treatment plants over 3 years, totaling 230 samples. The bacterial communities of DNA sequenced samples ( n = 175), obtained by 16S metabarcoding, were analyzed using a joint model for taxa abundance. Results Two major groups of well‐defined metacommunities of microorganisms were identified, in addition to a third, less distinct, and taxonomically more diverse group. These three metacommunities showed various associations to the measured environmental data. Predictions for the well‐defined metacommunities revealed differing sets of favored metabolic pathways and life strategies. In one community, taxa with methanogenic metabolism were common, while a second community was dominated by taxa with carbohydrate and lipid‐focused metabolism. Conclusion The identification of ubiquitous persistent co‐occurring bacterial metacommunities in freshwater habitats could potentially facilitate microbial source tracking analysis of contamination issues in freshwater sources.