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Archaeal communities associated with shallow to deep subseafloor sediments of the New Caledonia Basin
Author(s) -
Roussel Erwan G.,
Sauvadet AnneLaure,
Chaduteau Carine,
Fouquet Yves,
Charlou JeanLuc,
Prieur Daniel,
Cambon Bonavita MarieAnne
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
environmental microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.954
H-Index - 188
eISSN - 1462-2920
pISSN - 1462-2912
DOI - 10.1111/j.1462-2920.2009.01976.x
Subject(s) - crenarchaeota , biology , archaea , euryarchaeota , temperature gradient gel electrophoresis , phylotype , ecology , anoxic waters , microbial population biology , 16s ribosomal rna , paleontology , bacteria
Summary The distribution of the archaeal communities in deep subseafloor sediments [0–36 m below the seafloor (mbsf)] from the New Caledonia and Fairway Basins was investigated using DNA‐ and RNA‐derived 16S rRNA clone libraries, functional genes and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). A new method, Co‐Migration DGGE (CM‐DGGE), was developed to access selectively the active archaeal diversity. Prokaryotic cell abundances at the open‐ocean sites were on average ∼3.5 times lower than at a site under terrestrial influence. The sediment surface archaeal community (0–1.5 mbsf) was characterized by active Marine Group 1 (MG‐1) Archaea that co‐occurred with ammonia monooxygenase gene ( amoA ) sequences affiliated to a group of uncultured sedimentary Crenarchaeota . However, the anoxic subsurface methane‐poor sediments (below 1.5 mbsf) were dominated by less active archaeal communities, such as the Thermoplasmatales , Marine Benthic Group D and other lineages probably involved in the methane cycle ( Methanosarcinales , ANME‐2 and DSAG/MBG‐B). Moreover, the archaeal diversity of some sediment layers was restricted to only one lineage (Uncultured Euryarchaeota , DHVE6, MBG‐B, MG‐1 and SAGMEG). Sequences forming two clusters within the Thermococcales order were also present in these cold subseafloor sediments, suggesting that these uncultured putative thermophilic archaeal communities might have originated from a different environment. This study shows a transition between surface and subsurface sediment archaeal communities.