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Li Y, Zhu D, Niu L, Zhang W, Wang L, Zhang H, Zou S, Zhou C. Carbon-fixing bacteria in diverse groundwaters of karst area: Distribution patterns, ecological interactions, and driving factors. WATER RESEARCH 2024; 261:121979. [PMID: 38941678 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2024.121979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2024] [Revised: 06/18/2024] [Accepted: 06/19/2024] [Indexed: 06/30/2024]
Abstract
The biological carbon pump in karst areas is of great significance for maintaining the effectiveness of karst carbon sinks. However, the spatial distribution and carbon-fixing potential of microorganisms in different aquifers within karst areas remain poorly understood. In this study, the distribution patterns, ecological roles, and environmental drivers of microbiota associated with CO2 fixation were investigated in karst groundwater (KW), porous groundwater (PW), fractured groundwater (FW), and surface water (SW) within a typical karst watershed, located in Guilin, southwest China. KW, PW, and FW displayed the similar community structure and indicative carbon-fixing bacteria composition, which were dominated by chemoautotrophic bacteria compared to SW. Higher abundances of indicative carbon-fixing bacteria and carbon-fixing genes, as well as richer proportions of microbial-derived DOC, indicated the more significant microbial carbon-fixing potential in KW and PW. At the profile of KW, a carbon-fixing hotspot was discovered at the depths of 0-50 m. Correlation analysis between carbon-fixing bacteria and DOC revealed that the chemoautotrophic process driven by nitrogen and sulfur oxidation predominated the microbial carbon fixation in groundwater. Co-occurrence network analysis demonstrated that carbon-fixing bacteria exhibited cooperation with other bacterial taxa in KW, while competition was the dominant interaction in PW. Moreover, carbon-fixing bacteria was found to lead bacterial assembly more deterministic in KW. The analysis of environmental factors and microbial diversity illustrated that inorganic carbon and redox state drove community variations across groundwaters. Structural equation model (SEM) further confirmed that ORP was the primary factor influencing the carbon fixation potential. This study provides a new insight into biological carbon fixation in karst aquatic systems, which holds significance in the accurate assessment of karst carbon sinks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Li
- College of Hydrology and Water Resources, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China.
| | - Danni Zhu
- College of Hydrology and Water Resources, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China
| | - Lihua Niu
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lakes, Ministry of Education, College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China.
| | - Wenlong Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lakes, Ministry of Education, College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China
| | - Longfei Wang
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lakes, Ministry of Education, College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China
| | - Huanjun Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lakes, Ministry of Education, College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China
| | - Shengzhang Zou
- Key Laboratory of Karst Dynamics, MNR&GZAR, Institute of Karst Geology, CAGS, Guilin 541004, China; Guangxi Karst Resources and Environment Research Center of Engineering Technology, Guilin 541004, China
| | - Changsong Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Karst Dynamics, MNR&GZAR, Institute of Karst Geology, CAGS, Guilin 541004, China; Guangxi Karst Resources and Environment Research Center of Engineering Technology, Guilin 541004, China
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2
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Sanchez AA, Haas K, Jackisch C, Hedrich S, Lau MP. Enrichment of dissolved metal(loid)s and microbial organic matter during transit of a historic mine drainage system. WATER RESEARCH 2024; 266:122336. [PMID: 39216129 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2024.122336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2024] [Revised: 08/23/2024] [Accepted: 08/24/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
Water quality degradation by decommissioned mining sites is an environmental issue recognized globally. In the Ore mountains of Central Europe, a wide array of contaminants is released by abandoned under- and aboveground mining sites threatening the quantity and quality of surface and groundwater resources. Here, we focus on the less-explored internal pollution processes within these mines involving organic carbon and microorganisms in trace metal(loid)s mobilization processes. Over an 18-month period, we conducted hydrological and biogeochemical monitoring at the Reiche Zeche mine, a former lead-zinc-silver mine, in Germany, reaching 230 meters below ground, well below the critical zone. Our results show strong seasonal fluctuations in water availability, concentrations of metal(loid)s, pH, and dissolved organic matter (DOM) components across multiple depths. Excess metal(loid) presence during high flow conditions indicated mobilization behavior deviating from conservative dilution. Our findings reveal strong positive correlations between metal(loid) variability and pH (0.894), and between metal(loid) variability and the DOM fluorescent component C2 (-0.910), a proxy for microbial activity. Accordingly, the microbial processes may significantly contribute to the observed metal(loid) composition and fluxes. By elucidating the intricate roles of hydrological and biogeochemical factors in trace metal(loid) mobilization, our research offers a comprehensive framework for improving mine water management and remediation, potentially informing global environmental policies and sustainable mining practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anita Alexandra Sanchez
- Institute of Mineralogy, Technische Universität Bergakademie Freiberg, Brennhausgasse 14, 09599 Freiberg, Germany.
