1
|
Feng Z, Li N, Deng Y, Yu Y, Gao Q, Wang J, Chen S, Xing R. Biogeography and assembly processes of abundant and rare soil microbial taxa in the southern part of the Qilian Mountain National Park, China. Ecol Evol 2024; 14:e11001. [PMID: 38352203 PMCID: PMC10862184 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.11001] [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: 05/07/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Soil microorganisms play vital roles in regulating multiple ecosystem functions. Recent studies have revealed that the rare microbial taxa (with extremely low relative abundances, which are still largely ignored) are also crucial in maintaining the health and biodiversity of the soil and may respond differently to environmental pressure. However, little is known about the soil community structures of abundant and rare taxa and their assembly processes in different soil layers on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP). The present study investigated the community structure and assembly processes of soil abundant and rare microbial taxa on the northeastern edge of the QTP. Soil microbial abundance was defined by abundant taxa, whereas rare taxa contributed to soil microbial diversity. The results of null model show that the stochastic process ruled the assembly processes of all sub-communities. Dispersal limitation contributed more to the assembly of abundant microbial taxa in the different soil layers. In contrast, drift played a more critical role in the assembly processes of the rare microbial taxa. In addition, in contrast to previous studies, the abundant taxa played more important roles in co-occurrence networks, most likely because of the heterogeneity of the soil, the sparsity of amplicon sequencing, the sampling strategy, and the limited samples in the present study. The results of this study improve our understanding of soil microbiome assemblies on the QTP and highlight the role of abundant taxa in sustaining the stability of microbial co-occurrence networks in different soil layers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhilin Feng
- Northwest Institute of Plateau BiologyChinese Academy of SciencesXiningQinghaiChina
- College of Life ScienceUniversity of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Na Li
- Northwest Institute of Plateau BiologyChinese Academy of SciencesXiningQinghaiChina
- College of Life ScienceUniversity of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Yanfang Deng
- Service Center of Qilian Mountain National Park in Qinghai ProvinceXiningQinghaiChina
| | - Yao Yu
- Service Center of Qilian Mountain National Park in Qinghai ProvinceXiningQinghaiChina
| | - Qingbo Gao
- Northwest Institute of Plateau BiologyChinese Academy of SciencesXiningQinghaiChina
- Qinghai Provincial Key Laboratory of Crop Molecular BreedingXiningQinghaiChina
| | - Jiuli Wang
- Qinghai Nationalities UniversityXiningQinghaiChina
| | - Shi‐long Chen
- Northwest Institute of Plateau BiologyChinese Academy of SciencesXiningQinghaiChina
- Qinghai Provincial Key Laboratory of Crop Molecular BreedingXiningQinghaiChina
| | - Rui Xing
- Northwest Institute of Plateau BiologyChinese Academy of SciencesXiningQinghaiChina
- Qinghai Provincial Key Laboratory of Crop Molecular BreedingXiningQinghaiChina
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Wang M, Zhao K, Li X, Xie BB. Insights into the composition and assembly mechanism of microbial communities on intertidal microsand grains. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1308767. [PMID: 38098661 PMCID: PMC10719935 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1308767] [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: 10/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Marine microorganisms are essential in marine ecosystems and have always been of interest. Currently, most marine microbial communities are studied at the bulk scale (millimeters to centimeters), and the composition, function and underlying assembly mechanism of microbial communities at the microscale (sub-100 micrometers) are unclear. Methods The microbial communities on microsand grains (40-100 µm, n = 150) from marine sediment were investigated and compared with those on macrosand grains (400-1000 µm, n = 60) and bulk sediments (n = 5) using amplicon sequencing technology. Results The results revealed a significant difference between microsand grains and macrosand grains. Microsand grains had lower numbers of operational taxonomic units (OTUs(97%)) and predicted functional genes than macrosand grains and bulk-scale samples. Microsand grains also showed greater intersample differences in the community composition and predicted functional genes than macrosand grains, suggesting a high level of heterogeneity of microbial communities at the microscale. Analyses based on ecological models indicated that stochastic processes dominated the assembly of microbial communities on sand grains. Consistently, cooccurrence network analyses showed that most microbial cooccurrence associations on sand grains were highly unstable. Metagenomic sequencing and further genome-scale metabolic modeling revealed that only a small number (1.3%) of microbe pairs showed high cooperative potential. Discussion This study explored the microbial community of marine sediments at the sub-100 µm scale, broadening the knowledge of the structure and assembly mechanism of marine microbial communities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Bin-Bin Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Institute of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Deng T, He Z, Xu M, Dong M, Guo J, Sun G, Huang H. Species' functional traits and interactions drive nitrate-mediated sulfur-oxidizing community structure and functioning. mBio 2023; 14:e0156723. [PMID: 37702500 PMCID: PMC10653917 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01567-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/14/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Understanding the processes and mechanisms governing microbial community assembly and their linkages to ecosystem functioning has long been a core issue in microbial ecology. An in-depth insight still requires combining with analyses of species' functional traits and microbial interactions. Our study showed how species' functional traits and interactions determined microbial community structure and functions by a well-controlled laboratory experiment with nitrate-mediated sulfur oxidation systems using high-throughput sequencing and culture-dependent technologies. The results provided solid evidences that species' functional traits and interactions were the intrinsic factors determining community structure and function. More importantly, our study established quantitative links between community structure and function based on species' functional traits and interactions, which would have important implications for the design and synthesis of microbiomes with expected functions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tongchu Deng
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology Southern China, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Culture Collection and Application, Institute of Microbiology, Guangdong Academy of Science, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Protection Microbiology and Regional Ecological Security, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Zhili He
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Zhuhai, China
