Open AccessVertical stratification of the air microbiome in the lower troposphere
Author(s) -
Daniela I. Drautz–Moses,
Irvan Luhung,
Elena Gusareva,
Carmon Kee,
Nicolas E. Gaultier,
Balakrishnan N. V. Premkrishnan,
Choou Fook Lee,
See Ting Leong,
Changsook Park,
Zhei Hwee Yap,
Cassie E. Heinle,
Kenny J. X. Lau,
Rikky W. Purbojati,
Seng Koon Lim,
Yee Hui Lim,
Shruti Ketan Kutmutia,
Ngu War Aung,
Elaine Lopes de Oliveira,
Soo Guek Ng,
Justine Dacanay,
Poh Nee Ang,
Samuel D Spence,
Wen Jia Phung,
Anthony Wong,
Ryan J Kennedy,
Namrata Kalsi,
Santhi Puramadathil Sasi,
Lakshmi Chandrasekaran,
Akira Uchida,
Ana Carolina M. Junqueira,
Hie Lim Kim,
Rudolf Hankers,
Thomas Feuerle,
U. Corsmeier,
Stephan C. Schuster
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
proceedings of the national academy of sciences of the united states of america
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1091-6490
pISSN - 0027-8424
DOI - 10.1073/pnas.2117293119
Subject(s) - troposphere , environmental science , atmospheric sciences , diel vertical migration , stratification (seeds) , biological dispersal , ecosystem , bioaerosol , ecology , meteorology , aerosol , biology , geology , geography , seed dormancy , population , botany , germination , demography , dormancy , sociology
Significance Large-scale meteorological and biological data demonstrate the vertical stratification of airborne biomass. The previously described diel cycle of airborne microorganisms is shown to disappear at height. Atmospheric turbulence and stratification are shown to be defining factors for the scale and boundaries, dynamics, and natural variability of airborne biomass, resulting in the biological organization of the planetary air ecosystem. The atmosphere above the mixing layer height is proposed to act as a sink for microorganisms. With atmospheric processes being temperature dependent, rising global temperatures will result in major disruptions of the currently observed airborne microbial community structures. Increased abundances of radio-tolerant bacteria at height will allow investigation of these microorganisms’ life cycle in the planetary atmosphere.