| | - Karl Haas
- Institute of Drilling Technology and Fluid Mining, Technische Universität Bergakademie Freiberg, Germany
| | - Conrad Jackisch
- Institute of Drilling Technology and Fluid Mining, Technische Universität Bergakademie Freiberg, Germany
| | - Sabrina Hedrich
- Institute of Biosciences, Technische Universität Bergakademie Freiberg, Germany
| | - Maximilian P Lau
- Institute of Mineralogy, Technische Universität Bergakademie Freiberg, Brennhausgasse 14, 09599 Freiberg, Germany; Interdisciplinary Environmental Research Centre, Technische Universität Bergakademie Freiberg, Germany
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3
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Lindsay MR, D’Angelo T, Munson-McGee JH, Saidi-Mehrabad A, Devlin M, McGonigle J, Goodell E, Herring M, Lubelczyk LC, Mascena C, Brown JM, Gavelis G, Liu J, Yousavich DJ, Hamilton-Brehm SD, Hedlund BP, Lang S, Treude T, Poulton NJ, Stepanauskas R, Moser DP, Emerson D, Orcutt BN. Species-resolved, single-cell respiration rates reveal dominance of sulfate reduction in a deep continental subsurface ecosystem. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2309636121. [PMID: 38573964 PMCID: PMC11009646 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2309636121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Rates of microbial processes are fundamental to understanding the significance of microbial impacts on environmental chemical cycling. However, it is often difficult to quantify rates or to link processes to specific taxa or individual cells, especially in environments where there are few cultured representatives with known physiology. Here, we describe the use of the redox-enzyme-sensitive molecular probe RedoxSensor™ Green to measure rates of anaerobic electron transfer physiology (i.e., sulfate reduction and methanogenesis) in individual cells and link those measurements to genomic sequencing of the same single cells. We used this method to investigate microbial activity in hot, anoxic, low-biomass (~103 cells mL-1) groundwater of the Death Valley Regional Flow System, California. Combining this method with electron donor amendment experiments and metatranscriptomics confirmed that the abundant spore formers including Candidatus Desulforudis audaxviator were actively reducing sulfate in this environment, most likely with acetate and hydrogen as electron donors. Using this approach, we measured environmental sulfate reduction rates at 0.14 to 26.9 fmol cell-1 h-1. Scaled to volume, this equates to a bulk environmental rate of ~103 pmol sulfate L-1 d-1, similar to potential rates determined with radiotracer methods. Despite methane in the system, there was no evidence for active microbial methanogenesis at the time of sampling. Overall, this method is a powerful tool for estimating species-resolved, single-cell rates of anaerobic metabolism in low-biomass environments while simultaneously linking genomes to phenomes at the single-cell level. We reveal active elemental cycling conducted by several species, with a large portion attributable to Ca. Desulforudis audaxviator.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Molly Devlin
- Division of Hydrologic Sciences, Desert Research Institute, Las Vegas, NV89119
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nevada Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV89154
| | - Julia McGonigle
- Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, East Boothbay, ME04544
| | - Elizabeth Goodell
- Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, East Boothbay, ME04544
- Department of Geology, Oberlin College, Oberlin, OH44074
| | - Melissa Herring
- Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, East Boothbay, ME04544
- Department of Marine and Environmental Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, MA02115
| | | | | | - Julia M. Brown
- Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, East Boothbay, ME04544
| | - Greg Gavelis
- Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, East Boothbay, ME04544
| | - Jiarui Liu
- Department of Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA90095
| | - D. J. Yousavich
- Department of Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA90095
| | | | - Brian P. Hedlund
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nevada Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV89154
| | - Susan Lang
- School of the Earth, Ocean and Environment, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC29208
| | - Tina Treude
- Department of Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA90095
- Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA90095
| | | | | | - Duane P. Moser
