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Rolshausen G, Dal Grande F, Otte J, Schmitt I. Lichen holobionts show compositional structure along elevation. Mol Ecol 2023; 32:6619-6630. [PMID: 35398946 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2021] [Revised: 02/25/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Holobionts are dynamic ecosystems that may respond to abiotic drivers with compositional changes. Uncovering elevational diversity patterns within these microecosystems can further our understanding of community-environment interactions. Here, we assess how the major components of lichen holobionts-fungal hosts, green algal symbionts, and the bacterial community-collectively respond to an elevational gradient. We analyse populations of two lichen symbioses, Umbilicaria pustulata and U. hispanica, along an elevational gradient spanning 2100 altitudinal metres and covering three major biomes. Our study shows (i) discontinuous genomic variation in fungal hosts with one abrupt genomic differentiation within each of the two host species, (ii) altitudinally structured bacterial communities with pronounced turnover within and between hosts, and (iii) altitude-specific presence of algal symbionts. Alpha diversity of bacterial communities decreased with increasing elevation. A marked turnover in holobiont diversity occurred across two altitudinal belts: at 11°C-13°C average annual temperature (here: 800-1200 m a.s.l.), and at 7°C-9°C average annual temperature (here: 1500-1800 m a.s.l.). The two observed zones mark a clustering of distribution limits and community shifts. The three ensuing altitudinal classes, that is, the most frequent combinations of species in holobionts, approximately correspond to the Mediterranean, cool-temperate, and alpine climate zones. We conclude that multitrophic microecosystems, such as lichen holobionts, respond with concerted compositional changes to climatic factors that also structure communities of macroorganisms, for example, vascular plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregor Rolshausen
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (SBiK-F), Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Center for Wildlife Genetics, Senckenberg Research Institute, Gelnhausen, Germany
| | - Francesco Dal Grande
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (SBiK-F), Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Jürgen Otte
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (SBiK-F), Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Imke Schmitt
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (SBiK-F), Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Departement of Biological Sciences, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
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2
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Touchette D, Gostinčar C, Whyte LG, Altshuler I. Lichen-associated microbial members are prevalent in the snow microbiome of a sub-arctic alpine tundra. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2023; 99:fiad151. [PMID: 37977855 DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiad151] [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: 04/27/2023] [Revised: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Snow is the largest component of the cryosphere, with its cover and distribution rapidly decreasing over the last decade due to climate warming. It is imperative to characterize the snow (nival) microbial communities to better understand the role of microorganisms inhabiting these rapidly changing environments. Here, we investigated the core nival microbiome, the cultivable microbial members, and the microbial functional diversity of the remote Uapishka mountain range, a massif of alpine sub-arctic tundra and boreal forest. Snow samples were taken over a two-month interval along an altitude gradient with varying degree of anthropogenic traffic and vegetation cover. The core snow alpine tundra/boreal microbiome, which was present across all samples, constituted of Acetobacterales, Rhizobiales and Acidobacteriales bacterial orders, and of Mycosphaerellales and Lecanorales fungal orders, with the dominant fungal taxa being associated with lichens. The snow samples had low active functional diversity, with Richness values ranging from 0 to 19.5. The culture-based viable microbial enumeration ranged from 0 to 8.05 × 103 CFUs/mL. We isolated and whole-genome sequenced five microorganisms which included three fungi, one alga, and one potentially novel bacterium of the Lichenihabitans genus; all of which appear to be part of lichen-associated taxonomic clades.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Touchette
- Department of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill University, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, H9X 3V9, Canada
