Author:
Broman Elias,Izabel-Shen Dandan,Rodríguez-Gijón Alejandro,Bonaglia Stefano,Garcia Sarahi L.,Nascimento Francisco J. A.
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Microorganisms in the seafloor use a wide range of metabolic processes, which are coupled to the presence of functional genes within their genomes. Aquatic environments are heterogenous and often characterized by natural physiochemical gradients that structure these microbial communities potentially changing the diversity of functional genes and its associated metabolic processes. In this study, we investigated spatial variability and how environmental variables structure the diversity and composition of benthic functional genes and metabolic pathways across various fundamental environmental gradients. We analyzed metagenomic data from sediment samples, measured related abiotic data (e.g., salinity, oxygen and carbon content), covering 59 stations spanning 1,145 km across the Baltic Sea.
Results
The composition of genes and microbial communities were mainly structured by salinity plus oxygen, and the carbon to nitrogen (C:N) ratio for specific metabolic pathways related to nutrient transport and carbon metabolism. Multivariate analyses indicated that the compositional change in functional genes was more prominent across environmental gradients compared to changes in microbial taxonomy even at genus level, and indicate functional diversity adaptation to local environments. Oxygen deficient areas (i.e., dead zones) were more different in gene composition when compared to oxic sediments.
Conclusions
This study highlights how benthic functional genes are structured over spatial distances and by environmental gradients and resource availability, and suggests that changes in, e.g., oxygenation, salinity, and carbon plus nitrogen content will influence functional metabolic pathways in benthic habitats.
Funder
Svenska Forskningsrådet Formas
Swedish Environmental Protection Agency9s Research in collaboration with the Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management
Stockholm University
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Subject
Microbiology (medical),Microbiology
Cited by
11 articles.
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