- Division of Hydrologic Sciences, Desert Research Institute, Las Vegas, NV89119
| | - David Emerson
- Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, East Boothbay, ME04544
| | - Beth N. Orcutt
- Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, East Boothbay, ME04544
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4
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Zheng Y, Wang B, Gao P, Yang Y, Xu B, Su X, Ning D, Tao Q, Li Q, Zhao F, Wang D, Zhang Y, Li M, Winkler MKH, Ingalls AE, Zhou J, Zhang C, Stahl DA, Jiang J, Martens-Habbena W, Qin W. Novel order-level lineage of ammonia-oxidizing archaea widespread in marine and terrestrial environments. THE ISME JOURNAL 2024; 18:wrad002. [PMID: 38365232 PMCID: PMC10811736 DOI: 10.1093/ismejo/wrad002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2023] [Revised: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 10/28/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2024]
Abstract
Ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) are among the most ubiquitous and abundant archaea on Earth, widely distributed in marine, terrestrial, and geothermal ecosystems. However, the genomic diversity, biogeography, and evolutionary process of AOA populations in subsurface environments are vastly understudied compared to those in marine and soil systems. Here, we report a novel AOA order Candidatus (Ca.) Nitrosomirales which forms a sister lineage to the thermophilic Ca. Nitrosocaldales. Metagenomic and 16S rRNA gene-read mapping demonstrates the abundant presence of Nitrosomirales AOA in various groundwater environments and their widespread distribution across a range of geothermal, terrestrial, and marine habitats. Terrestrial Nitrosomirales AOA show the genetic capacity of using formate as a source of reductant and using nitrate as an alternative electron acceptor. Nitrosomirales AOA appear to have acquired key metabolic genes and operons from other mesophilic populations via horizontal gene transfer, including genes encoding urease, nitrite reductase, and V-type ATPase. The additional metabolic versatility conferred by acquired functions may have facilitated their radiation into a variety of subsurface, marine, and soil environments. We also provide evidence that each of the four AOA orders spans both marine and terrestrial habitats, which suggests a more complex evolutionary history for major AOA lineages than previously proposed. Together, these findings establish a robust phylogenomic framework of AOA and provide new insights into the ecology and adaptation of this globally abundant functional guild.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of the Environment and Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Baozhan Wang
- Department of Microbiology, Key Laboratory of Agricultural and Environmental Microbiology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Ping Gao
- Department of Microbiology, Key Laboratory of Agricultural and Environmental Microbiology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Yiyan Yang
- National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20894, United States
| | - Bu Xu
- Department of Ocean Science and Engineering, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Archaea Geo-Omics, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
- Shanghai Sheshan National Geophysical Observatory , Shanghai 201602, China
| | - Xiaoquan Su
- College of Computer Science and Technology, Qingdao University , Qingdao 266101, China
| | - Daliang Ning
- School of Biological Sciences, Institute for Environmental Genomics, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73019, United States
| | - Qing Tao
- School of Biological Sciences, Institute for Environmental Genomics, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73019, United States
| | - Qian Li
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Feng Zhao
- CAS Key Laboratory of Urban Pollutant Conversion, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China
| | - Dazhi Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of the Environment and Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Yao Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Meng Li
- Archaeal Biology Center, Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
| | - Mari-K H Winkler
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, United States
| | - Anitra E Ingalls
- School of Oceanography, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, United States
| | - Jizhong Zhou
- School of Biological Sciences, Institute for Environmental Genomics, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73019, United States