| | - Meiying Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology Southern China, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Culture Collection and Application, Institute of Microbiology, Guangdong Academy of Science, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Protection Microbiology and Regional Ecological Security, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Meijun Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology Southern China, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Culture Collection and Application, Institute of Microbiology, Guangdong Academy of Science, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Protection Microbiology and Regional Ecological Security, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Jun Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology Southern China, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Culture Collection and Application, Institute of Microbiology, Guangdong Academy of Science, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Protection Microbiology and Regional Ecological Security, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Guoping Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology Southern China, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Culture Collection and Application, Institute of Microbiology, Guangdong Academy of Science, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Protection Microbiology and Regional Ecological Security, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Haobin Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology Southern China, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Culture Collection and Application, Institute of Microbiology, Guangdong Academy of Science, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Protection Microbiology and Regional Ecological Security, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Fujiyoshi S, Yarimizu K, Fuenzalida G, Campos M, Rilling JI, Acuña JJ, Miranda PC, Cascales EK, Perera I, Espinoza-González O, Guzmán L, Jorquera MA, Maruyama F. Monitoring bacterial composition and assemblage in the Gulf of Corcovado, southern Chile: Bacteria associated with harmful algae. CURRENT RESEARCH IN MICROBIAL SCIENCES 2023; 4:100194. [PMID: 37346179 PMCID: PMC10279789 DOI: 10.1016/j.crmicr.2023.100194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) have caused damage to the marine environment in Isla San Pedro in the Gulf of Corcovado, Chile. While rising water temperature and artificial eutrophication are the most discussed topics as a cause, marine bacteria is a recent attractive parameter as an algal bloom driver. This study monitored algal and bacterial compositions in the water of Isla San Pedro for one year using microscopy and 16S rRNA metabarcoding analysis, along with physicochemical parameters. The collected data were analyzed with various statistical tools to understand how the particle-associated bacteria (PA) and the free-living (FL) bacteria were possibly involved in algal blooms. Both FL and PA fractions maintained a stable bacterial composition: the FL fraction was dominated by Proteobacteria (α-Proteobacteria and γ-Proteobacteria), and Cyanobacteria dominated the PA fraction. The two fractions contained equivalent bacterial taxonomic richness (c.a. 8,000 Operational Taxonomic Units) and shared more than 50% of OTU; however, roughly 20% was exclusive to each fraction. The four most abundant algal genera in the Isla San Pedro water were Thalassiosira, Skeletonema, Chaetoceros, and Pseudo-nitzchia. Statistical analysis identified that the bacterial species Polycyclovorans algicola was correlated with Pseudo-nitzschia spp., and our monitoring data recorded a sudden increase of particle-associated Polycyclovorans algicola shortly after the increase of Pseudo-nitzschia, suggesting that P. algicola may have regression effect on Pseudo-nitzschia spp. The study also investigated the physicochemical parameter effect on algal-bacterial interactions. Oxygen concentration and chlorophyll-a showed a strong correlation with both FL and PA bacteria despite their assemblage differences, suggesting that the two groups had different mechanisms for interacting with algal species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- So Fujiyoshi
- Microbial Genomics and Ecology, The IDEC Institute, Hiroshima University, 1-3-2 Kagamiyama, Higashi-Hiroshima City, Hiroshima 739-8511, Japan
| | - Kyoko Yarimizu
- Microbial Genomics and Ecology, The IDEC Institute, Hiroshima University, 1-3-2 Kagamiyama, Higashi-Hiroshima City, Hiroshima 739-8511, Japan
| | - Gonzalo Fuenzalida
- Centro de Estudios de Algas Nocivas (CREAN), Instituto de Fomento Pesquero (IFOP), Padre Harter 574, Puerto Montt 5480000, Chile
- Departamento de Ciencias Básicas, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Santo Tomás, Buena Vecindad #91, Puerto Montt, Chile
| | - Marco Campos
- Laboratorio de Ecología Microbiana Aplicada (EMAlab), Departamento de Ciencias Quimicas y Recursos Naturales, Universidad de La Frontera, Ave. Francisco Salazar 01145, Temuco 4811230, Chile
| | - Joaquin-Ignacio Rilling
- Laboratorio de Ecología Microbiana Aplicada (EMAlab), Departamento de Ciencias Quimicas y Recursos Naturales, Universidad de La Frontera, Ave. Francisco Salazar 01145, Temuco 4811230, Chile
| | - Jacquelinne J. Acuña
- Laboratorio de Ecología Microbiana Aplicada (EMAlab), Departamento de Ciencias Quimicas y Recursos Naturales, Universidad de La Frontera, Ave. Francisco Salazar 01145, Temuco 4811230, Chile
| | - Pedro Calabrano Miranda
- Centro de Estudios de Algas Nocivas (CREAN), Instituto de Fomento Pesquero (IFOP), Padre Harter 574, Puerto Montt 5480000, Chile
| | - Emma-Karin Cascales
- Centro de Estudios de Algas Nocivas (CREAN), Instituto de Fomento Pesquero (IFOP), Padre Harter 574, Puerto Montt 5480000, Chile
| | - Ishara Perera
- Microbial Genomics and Ecology, The IDEC Institute, Hiroshima University, 1-3-2 Kagamiyama, Higashi-Hiroshima City, Hiroshima 739-8511, Japan
| | - Oscar Espinoza-González
- Centro de Estudios de Algas Nocivas (CREAN), Instituto de Fomento Pesquero (IFOP), Padre Harter 574, Puerto Montt 5480000, Chile
| | - Leonardo Guzmán
- Centro de Estudios de Algas Nocivas (CREAN), Instituto de Fomento Pesquero (IFOP), Padre Harter 574, Puerto Montt 5480000, Chile
| | - Milko A. Jorquera
- Laboratorio de Ecología Microbiana Aplicada (EMAlab), Departamento de Ciencias Quimicas y Recursos Naturales, Universidad de La Frontera, Ave. Francisco Salazar 01145, Temuco 4811230, Chile
| | - Fumito Maruyama
- Microbial Genomics and Ecology, The IDEC Institute, Hiroshima University, 1-3-2 Kagamiyama, Higashi-Hiroshima City, Hiroshima 739-8511, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Bickel S, Or D. Aqueous habitats and carbon inputs shape the microscale geography and interaction ranges of soil bacteria. Commun Biol 2023; 6:322. [PMID: 36966207 PMCID: PMC10039866 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-04703-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Earth's diverse soil microbiomes host bacteria within dynamic and fragmented aqueous habitats that occupy complex pore spaces and restrict the spatial range of ecological interactions. Yet, the spatial distributions of bacterial cells in soil communities remain underexplored. Here, we propose a modelling framework representing submillimeter-scale distributions of soil bacteria based on physical constraints supported by individual-based model results and direct observations. The spatial distribution of bacterial cell clusters modulates various metabolic interactions and soil microbiome functioning. Dry soils with long diffusion times limit localized interactions of the sparse communities. Frequently wet soils enable long-range trophic interactions between dense cell clusters through connected aqueous pathways. Biomes with high carbon inputs promote large and dense cell clusters where anoxic microsites form even in aerated soils. Micro-geographic considerations of difficult-to-observe microbial processes can improve the interpretation of data from bulk soil samples.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Samuel Bickel
- ETH Zurich, Zürich, 8092, Switzerland.