- River Ecosystems Laboratory, ALPOLE, School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, CH-1950, Sion, Switzerland
| | - C Gostinčar
- University of Ljubljana, Department of Biology, Biotechnical Faculty, Ljubljana 1000, Slovenia
| | - L G Whyte
- Department of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill University, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, H9X 3V9, Canada
| | - I Altshuler
- Department of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill University, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, H9X 3V9, Canada
- MACE Laboratory, ALPOLE, School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, CH-1950, Sion, Switzerland
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3
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Pankratov TA, Samylina OS, Tikhonova EN, Ianutsevich EA, Avtukh AN, Lee YM. A novel bacteriobiont of the Arctic lichen Flavocetraria nivalis, Lichenifustis flavocetrariae gen. nov, sp. nov. demonstrating hydrolytic properties and containing a full set of the Calvin-Benson-Bassham cycle genes. Arch Microbiol 2023; 205:232. [PMID: 37166571 DOI: 10.1007/s00203-023-03577-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Revised: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
A Gram-negative, strictly aerobic, chemoorganotrophic, bacteriochlorophyll a-containing, slow-growing bacterium was isolated from the lichen Flavocetraria nivalis and designated strain BP6-180914 T. Cells of this strain were large nonmotile rods, which reproduced by binary fission. Cells grew under oxic conditions and were able to utilize sugars and several polysaccharides, including starch and pectin. Strain BP6-180914 T was psychrotolerant and moderately acidophilic growing at 4-35 °C (optimum 20-28 °C) and between pH 4.0 and 7.5 (optimum 4.5-5.5). The major fatty acids were C18:1ω7c, C19:0 cyclo, C16:0 and C18:0. The polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerols, phosphatidylglycerols, phosphatidylethanolamines, phosphatidylcholines, unidentified aminolipids, and a number of glycolipids, the major one being an unidentified glycolipid. The quinone was Q-10. The DNA G + C content was 63.65%. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed that strain BP6-180914 T was a member of the order Hyphomicrobiales and belonged to the family Lichenihabitantaceae defined by the lichen-dwelling facultative aerobic chemo-organotroph Lichenihabitans psoromatis (92.7% sequence similarity). The results of phylogenomic and genomic relatedness analyses showed that strain BP6-180914 T could clearly be distinguished from other species in the order Hyphomicrobiales with average nucleotide identity values of < 74.05% and genome-to-genome distance values of < 21.1%. The AAI value of 65.9% between strain BP6-180914 T and L. psoromatis allowed us to assign this strain to the novel genus of the family Lichenihabitantaceae. Therefore, it is proposed that strain BP6-180914 T represents a novel species in a new genus, Lichenifustis flavocetrariae gen. nov., sp. nov.; strain BP6-180914 T (= KCTC 92872 T = VKM B-3641 T = UQM 41506 T) is the type strain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timofei A Pankratov
- Winogradsky Institute of Microbiology, Research Center of Biotechnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 60 Let Oktjabrja pr-t, 7, Bld. 2, 117312, Moscow, Russian Federation.
| | - Olga S Samylina
- Winogradsky Institute of Microbiology, Research Center of Biotechnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 60 Let Oktjabrja pr-t, 7, Bld. 2, 117312, Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Ekaterina N Tikhonova
- Winogradsky Institute of Microbiology, Research Center of Biotechnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 60 Let Oktjabrja pr-t, 7, Bld. 2, 117312, Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Elena A Ianutsevich
- Winogradsky Institute of Microbiology, Research Center of Biotechnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 60 Let Oktjabrja pr-t, 7, Bld. 2, 117312, Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Alexander N Avtukh
- G.K. Skryabin Institute of Biochemistry and Physiology of Microorganisms of the RAS, Federal Research Centre "Pushchino Scientific Centre of Biological Investigations RAS", 142290, Pushchino, Russian Federation
| | - Yung Mi Lee
- Division of Life Sciences, Korea Polar Research Institute, 26 Songdomirae-Ro, Yeonsu-Gu, Incheon, 21990, Republic of Korea
