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A shift in the archaeal nitrifier community in response to natural and anthropogenic disturbances in the northern G ulf of M exico
Author(s) -
Newell Silvia E.,
Eveillard Damien,
McCarthy Mark J.,
Gardner Wayne S.,
Liu Zhanfei,
Ward Bess B.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
environmental microbiology reports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.229
H-Index - 69
ISSN - 1758-2229
DOI - 10.1111/1758-2229.12114
Subject(s) - biogeochemical cycle , environmental science , trophic level , ecology , oil spill , resistance (ecology) , deepwater horizon , community structure , hypoxia (environmental) , oceanography , biology , environmental engineering , chemistry , geology , organic chemistry , oxygen
Summary The G ulf of M exico is affected by hurricanes and suffers seasonal hypoxia. The D eepwater H orizon oil spill impacted every trophic level in the coastal region. Despite their importance in bioremediation and biogeochemical cycles, it is difficult to predict the responses of microbial communities to physical and anthropogenic disturbances. Here, we quantify sediment ammonia‐oxidizing archaeal ( AOA ) community diversity, resistance and resilience, and important geochemical factors after major hurricanes and the oil spill. Dominant AOA archetypes correlated with different geochemical factors, suggesting that different AOA are constrained by distinct parameters. Diversity was lowest after the hurricanes, showing weak resistance to physical disturbances. However, diversity was highest during the oil spill and coincided with a community shift, suggesting a new alternative stable state sustained for at least 1 year. The new AOA community was not significantly different from that at the spill site 1 year after the spill. This sustained shift in nitrifier community structure may be a result of oil exposure.