- Graz University of Technology, Graz, 8010, Austria.
| | - Dani Or
- ETH Zurich, Zürich, 8092, Switzerland
- Desert Research Institute, Reno, NV, USA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Fitzpatrick CR, Copeland J, Wang PW, Guttman DS, Kotanen PM, Johnson MTJ. Habitats Within the Plant Root Differ in Bacterial Network Topology and Taxonomic Assortativity. MOLECULAR PLANT-MICROBE INTERACTIONS : MPMI 2023; 36:165-175. [PMID: 36463399 DOI: 10.1094/mpmi-09-22-0188-r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The root microbiome is composed of distinct epiphytic (rhizosphere) and endophytic (endosphere) habitats. Differences in abiotic and biotic factors drive differences in microbial community diversity and composition between these habitats, though how they shape the interactions among community members is unknown. Here, we coupled a large-scale characterization of the rhizosphere and endosphere bacterial communities of 30 plant species across two watering treatments with co-occurrence network analysis to understand how root habitats and soil moisture shape root bacterial network properties. We used a novel bootstrapping procedure and null network modeling to overcome some of the limitations associated with microbial co-occurrence network construction and analysis. Endosphere networks had elevated node betweenness centrality versus the rhizosphere, indicating greater overall connectivity among core bacterial members of the root endosphere. Taxonomic assortativity was higher in the endosphere, whereby positive co-occurrence was more likely between bacteria within the same phylum while negative co-occurrence was more likely between bacterial taxa from different phyla. This taxonomic assortativity could be driven by positive and negative interactions among members of the same or different phylum, respectively, or by similar niche preferences associated with phylum rank among root inhabiting bacteria across plant host species. In contrast to the large differences between root habitats, drought had limited effects on network properties but did result in a higher proportion of shared co-occurrences between rhizosphere and endosphere networks. Our study points to fundamentally different ecological processes shaping bacterial co-occurrence across root habitats. [Formula: see text] Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Connor R Fitzpatrick
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto M5S 3B2, Canada
- Department of Biology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga L5L 1C6, Canada
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, U.S.A
| | - Julia Copeland
- Centre for the Analysis of Genome Evolution & Function, University of Toronto, Toronto M5S 3B2, Canada
| | - Pauline W Wang
- Centre for the Analysis of Genome Evolution & Function, University of Toronto, Toronto M5S 3B2, Canada
- Department of Cell & Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto M5S 3B2, Canada
| | - David S Guttman
- Centre for the Analysis of Genome Evolution & Function, University of Toronto, Toronto M5S 3B2, Canada
- Department of Cell & Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto M5S 3B2, Canada
| | - Peter M Kotanen
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto M5S 3B2, Canada
- Department of Biology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga L5L 1C6, Canada
| | - Marc T J Johnson
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto M5S 3B2, Canada
- Department of Biology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga L5L 1C6, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Chen W, Sang S, Shao L, Li Y, Li T, Gan L, Liu L, Wang D, Zhou L. Biogeographic Patterns and Community Assembly Processes of Bacterioplankton and Potential Pathogens in Subtropical Estuaries in China. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0368322. [PMID: 36507672 PMCID: PMC9927264 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.03683-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Microbial communities in coastal waters are diverse and dynamic and play important roles in ecosystem functions and services. Despite the ecological impact of bacterioplankton or pathogens, little is known about whether bacterioplankton and pathogen communities exhibit similar patterns. Here, using 16S RNA gene amplicon sequencing, the geographic patterns and assembly processes of bacterioplankton and pathogen communities in 30 subtropical estuaries were studied. Results showed that the estuarine bacterioplankton communities mainly consisted of Proteobacteria (49.06%), Actinobacteria (17.62%), and Bacteroidetes (16.33%), among which 31 pathogen genera (186 amplicon sequence variants [ASVs]) were identified. Under the influence of salinity, bacterioplankton and pathogens showed similar biogeographic patterns. Redundancy and correlation analyses indicated that the bacterioplankton communities were strongly correlated with estuarine environmental factors, but potential pathogens were less influenced. Co-occurrence network analysis revealed a close relationship between bacterioplankton and potential pathogens, with two pathogens identified as connectors (i.e., ASV340 [Clostridium perfringens] and ASV1624 [Brevundimonas diminuta]), implying potential impacts of pathogens on structure, function, and stability of estuarine bacterioplankton communities. Null-model analysis revealed that deterministic processes (heterogeneous selection) dominated bacterioplankton community assembly, while stochastic processes (undominated effect) shaped the potential pathogen community. Our findings illustrate the biogeographic patterns and community assembly mechanisms of bacterioplankton and pathogens in estuaries, which should provide guidance and a reference for the control of potential pathogenic bacteria. IMPORTANCE Bacterioplankton play an important role in estuarine ecosystem functions and services; however, potentially pathogenic bacteria may exhibit infectivity and pose a serious threat to environmental and human health. In this study, geographic patterns and assembly processes of bacterioplankton communities in 30 subtropical estuaries were explored, and potential pathogenic bacteria in the estuaries were detected and profiled. Our results demonstrate here that bacterioplankton and pathogens show similar biogeographic patterns under the influence of salinity. Interestingly, heterogeneous selection dominated bacterioplankton assembly, while stochasticity dominated pathogen assembly. This study provides important information for future risk assessment of potential pathogenic bacteria as well as management in estuarine ecosystems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wenjian Chen
- College of Marine Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shilei Sang
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Health Risk Assessment, South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, MEE, Guangzhou, China
| | - Liyi Shao
- College of Marine Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yusen Li
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Aquatic Genetic Breeding and Healthy Aquaculture, Guangxi Academy of Fishery Sciences, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Tongzhou Li
- College of Marine Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lihong Gan
- College of Marine Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Li Liu
- College of Marine Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Dapeng Wang
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Aquatic Genetic Breeding and Healthy Aquaculture, Guangxi Academy of Fishery Sciences, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Lei Zhou
- College of Marine Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Bove CB, Ingersoll MV, Davies SW. Help Me, Symbionts, You're My Only Hope: Approaches to Accelerate our Understanding of Coral Holobiont Interactions. Integr Comp Biol 2022; 62:1756-1769. [PMID: 36099871 DOI: 10.1093/icb/icac141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2022] [Revised: 08/24/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Tropical corals construct the three-dimensional framework for one of the most diverse ecosystems on the planet, providing habitat to a plethora of species across taxa. However, these ecosystem engineers are facing unprecedented challenges, such as increasing disease prevalence and marine heatwaves associated with anthropogenic global change. As a result, major declines in coral cover and health are being observed across the world's oceans, often due to the breakdown of coral-associated symbioses. Here, we review the interactions between the major symbiotic partners of the coral holobiont-the cnidarian host, algae in the family Symbiodiniaceae, and the microbiome-that influence trait variation, including the molecular mechanisms that underlie symbiosis and the resulting physiological benefits of different microbial partnerships. In doing so, we highlight the current framework for the formation and maintenance of cnidarian-Symbiodiniaceae symbiosis, and the role that immunity pathways play in this relationship. We emphasize that understanding these complex interactions is challenging when you consider the vast genetic variation of the cnidarian host and algal symbiont, as well as their highly diverse microbiome, which is also an important player in coral holobiont health. Given the complex interactions between and among symbiotic partners, we propose several research directions and approaches focused on symbiosis model systems and emerging technologies that will broaden our understanding of how these partner interactions may facilitate the prediction of coral holobiont phenotype, especially under rapid environmental change.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Colleen B Bove
- Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | | | - Sarah W Davies
- Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Abstract
Despite an ever-growing number of data sets that catalog and characterize interactions between microbes in different environments and conditions, many of these data are neither easily accessible nor intercompatible. These limitations present a major challenge to microbiome research by hindering the streamlined drawing of inferences across studies. Here, we propose guiding principles to make microbial interaction data more findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable (FAIR). We outline specific use cases for interaction data that span the diverse space of microbiome research, and discuss the untapped potential for new insights that can be fulfilled through broader integration of microbial interaction data. These include, among others, the design of intercompatible synthetic communities for environmental, industrial, or medical applications, and the inference of novel interactions from disparate studies. Lastly, we envision potential trajectories for the deployment of FAIR microbial interaction data based on existing resources, reporting standards, and current momentum within the community.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Charlie Pauvert
- Functional Microbiome Research Group, Institute of Medical Microbiology, University Hospital of RWTH, Aachen, Germany
| | - Dileep Kishore
- Bioinformatics Program and Biological Design Center, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Daniel Segrè
- Bioinformatics Program and Biological Design Center, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Biology, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Physics, Boston University, Boston Massachusetts, USA
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Fleishman SM, Eissenstat DM, Bell TH, Centinari M. Functionally-explicit sampling can answer key questions about the specificity of plant-microbe interactions. ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOME 2022; 17:51. [PMID: 36221138 PMCID: PMC9555203 DOI: 10.1186/s40793-022-00445-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The rhizosphere is a nexus for plant-microbe interactions and, as a host-structured environment, a location of high activity for distinct microbes and plant species. Although our insights into this habitat have exploded in recent years, we are still limited in our ability to answer key questions about the specificity of these root-microbial relationships. In particular, it can be difficult to confirm or reject microbiome heritability in many plant systems and to pinpoint which microbial taxa are key to plant functioning. Like other host-structured environments, the rhizosphere is structurally, chemically, and biologically complex, driven largely by differences in root anatomy, location, and function. In this Correspondence, we describe a review of 377 "rhizosphere microbiome" research papers and demonstrate how matching a sampling method to the biological question can advance our understanding of host-microbe interactions in a functionally heterogeneous environment. We found that the vast majority of studies (92%) pool all roots from a root system during sampling, ignoring variation in microbial composition between roots of different function and limiting insight into key root-microbial relationships. Furthermore, approaches for removing root-associated microbes are highly variable and non-standard, complicating multi-study analyses. Our understanding of the strength and nature of host-microbe relationships in heterogenous host-microbiome environments can be clarified by targeting sampling to locations of high interaction. While the high complexity of the rhizosphere creates logistical challenges, we suggest that unambiguous language and refined approaches will improve our ability to match methods to research questions and advance our understanding of the specificity of plant-microbial interactions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Suzanne M. Fleishman
- Department of Plant Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802 USA
- Department of Ecosystem Science and Management, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802 USA
- Graduate Program in Ecology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802 USA
| | - David M. Eissenstat
- Department of Ecosystem Science and Management, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802 USA
- Graduate Program in Ecology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802 USA
| | - Terrence H. Bell
- Department of Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802 USA
- Graduate Program in Ecology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802 USA
| | - Michela Centinari
- Department of Plant Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802 USA
- Graduate Program in Ecology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802 USA
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Historical contingencies and phage induction diversify bacterioplankton communities at the microscale. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2117748119. [PMID: 35862452 PMCID: PMC9335236 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2117748119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
In many natural environments, microorganisms decompose microscale resource patches made of complex organic matter. The growth and collapse of populations on these resource patches unfold within spatial ranges of a few hundred micrometers or less, making such microscale ecosystems hotspots of heterotrophic metabolism. Despite the potential importance of patch-level dynamics for the large-scale functioning of heterotrophic microbial communities, we have not yet been able to delineate the ecological processes that control natural populations at the microscale. Here, we address this challenge by characterizing the natural marine communities that assembled on over 1,000 individual microscale particles of chitin, the most abundant marine polysaccharide. Using low-template shotgun metagenomics and imaging, we find significant variation in microscale community composition despite the similarity in initial species pools across replicates. Chitin-degrading taxa that were rare in seawater established large populations on a subset of particles, resulting in a wide range of predicted chitinolytic abilities and biomass at the level of individual particles. We show, through a mathematical model, that this variability can be attributed to stochastic colonization and historical contingencies affecting the tempo of growth on particles. We find evidence that one biological process leading to such noisy growth across particles is differential predation by temperate bacteriophages of chitin-degrading strains, the keystone members of the community. Thus, initial stochasticity in assembly states on individual particles, amplified through ecological interactions, may have significant consequences for the diversity and functionality of systems of microscale patches.
Collapse
|
12
|
Chen L, Zhao B, Palomo A, Sun Y, Cheng Z, Zhang M, Xia Y. Micron-scale biogeography reveals conservative intra anammox bacteria spatial co-associations. WATER RESEARCH 2022; 220:118640. [PMID: 35661503 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2022.118640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2022] [Revised: 05/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Micron-scale resolution can help to reliably identify true taxon-taxon interactions in complex microbial communities. Despite widespread recognition of the critical role of metabolic interactions in anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) system performance, no studies have examined microbial interactions at the micron-scale in anammox consortia. To fill this gap, we extensively sampled (totally 242 samples) the consortia of a lab-scale anammox reactor at different length scales, including bulk-scale (∼cm), macro-scale (300-500 µm) and micron-scale (70-100 µm). We firstly observed evident micron-scale heterogeneity in anammox consortia, with the relative abundance of anammox bacteria fluctuated greatly across individual clusters (2.0%-79.3%), indicating that the biotic interactions play a significant role in the assembly of anammox communities under well-controlled and well-mixed condition. Importantly, by mapping the spatial associations in anammox consortia at micron-scale, we demonstrated that the conserved co-associations for anammox bacteria were restricted to three different Brocadia species over time, and their co-associations with heterotrophs were random, implying that there was no statistically significant symbiotic interaction between anammox bacteria and other heterotrophic populations. Further metagenomic binning revealed that the quorum sensing with secondary messenger c-di-GMP potentially holding on the conservative metabolic cooperation among Brocadia species. These results shed new light on the social behavior of the anammox community. Overall, delineating of biological structures at micron-scale opens a new way of monitoring the microbial spatial structure and interactions, paving the way for improved community engineering of biotreatment systems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Liming Chen
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, College of Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Bixi Zhao