- School of Civil Engineering and Environmental Sciences, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73019, United States
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, United States
| | - Chuanlun Zhang
- Department of Ocean Science and Engineering, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Archaea Geo-Omics, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
- Shanghai Sheshan National Geophysical Observatory , Shanghai 201602, China
| | - David A Stahl
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, United States
| | - Jiandong Jiang
- Department of Microbiology, Key Laboratory of Agricultural and Environmental Microbiology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Willm Martens-Habbena
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Science, Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Davie, FL 33314, United States
| | - Wei Qin
- School of Biological Sciences, Institute for Environmental Genomics, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73019, United States
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Merino N, Wasserman NL, Coutelot F, Kaplan DI, Powell BA, Jiao Y, Kersting AB, Zavarin M. Microbial community dynamics and cycling of plutonium and iron in a seasonally stratified and radiologically contaminated pond. Sci Rep 2023; 13:19697. [PMID: 37952079 PMCID: PMC10640648 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-45182-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Plutonium (Pu) cycling and mobility in the environment can be impacted by the iron cycle and microbial community dynamics. We investigated the spatial and temporal changes of the microbiome in an iron (Fe)-rich, plutonium-contaminated, monomictic reservoir (Pond B, Savannah River Site, South Carolina, USA). The microbial community composition varied with depth during seasonal thermal stratification and was strongly correlated with redox. During stratification, Fe(II) oxidizers (e.g., Ferrovum, Rhodoferax, Chlorobium) were most abundant in the hypoxic/anoxic zones, while Fe(III) reducers (e.g., Geothrix, Geobacter) dominated the deep, anoxic zone. Sulfate reducers and methanogens were present in the anoxic layer, likely contributing to iron and plutonium cycling. Multinomial regression of predicted functions/pathways identified metabolisms highly associated with stratification (within the top 5%), including iron reduction, methanogenesis, C1 compound utilization, fermentation, and aromatic compound degradation. Two sediment cores collected at the Inlet and Outlet of the pond were dominated by putative fermenters and organic matter (OM) degraders. Overall, microbiome analyses revealed the potential for three microbial impacts on the plutonium and iron biogeochemical cycles: (1) plutonium bioaccumulation throughout the water column, (2) Pu-Fe-OM-aggregate formation by Fe(II) oxidizers under microaerophilic/aerobic conditions, and (3) Pu-Fe-OM-aggregate or sediment reductive dissolution and organic matter degradation in the deep, anoxic waters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nancy Merino
- Glenn T. Seaborg Institute, Physical and Life Sciences Directorate, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, 7000 East Ave, Livermore, CA, 94550, USA.
| | - Naomi L Wasserman
- Glenn T. Seaborg Institute, Physical and Life Sciences Directorate, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, 7000 East Ave, Livermore, CA, 94550, USA
| | - Fanny Coutelot
- Department of Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences, Clemson University, Anderson, SC, 29625, USA
- Center for Nuclear Environmental Engineering Sciences and Radioactive Waste Management, Clemson University, Anderson, SC, 29625, USA
| | - Daniel I Kaplan
- Savannah River Ecology Lab, University of Georgia, Aiken, SC, 29802, USA
| | - Brian A Powell
- Department of Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences, Clemson University, Anderson, SC, 29625, USA
- Center for Nuclear Environmental Engineering Sciences and Radioactive Waste Management, Clemson University, Anderson, SC, 29625, USA
- Savannah River National Laboratory, Aiken, SC, 29625, USA
| | - Yongqin Jiao
- Glenn T. Seaborg Institute, Physical and Life Sciences Directorate, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, 7000 East Ave, Livermore, CA, 94550, USA
| | - Annie B Kersting
- Glenn T. Seaborg Institute, Physical and Life Sciences Directorate, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, 7000 East Ave, Livermore, CA, 94550, USA
| | - Mavrik Zavarin
- Glenn T. Seaborg Institute, Physical and Life Sciences Directorate, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, 7000 East Ave, Livermore, CA, 94550, USA.