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, College of Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Alejandro Palomo
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, College of Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Yuhong Sun
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, College of Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Zhanwen Cheng
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, College of Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Miao Zhang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, College of Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Yu Xia
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, College of Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China; State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Integrated Surface Water-Groundwater Pollution Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Soil and Groundwater Pollution Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Cai YJ, Liu ZA, Zhang S, Liu H, Nicol GW, Chen Z. Microbial community structure is stratified at the millimeter-scale across the soil-water interface. ISME COMMUNICATIONS 2022; 2:53. [PMID: 37938662 PMCID: PMC9723559 DOI: 10.1038/s43705-022-00138-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2022] [Revised: 05/25/2022] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 08/09/2023]
Abstract
Soil-water interfaces (SWI) are biogeochemical hotspots characterized by millimeter-scale redox gradients, indicating that parallel changes are also present in microbial community structure and activity. However, soil-based analyses of microbial community structure typically examine bulk samples and seldom consider variation at a scale relevant to changes in environmental conditions. Here we presented a study that aimed to describe millimeter-scale variance in both microbial community structure and physicochemical properties in a lab flooded soil. At this fine-scale resolution, the stratification of biogeochemical properties (e.g., redox potential, nitrate concentration) was consistent with the structure of the active microbial community with clear shifts in the relative abundance of transcriptionally active populations associated with changing redox conditions. Our results demonstrate that spatial scale should be carefully considered when investigating ecological mechanisms that influence soil microbial community structures.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Jia Cai
- Department of Health and Environmental Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, 111 Ren'ai Road, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215123, China
- Department of Geography & Planning, School of Environmental Sciences, University of Liverpool, Brownlow Hill, Liverpool, L697ZX, UK
| | - Zi-Ao Liu
- Department of Health and Environmental Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, 111 Ren'ai Road, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215123, China
| | - Sha Zhang
- Department of Health and Environmental Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, 111 Ren'ai Road, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215123, China
- Department of Geography & Planning, School of Environmental Sciences, University of Liverpool, Brownlow Hill, Liverpool, L697ZX, UK
| | - Hao Liu
- Department of Health and Environmental Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, 111 Ren'ai Road, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215123, China
- Department of Geography & Planning, School of Environmental Sciences, University of Liverpool, Brownlow Hill, Liverpool, L697ZX, UK
| | - Graeme W Nicol
- Univ Lyon, CNRS, INSA Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Ecole Centrale de Lyon, Ampère, UMR5005, 69134, Ecully cedex, France
| | - Zheng Chen
- Department of Health and Environmental Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, 111 Ren'ai Road, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215123, China.
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Guseva K, Darcy S, Simon E, Alteio LV, Montesinos-Navarro A, Kaiser C. From diversity to complexity: Microbial networks in soils. SOIL BIOLOGY & BIOCHEMISTRY 2022; 169:108604. [PMID: 35712047 PMCID: PMC9125165 DOI: 10.1016/j.soilbio.2022.108604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2021] [Revised: 02/08/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Network analysis has been used for many years in ecological research to analyze organismal associations, for example in food webs, plant-plant or plant-animal interactions. Although network analysis is widely applied in microbial ecology, only recently has it entered the realms of soil microbial ecology, shown by a rapid rise in studies applying co-occurrence analysis to soil microbial communities. While this application offers great potential for deeper insights into the ecological structure of soil microbial ecosystems, it also brings new challenges related to the specific characteristics of soil datasets and the type of ecological questions that can be addressed. In this Perspectives Paper we assess the challenges of applying network analysis to soil microbial ecology due to the small-scale heterogeneity of the soil environment and the nature of soil microbial datasets. We review the different approaches of network construction that are commonly applied to soil microbial datasets and discuss their features and limitations. Using a test dataset of microbial communities from two depths of a forest soil, we demonstrate how different experimental designs and network constructing algorithms affect the structure of the resulting networks, and how this in turn may influence ecological conclusions. We will also reveal how assumptions of the construction method, methods of preparing the dataset, and definitions of thresholds affect the network structure. Finally, we discuss the particular questions in soil microbial ecology that can be approached by analyzing and interpreting specific network properties. Targeting these network properties in a meaningful way will allow applying this technique not in merely descriptive, but in hypothesis-driven research. Analysing microbial networks in soils opens a window to a better understanding of the complexity of microbial communities. However, this approach is unfortunately often used to draw conclusions which are far beyond the scientific evidence it can provide, which has damaged its reputation for soil microbial analysis. In this Perspectives Paper, we would like to sharpen the view for the real potential of microbial co-occurrence analysis in soils, and at the same time raise awareness regarding its limitations and the many ways how it can be misused or misinterpreted.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ksenia Guseva
- Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Corresponding author.
| | - Sean Darcy
- Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Eva Simon
- Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Doctoral School in Microbiology and Environmental Science, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Lauren V. Alteio
- Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Alicia Montesinos-Navarro
- Centro de Investigaciones sobre Desertificación (CIDE, CSIC-UV-GV), Carretera de Moncada-Náquera Km 4.5, 46113, Moncada, Valencia, Spain
| | - Christina Kaiser
- Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Corresponding author.
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Hughes DJ, Raina JB, Nielsen DA, Suggett DJ, Kühl M. Disentangling compartment functions in sessile marine invertebrates. Trends Ecol Evol 2022; 37:740-748. [PMID: 35570130 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2022.04.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2021] [Revised: 04/09/2022] [Accepted: 04/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Sessile invertebrates are frequently sampled and processed whole for downstream analyses. However, their apparent structural simplicity is deceptive as these organisms often harbour discrete compartments. These compartments have physicochemical conditions that differ markedly from neighbouring tissues, and that have likely evolved to support specific functions. Here, we argue that such compartments should be specifically targeted when characterising sessile invertebrate biology and we use the coral gastrovascular cavity to support our argument. This complex compartment displays steep and dynamic chemical gradients, harbours distinct microorganisms, and presumably plays a key role in coral biology. Disentangling the functions played by (and amongst) compartments will likely provide transformative insight into the biology of sessile invertebrates and their future under environmental change.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- David J Hughes
- University of Technology Sydney, Climate Change Cluster, Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia.
| | - Jean-Baptiste Raina
- University of Technology Sydney, Climate Change Cluster, Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia.
| | - Daniel A Nielsen
- University of Technology Sydney, School of Life Sciences, Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia
| | - David J Suggett
- University of Technology Sydney, Climate Change Cluster, Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia
| | - Michael Kühl
- University of Technology Sydney, Climate Change Cluster, Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia; Marine Biology Section, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Strandpromenaden 5, DK 3000 Helsingør, Denmark.
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Gleich SJ, Cram JA, Weissman JL, Caron DA. NetGAM: Using generalized additive models to improve the predictive power of ecological network analyses constructed using time-series data. ISME COMMUNICATIONS 2022; 2:23. [PMID: 37938660 PMCID: PMC9723797 DOI: 10.1038/s43705-022-00106-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2021] [Revised: 02/10/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2022] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Ecological network analyses are used to identify potential biotic interactions between microorganisms from species abundance data. These analyses are often carried out using time-series data; however, time-series networks have unique statistical challenges. Time-dependent species abundance data can lead to species co-occurrence patterns that are not a result of direct, biotic associations and may therefore result in inaccurate network predictions. Here, we describe a generalize additive model (GAM)-based data transformation that removes time-series signals from species abundance data prior to running network analyses. Validation of the transformation was carried out by generating mock, time-series datasets, with an underlying covariance structure, running network analyses on these datasets with and without our GAM transformation, and comparing the network outputs to the known covariance structure of the simulated data. The results revealed that seasonal abundance patterns substantially decreased the accuracy of the inferred networks. In addition, the GAM transformation increased the predictive power (F1 score) of inferred ecological networks on average and improved the ability of network inference methods to capture important features of network structure. This study underscores the importance of considering temporal features when carrying out network analyses and describes a simple, effective tool that can be used to improve results.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Samantha J Gleich
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, 3616 Trousdale Parkway, AHF, Los Angeles, CA, 90089-0371, USA.
| | - Jacob A Cram
- Horn Point Laboratory, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, 2020 Horns Point Road, Cambridge, MD, 21613, USA
| | - J L Weissman
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, 3616 Trousdale Parkway, AHF, Los Angeles, CA, 90089-0371, USA
| | - David A Caron
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, 3616 Trousdale Parkway, AHF, Los Angeles, CA, 90089-0371, USA
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Abstract
A key challenge in microbiome science is the scale mismatch problem, which arises when the scale at which microbial communities are sampled, interrogated, and averaged is different from the scale at which individual microorganisms within those communities interact with each other and with their environment. Profiling the microbial communities in a teaspoon of soil, from a scoop of fecal matter, or along a plant leaf surface represents a scale mismatch of multiple orders of magnitude, which may limit our ability to interpret or predict species interactions and community assembly within such samples. In this Perspective, we explore how economists, who are historically and topically split along the lines of micro- and macroeconomics, deal with the scale mismatch problem, and how taking clues from (micro)economists could benefit the field of microbiomics.
Collapse
|
18
|
Fournier P, Pellan L, Barroso-Bergadà D, Bohan DA, Candresse T, Delmotte F, Dufour MC, Lauvergeat V, Le Marrec C, Marais A, Martins G, Masneuf-Pomarède I, Rey P, Sherman D, This P, Frioux C, Labarthe S, Vacher C. The functional microbiome of grapevine throughout plant evolutionary history and lifetime. ADV ECOL RES 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/bs.aecr.2022.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
|
19
|
Faust K. Open challenges for microbial network construction and analysis. THE ISME JOURNAL 2021; 15:3111-3118. [PMID: 34108668 PMCID: PMC8528840 DOI: 10.1038/s41396-021-01027-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2021] [Revised: 05/26/2021] [Accepted: 05/27/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Microbial network construction is a popular explorative data analysis technique in microbiome research. Although a large number of microbial network construction tools has been developed to date, there are several issues concerning the construction and interpretation of microbial networks that have received less attention. The purpose of this perspective is to draw attention to these underexplored challenges of microbial network construction and analysis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Karoline Faust
- KU Leuven, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute for Medical Research, Leuven, Belgium.
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Schagen M, Bosch J, Johnson J, Duker R, Lebre P, Potts AJ, Cowan DA. The soil microbiomics of intact, degraded and partially-restored semi-arid succulent thicket (Albany Subtropical Thicket). PeerJ 2021; 9:e12176. [PMID: 34707927 PMCID: PMC8501999 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.12176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2021] [Accepted: 08/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
This study examines the soil bacterial diversity in the Portulacaria afra-dominated succulent thicket vegetation of the Albany Subtropical Thicket biome; this biome is endemic to South Africa. The aim of the study was to compare the soil microbiomes between intact and degraded zones in the succulent thicket and identify environmental factors which could explain the community compositions. Bacterial diversity, using 16S amplicon sequencing, and soil physicochemistry were compared across three zones: intact (undisturbed and vegetated), degraded (near complete removal of vegetation due to browsing) and restored (a previously degraded area which was replanted approximately 11 years before sampling). Amplicon Sequence Variant (ASV) richness was similar across the three zones, however, the bacterial community composition and soil physicochemistry differed across the intact and degraded zones. We identified, via correlation, the potential drivers of microbial community composition as soil density, pH and the ratio of Ca to Mg. The restored zone was intermediate between the intact and degraded zones. The differences in the microbial communities appeared to be driven by the presence of plants, with plant-associated taxa more common in the intact zone. The dominant taxa in the degraded zone were cosmopolitan organisms, that have been reported globally in a wide variety of habitats. This study provides baseline information on the changes of the soil bacterial community of a spatially restricted and threatened biome. It also provides a starting point for further studies on community composition and function concerning the restoration of degraded succulent thicket ecosystems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Micaela Schagen
- Centre for Microbial Ecology and Genomics, Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa
| | - Jason Bosch
- Centre for Microbial Ecology and Genomics, Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa
| | - Jenny Johnson
- Centre for Microbial Ecology and Genomics, Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa
| | - Robbert Duker
- Botany Department, South Campus, Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape, South Africa
| | - Pedro Lebre
- Centre for Microbial Ecology and Genomics, Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa
| | - Alastair J Potts
- Botany Department, South Campus, Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape, South Africa
| | - Don A Cowan
- Centre for Microbial Ecology and Genomics, Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Zou K, Wang R, Xu S, Li Z, Liu L, Li M, Zhou L. Changes in protist communities in drainages across the Pearl River Delta under anthropogenic influence. WATER RESEARCH 2021; 200:117294. [PMID: 34102388 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2021.117294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2021] [Revised: 05/21/2021] [Accepted: 05/22/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Drainages in the Pearl River Delta urban agglomeration (PRDUA) host vital aquatic ecosystems and face enormous pressures from human activities in one of the largest urban agglomerations in the world. Despite being crucial components of aquatic ecosystems, the interactions and assembly processes of the protistan community are rarely explored in areas with serious anthropogenic disturbance. To elucidate the mechanisms of these processes, we used environmental DNA sequencing of 18S rDNA to investigate the influence of environmental factors and species interactions on the protistan community and its assembly in drainages of the PRDUA during summer. The protistan community showed a high level of diversity and a marked spatial pattern in this region. Community assembly was driven primarily by stochastic processes based on the Sloan neutral community model, explaining 74.28%, 75.82%, 73.67%, 74.40% and 51.24% of community variations in the BJ (Beijiang), XJ (Xijiang), PRD (Pearl River Delta), PRE (Pearl River Estuary) areas and in total, respectively. Meanwhile, environmental variables including temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, transparency, nutrients and land use were strongly correlated with the composition and assembly of the protistan community, explaining 40.40% of variation in the protistan community. Furthermore, the bacterial community was simultaneously analysed by the 16S rDNA sequencing. Co-occurrence network analysis revealed that species interactions within bacteria (81.41% positive) or protists (82.80% positive), and those between bacteria and protists (50% positive and 50% negative) impacted the protistan community assembly. In summary, stochastic processes dominated, whereas species interactions and environmental factors also played important roles in shaping the protistan communities in drainages across the PRDUA. This study provides insights into the ecological patterns, assembly processes and species interactions underlying protistan dynamics in urban aquatic ecosystems experiencing serious anthropogenic disturbance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Keshu Zou
- Joint Laboratory of Guangdong Province and Hong Kong Region on Marine Bioresource Conservation and Exploitation, College of Marine Sciences, South China Agricultural University, 510642 Guangzhou, China
| | - Ruili Wang
- Joint Laboratory of Guangdong Province and Hong Kong Region on Marine Bioresource Conservation and Exploitation, College of Marine Sciences, South China Agricultural University, 510642 Guangzhou, China
| | - Shannan Xu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Fishery Ecology and Environment, South China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, 510300 Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhuoying Li
- Joint Laboratory of Guangdong Province and Hong Kong Region on Marine Bioresource Conservation and Exploitation, College of Marine Sciences, South China Agricultural University, 510642 Guangzhou, China
| | - Li Liu
- Joint Laboratory of Guangdong Province and Hong Kong Region on Marine Bioresource Conservation and Exploitation, College of Marine Sciences, South China Agricultural University, 510642 Guangzhou, China
| | - Min Li
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Fishery Ecology and Environment, South China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, 510300 Guangzhou, China.