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Retter A, Haas JC, Birk S, Stumpp C, Hausmann B, Griebler C, Karwautz C. From the Mountain to the Valley: Drivers of Groundwater Prokaryotic Communities along an Alpine River Corridor. Microorganisms 2023; 11:microorganisms11030779. [PMID: 36985351 PMCID: PMC10055094 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11030779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2023] [Revised: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/11/2023] [Indexed: 03/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Rivers are the “tip of the iceberg”, with the underlying groundwater being the unseen freshwater majority. Microbial community composition and the dynamics of shallow groundwater ecosystems are thus crucial, due to their potential impact on ecosystem processes and functioning. In early summer and late autumn, samples of river water from 14 stations and groundwater from 45 wells were analyzed along a 300 km transect of the Mur River valley, from the Austrian alps to the flats at the Slovenian border. The active and total prokaryotic communities were characterized using high-throughput gene amplicon sequencing. Key physico-chemical parameters and stress indicators were recorded. The dataset was used to challenge ecological concepts and assembly processes in shallow aquifers. The groundwater microbiome is analyzed regarding its composition, change with land use, and difference to the river. Community composition and species turnover differed significantly. At high altitudes, dispersal limitation was the main driver of groundwater community assembly, whereas in the lowland, homogeneous selection explained the larger share. Land use was a key determinant of the groundwater microbiome composition. The alpine region was more diverse and richer in prokaryotic taxa, with some early diverging archaeal lineages being highly abundant. This dataset shows a longitudinal change in prokaryotic communities that is dependent on regional differences affected by geomorphology and land use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Retter
- Department of Functional and Evolutionary Ecology, University of Vienna, 1030 Wien, Austria
| | | | - Steffen Birk
- Institute of Earth Sciences, NAWI Graz Geocenter, University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Christine Stumpp
- Institute of Soil Physics and Rural Water Management, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU), 1180 Wien, Austria
| | - Bela Hausmann
- Joint Microbiome Facility of the Medical University of Vienna and the University of Vienna, 1030 Wien, Austria
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Wien, Austria
| | - Christian Griebler
- Department of Functional and Evolutionary Ecology, University of Vienna, 1030 Wien, Austria
| | - Clemens Karwautz
- Department of Functional and Evolutionary Ecology, University of Vienna, 1030 Wien, Austria
- Correspondence:
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7
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Dai H, Zhang Y, Fang W, Liu J, Hong J, Zou C, Zhang J. Microbial community structural response to variations in physicochemical features of different aquifers. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1025964. [PMID: 36865779 PMCID: PMC9971630 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1025964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction The community structure of groundwater microorganisms has a significant impact on groundwater quality. However, the relationships between the microbial communities and environmental variables in groundwater of different recharge and disturbance types are not fully understood. Methods In this study, measurements of groundwater physicochemical parameters and 16S rDNA high-throughput sequencing technology were used to assess the interactions between hydrogeochemical conditions and microbial diversity in Longkou coastal aquifer (LK), Cele arid zone aquifer (CL), and Wuhan riverside hyporheic zone aquifer (WH). Redundancy analysis indicated that the primary chemical parameters affecting the microbial community composition were NO3 -, Cl-, and HCO3 -. Results The species and quantity of microorganisms in the river-groundwater interaction area were considerably higher than those in areas with high salinity [Shannon: WH (6.28) > LK (4.11) > CL (3.96); Chao1: WH (4,868) > CL (1510) > LK (1,222)]. Molecular ecological network analysis demonstrated that the change in microbial interactions caused by evaporation was less than that caused by seawater invasion under high-salinity conditions [(nodes, links): LK (71,192) > CL (51,198)], whereas the scale and nodes of the microbial network were greatly expanded under low-salinity conditions [(nodes, links): WH (279,694)]. Microbial community analysis revealed that distinct differences existed in the classification levels of the different dominant microorganism species in the three aquifers. Discussion Environmental physical and chemical conditions selected the dominant species according to microbial functions. Gallionellaceae, which is associated with iron oxidation, dominated in the arid zones, while Rhodocyclaceae, which is related to denitrification, led in the coastal zones, and Desulfurivibrio, which is related to sulfur conversion, prevailed in the hyporheic zones. Therefore, dominant local bacterial communities can be used as indicators of local environmental conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heng Dai
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, China
- School of Environmental Studies, Hubei Key Laboratory of Yangtze Catchment Environmental Aquatic Science, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Yiyu Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, China
- School of Environmental Studies, Hubei Key Laboratory of Yangtze Catchment Environmental Aquatic Science, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Wen Fang
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, China
- School of Environmental Studies, Hubei Key Laboratory of Yangtze Catchment Environmental Aquatic Science, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Juan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, China
- School of Environmental Studies, Hubei Key Laboratory of Yangtze Catchment Environmental Aquatic Science, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Jun Hong
- School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Chaowang Zou
- Hubei Shuili Hydro Power Reconnaissance Design Institute, Wuhan, China