| | - Lei Zhou
- Joint Laboratory of Guangdong Province and Hong Kong Region on Marine Bioresource Conservation and Exploitation, College of Marine Sciences, South China Agricultural University, 510642 Guangzhou, China.
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Swain A, Devereux M, Fagan WF. Deciphering trophic interactions in a mid-Cambrian assemblage. iScience 2021; 24:102271. [PMID: 33817576 PMCID: PMC8010449 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2021.102271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2020] [Revised: 12/07/2020] [Accepted: 03/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Exceptionally preserved fossil sites have allowed specimen-based identification of trophic interactions to which network analyses have been applied. However, network analyses of the fossil record suffer from incomplete and indirect data, time averaging that obscures species coexistence, and biases in preservation. Here, we present a high-resolution fossil data set from Raymond Quarry member of the mid-Cambrian Burgess Shale (7,549 specimens, 61 taxa, ∼510 Mya) and formulate a measure of "preservation bias" that aids identification of assemblage subsets to which network analyses can be reliably applied. For these sections, abundance correlation network analyses predicted longitudinally consistent trophic and competitive interactions. Our analyses predicted previously postulated trophic interactions with 83.5% accuracy and demonstrated a shift from specialist interaction-dominated assemblages to ones dominated by generalist and competitive interactions. This approach provides a robust, taphonomically corrected framework to explore and predict in detail the existence and ecological character of putative interactions in fossil data sets.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anshuman Swain
- Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Matthew Devereux
- Department of Earth Science, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - William F. Fagan
- Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Del Valle I, Fulk EM, Kalvapalle P, Silberg JJ, Masiello CA, Stadler LB. Translating New Synthetic Biology Advances for Biosensing Into the Earth and Environmental Sciences. Front Microbiol 2021; 11:618373. [PMID: 33633695 PMCID: PMC7901896 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.618373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2020] [Accepted: 12/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The rapid diversification of synthetic biology tools holds promise in making some classically hard-to-solve environmental problems tractable. Here we review longstanding problems in the Earth and environmental sciences that could be addressed using engineered microbes as micron-scale sensors (biosensors). Biosensors can offer new perspectives on open questions, including understanding microbial behaviors in heterogeneous matrices like soils, sediments, and wastewater systems, tracking cryptic element cycling in the Earth system, and establishing the dynamics of microbe-microbe, microbe-plant, and microbe-material interactions. Before these new tools can reach their potential, however, a suite of biological parts and microbial chassis appropriate for environmental conditions must be developed by the synthetic biology community. This includes diversifying sensing modules to obtain information relevant to environmental questions, creating output signals that allow dynamic reporting from hard-to-image environmental materials, and tuning these sensors so that they reliably function long enough to be useful for environmental studies. Finally, ethical questions related to the use of synthetic biosensors in environmental applications are discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ilenne Del Valle
- Systems, Synthetic, and Physical Biology Graduate Program, Rice University, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Emily M. Fulk
- Systems, Synthetic, and Physical Biology Graduate Program, Rice University, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Prashant Kalvapalle
- Systems, Synthetic, and Physical Biology Graduate Program, Rice University, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Jonathan J. Silberg
- Department of BioSciences, Rice University, Houston, TX, United States
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, United States
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Caroline A. Masiello
- Department of BioSciences, Rice University, Houston, TX, United States
- Department of Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences, Rice University, Houston, TX, United States
- Department of Chemistry, Rice University, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Lauren B. Stadler
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, United States
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Dini-Andreote F, Kowalchuk GA, Prosser JI, Raaijmakers JM. Towards meaningful scales in ecosystem microbiome research. Environ Microbiol 2020; 23:1-4. [PMID: 33047413 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.15276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2020] [Revised: 10/07/2020] [Accepted: 10/09/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Francisco Dini-Andreote
- Department of Plant Science & Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA.,Department of Microbial Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - George A Kowalchuk
- Ecology & Biodiversity, Institute of Environmental Biology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - James I Prosser
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
| | - Jos M Raaijmakers
- Department of Microbial Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Wageningen, The Netherlands.,Institute of Biology, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Furey PC, Lee SS, Clemans DL. Substratum-associated microbiota. WATER ENVIRONMENT RESEARCH : A RESEARCH PUBLICATION OF THE WATER ENVIRONMENT FEDERATION 2020; 92:1629-1648. [PMID: 33463854 DOI: 10.1002/wer.1410] [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: 04/30/2020] [Revised: 07/13/2020] [Accepted: 07/14/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Highlights of new, interesting, and emerging research findings on substratum-associated microbiota covered from a survey of 2019 literature from primarily freshwaters provide insight into research trends of interest to the Water Environment Federation and others interested in benthic, aquatic environments. Coverage of topics on bottom-associated or attached algae and cyanobacteria, though not comprehensive, includes new methods, taxa new-to-science, nutrient dynamics, auto- and heterotrophic interactions, grazers, bioassessment, herbicides and other pollutants, metal contaminants, and nuisance, and bloom-forming and harmful algae. Coverage of bacteria, also not comprehensive, focuses on the ecology of benthic biofilms and microbial communities, along with the ecology of microbes like Caulobacter crescentus, Rhodobacter, and other freshwater microbial species. Bacterial topics covered also include metagenomics and metatranscriptomics, toxins and pollutants, bacterial pathogens and bacteriophages, and bacterial physiology. Readers may use this literature review to learn about or renew their interest in the recent advances and discoveries regarding substratum-associated microbiota. PRACTITIONER POINTS: This review of literature from 2019 on substratum-associated microbiota presents highlights of findings on algae, cyanobacteria, and bacteria from primarily freshwaters. Coverage of algae and cyanobacteria includes findings on new methods, taxa new to science, nutrient dynamics, auto- and heterotrophic interactions, grazers, bioassessment, herbicides and other pollutants, metal contaminants, and nuisance, bloom-forming and harmful algae. Coverage of bacteria includes findings on ecology of benthic biofilms and microbial communities, the ecology of microbes, metagenomics and metatranscriptomics, toxins and pollutants, bacterial pathogens and bacteriophages, and bacterial physiology. Highlights of new, noteworthy and emerging topics build on those from 2018 and will be of relevance to the Water Environment Federation and others interested in benthic, aquatic environments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Paula C Furey
- Department Biology, St. Catherine University, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
| | - Sylvia S Lee
- Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Daniel L Clemans
- Department of Biology, Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, Michigan, USA
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Pacheco AR, Segrè D. A multidimensional perspective on microbial interactions. FEMS Microbiol Lett 2020; 366:5513995. [PMID: 31187139 PMCID: PMC6610204 DOI: 10.1093/femsle/fnz125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2019] [Accepted: 06/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Beyond being simply positive or negative, beneficial or inhibitory, microbial interactions can involve a diverse set of mechanisms, dependencies and dynamical properties. These more nuanced features have been described in great detail for some specific types of interactions, (e.g. pairwise metabolic cross-feeding, quorum sensing or antibiotic killing), often with the use of quantitative measurements and insight derived from modeling. With a growing understanding of the composition and dynamics of complex microbial communities for human health and other applications, we face the challenge of integrating information about these different interactions into comprehensive quantitative frameworks. Here, we review the literature on a wide set of microbial interactions, and explore the potential value of a formal categorization based on multidimensional vectors of attributes. We propose that such an encoding can facilitate systematic, direct comparisons of interaction mechanisms and dependencies, and we discuss the relevance of an atlas of interactions for future modeling and rational design efforts.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alan R Pacheco
- Graduate Program in Bioinformatics and Biological Design Center, Boston University, 24 Cummington Mall, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Daniel Segrè
- Graduate Program in Bioinformatics and Biological Design Center, Boston University, 24 Cummington Mall, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Biology and Department of Physics, Boston University, 24 Cummington Mall, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Centler F, Günnigmann S, Fetzer I, Wendeberg A. Keystone Species and Modularity in Microbial Hydrocarbon Degradation Uncovered by Network Analysis and Association Rule Mining. Microorganisms 2020; 8:microorganisms8020190. [PMID: 32019172 PMCID: PMC7074749 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8020190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2019] [Revised: 01/23/2020] [Accepted: 01/27/2020] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Natural microbial communities in soils are highly diverse, allowing for rich networks of microbial interactions to unfold. Identifying key players in these networks is difficult as the distribution of microbial diversity at the local scale is typically non-uniform, and is the outcome of both abiotic environmental factors and microbial interactions. Here, using spatially resolved microbial presence-absence data along an aquifer transect contaminated with hydrocarbons, we combined co-occurrence analysis with association rule mining to identify potential keystone species along the hydrocarbon degradation process. Derived co-occurrence networks were found to be of a modular structure, with modules being associated with specific spatial locations and metabolic activity along the contamination plume. Association rules identify species that never occur without another, hence identifying potential one-sided cross-feeding relationships. We find that hub nodes in the rule network appearing in many rules as targets qualify as potential keystone species that catalyze critical transformation steps and are able to interact with varying partners. By contrasting analysis based on data derived from bulk samples and individual soil particles, we highlight the importance of spatial sample resolution. While individual inferred interactions are hypothetical in nature, requiring experimental verification, the observed global network patterns provide a unique first glimpse at the complex interaction networks at work in the microbial world.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Florian Centler
- Department of Environmental Microbiology, UFZ—Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Permoserstraße 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany (A.W.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +49-341-235-1336
| | - Sarah Günnigmann
- Department of Environmental Microbiology, UFZ—Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Permoserstraße 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany (A.W.)
| | - Ingo Fetzer
- Stockholm Resilience Centre, Stockholm University, Kräftriket 2B, 11419 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Annelie Wendeberg
- Department of Environmental Microbiology, UFZ—Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Permoserstraße 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany (A.W.)
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Coller E, Cestaro A, Zanzotti R, Bertoldi D, Pindo M, Larger S, Albanese D, Mescalchin E, Donati C. Microbiome of vineyard soils is shaped by geography and management. MICROBIOME 2019; 7:140. [PMID: 31699155 PMCID: PMC6839268 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-019-0758-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2019] [Accepted: 10/09/2019] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite their importance as a reservoir of biodiversity, the factors shaping soil microbial communities and the extent by which these are impacted by cultivation are still poorly understood. Using 16S rRNA gene and ITS sequencing, we characterized the soil microbiota of vineyards and of neighboring permanent grassland soils in the Italian province of Trentino, and correlated their structure and composition to location, chemical properties of the soil, and land management. RESULTS Bacterial communities had a core of conserved taxa accounting for more than 60% of the reads of each sample, that was influenced both by geography and cultivation. The core fungal microbiota was much smaller and dominated by geography alone. Cultivation altered the structure and composition of the soil microbiota both for bacteria and fungi, with site-specific effects on their diversity. The diversity of bacterial and fungal communities was generally inversely correlated across locations. We identified several taxa that were impacted by the chemical properties and texture of the soil. CONCLUSIONS Our results highlight the different responses of bacterial and fungal communities to environmental factors and highlight the need to characterize both components of the soil microbiota to fully understand the factors that drive their variability.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Emanuela Coller
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Free University of Bozen, P.za Università 1, 39100 Bolzano, Italy
| | - Alessandro Cestaro
- Unit of Computational Biology, Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, Via Mach 1, 38010 San Michele all’Adige, Italy
| | - Roberto Zanzotti
- Technology Transfer Center, Fondazione Edmund Mach, Via Mach 1, 38010 San Michele all’Adige, Italy
| | - Daniela Bertoldi
- Technology Transfer Center, Fondazione Edmund Mach, Via Mach 1, 38010 San Michele all’Adige, Italy
| | - Massimo Pindo
- Unit of Computational Biology, Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, Via Mach 1, 38010 San Michele all’Adige, Italy
| | - Simone Larger
- Unit of Computational Biology, Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, Via Mach 1, 38010 San Michele all’Adige, Italy
| | - Davide Albanese
- Unit of Computational Biology, Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, Via Mach 1, 38010 San Michele all’Adige, Italy
| | - Enzo Mescalchin
- Technology Transfer Center, Fondazione Edmund Mach, Via Mach 1, 38010 San Michele all’Adige, Italy
| | - Claudio Donati
- Unit of Computational Biology, Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, Via Mach 1, 38010 San Michele all’Adige, Italy
| |
Collapse
|