| | - Jin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Hydrology-Water Resources and Hydraulic Engineering, Yangtze Institute for Conservation and Development, Hohai University, Nanjing, China
- Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Ürümqi, China
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8
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Villeneuve K, Violette M, Lazar CS. From Recharge, to Groundwater, to Discharge Areas in Aquifer Systems in Quebec (Canada): Shaping of Microbial Diversity and Community Structure by Environmental Factors. Genes (Basel) 2022; 14:1. [PMID: 36672742 PMCID: PMC9858702 DOI: 10.3390/genes14010001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Revised: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Groundwater recharge and discharge rates and zones are important hydrogeological characteristics of aquifer systems, yet their impact on the formation of both subterranean and surface microbiomes remains largely unknown. In this study, we used 16S rRNA gene sequencing to characterize and compare the microbial community of seven different aquifers, including the recharge and discharge areas of each system. The connectivity between subsurface and surface microbiomes was evaluated at each site, and the temporal succession of groundwater microbial communities was further assessed at one of the sites. Bacterial and archaeal community composition varied between the different sites, reflecting different geological characteristics, with communities from unconsolidated aquifers being distinct from those of consolidated aquifers. Our results also revealed very little to no contribution of surface recharge microbial communities to groundwater communities as well as little to no contribution of groundwater microbial communities to surface discharge communities. Temporal succession suggests seasonal shifts in composition for both bacterial and archaeal communities. This study demonstrates the highly diverse communities of prokaryotes living in aquifer systems, including zones of groundwater recharge and discharge, and highlights the need for further temporal studies with higher resolution to better understand the connectivity between surface and subsurface microbiomes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Cassandre Sara Lazar
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Québec at Montréal, UQAM, C.P. 8888, Succ. Centre-Ville, Montréal, QC H3C 3P8, Canada
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9
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Balboni E, Merino N, Begg JD, Samperton KM, Zengotita FE, Law GTW, Kersting AB, Zavarin M. Plutonium mobilization from contaminated estuarine sediments, Esk Estuary (UK). CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 308:136240. [PMID: 36057346 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.136240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Revised: 08/24/2022] [Accepted: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Since 1952, liquid radioactive effluent containing238-242Pu, 241Am, 237Np, 137Cs, and 99Tc has been released with authorization from the Sellafield nuclear complex (UK) into the Irish Sea. This represents the largest source of plutonium (Pu) discharged in all western Europe, with 276 kg having been released. In the Eastern Irish Sea, the majority of the transuranic activity has settled into an area of sediments (Mudpatch) located off the Cumbrian coast. Radionuclides from the Mudpatch have been re-dispersed via particulate transport in fine-grained estuarine and intertidal sediments to the North-East Irish Sea, including the intertidal saltmarsh located at the mouth of the Esk Estuary. Saltmarshes are highly dynamic systems which are vulnerable to external agents (sea level change, erosion, sediment supply, and freshwater inputs), and their stability remains uncertain under current sea level rise projections and possible increases in storm activity. In this work, we examined factors affecting Pu mobility in contaminated sediments collected from the Esk Estuary by conducting leaching experiments under both anoxic and oxic conditions. Leaching experiments were conducted over a 9-month period and were periodically sampled to determine solution phase Pu via multicollector-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (MC-ICP-MS), and to measure redox indicators (Eh, pH and extractable Fe(II)). Microbial community composition was also characterized in the sediments, and at the beginning and end of the anoxic/oxic experiments. Results show that: 1) Pu leaching is about three times greater in solutions leached under anoxic conditions compared to oxic conditions, 2) the sediment slurry microbial communities shift as conditions change from anoxic to oxic, 3) Pu leaching is enhanced in the shallow sediments (0-10 cm depth), and 4) the magnitude of Pu leached from sediments is not correlated with total Pu, indicating that the biogeochemistry of sediment-associated Pu is spatially heterogeneous. These findings provide constraints on the stability of redox sensitive Pu in biogeochemically dynamic/transient environments on a timescale of months and suggests that anoxic conditions can enhance Pu mobility in estuarine systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enrica Balboni
- Seaborg Institute, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA, 94550, United States.
| | - Nancy Merino
- Seaborg Institute, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA, 94550, United States
| | - James D Begg
- Seaborg Institute, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA, 94550, United States; Amphos 21, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Kyle M Samperton
- Seaborg Institute, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA, 94550, United States; Trace Nuclear Measurement Technology Group, Savannah River National Laboratory, Aiken, SC, 29808, United States
| | - Frances E Zengotita
- Seaborg Institute, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA, 94550, United States; Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering & Earth Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, 46556, United States
| | - Gareth T W Law
- Radiochemistry Unit, Department of Chemistry, University of Helsinki, Finland
| | - Annie B Kersting
- Seaborg Institute, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA, 94550, United States
| | - Mavrik Zavarin
- Seaborg Institute, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA, 94550, United States
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