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He Z, Naganuma T. Chronicle of Research into Lichen-Associated Bacteria. Microorganisms 2022; 10:2111. [PMID: 36363703 PMCID: PMC9698887 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10112111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2022] [Revised: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 10/21/2022] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Lichens are mutually symbiotic systems consisting of fungal and algal symbionts. While diverse lichen-forming fungal species are known, limited species of algae form lichens. Plasticity in the combination of fungal and algal species with different eco-physiological properties may contribute to the worldwide distribution of lichens, even in extreme habitats. Lichens have been studied systematically for more than 200 years; however, plasticity in fungal-algal/cyanobacterial symbiotic combinations is still unclear. In addition, the association between non-cyanobacterial bacteria and lichens has attracted attention in recent years. The types, diversity, and functions of lichen-associated bacteria have been studied using both culture-based and culture-independent methods. This review summarizes the history of systematic research on lichens and lichen-associated bacteria and provides insights into the current status of research in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Takeshi Naganuma
- Graduate School of Integrated Sciences for Life, Hiroshima University, 1-4-4 Kagamiyama, Higashi-Hiroshima 739-8528, Japan
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Sánchez M, Ureña-Vacas I, González-Burgos E, Divakar PK, Gómez-Serranillos MP. The Genus Cetraria s. str.-A Review of Its Botany, Phytochemistry, Traditional Uses and Pharmacology. Molecules 2022; 27:molecules27154990. [PMID: 35956939 PMCID: PMC9370490 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27154990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Revised: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The genus Cetraria s. str. (Parmeliaceae family, Cetrarioid clade) consists of 15 species of mostly erect brown or greenish yellow fruticose or subfoliose thallus. These Cetraria species have a cosmopolitan distribution, being primarily located in the Northern Hemisphere, in North America and in the Eurasia area. Phytochemical analysis has demonstrated the presence of dibenzofuran derivatives (usnic acid), depsidones (fumarprotocetraric and protocetraric acids) and fatty acids (lichesterinic and protolichesterinic acids). The species of Cetraria, and more particularly Cetraria islandica, has been widely employed in folk medicine for the treatment of digestive and respiratory diseases as decoctions, tinctures, aqueous extract, and infusions. Moreover, Cetraria islandica has had an important nutritional and cosmetic value. These traditional uses have been validated in in vitro and in vivo pharmacological studies. Additionally, new therapeutic activities are being investigated, such as antioxidant, immunomodulatory, cytotoxic, genotoxic and antigenotoxic. Among all Cetraria species, the most investigated by far has been Cetraria islandica, followed by Cetraria pinastri and Cetraria aculeata. The aim of the current review is to update all the knowledge about the genus Cetraria covering aspects that include taxonomy and phylogeny, morphology and distribution, ecological and environmental interest, phytochemistry, traditional uses and pharmacological properties.
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Jensen LZ, Glasius M, Gryning SE, Massling A, Finster K, Šantl-Temkiv T. Seasonal Variation of the Atmospheric Bacterial Community in the Greenlandic High Arctic Is Influenced by Weather Events and Local and Distant Sources. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:909980. [PMID: 35879956 PMCID: PMC9307761 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.909980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 06/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The Arctic is a hot spot for climate change with potentially large consequences on a global scale. Aerosols, including bioaerosols, are important players in regulating the heat balance through direct interaction with sunlight and indirectly, through inducing cloud formation. Airborne bacteria are the major bioaerosols with some species producing the most potent ice nucleating compounds known, which are implicated in the formation of ice in clouds. Little is known about the numbers and dynamics of airborne bacteria in the Arctic and even less about their seasonal variability. We collected aerosol samples and wet deposition samples in spring 2015 and summer 2016, at the Villum Research Station in Northeast Greenland. We used amplicon sequencing and qPCR targeting the 16S rRNA genes to assess the quantities and composition of the DNA and cDNA-level bacterial community. We found a clear seasonal variation in the atmospheric bacterial community, which is likely due to variable sources and meteorology. In early spring, the atmospheric bacterial community was dominated by taxa originating from temperate and Subarctic regions and arriving at the sampling site through long-range transport. We observed an efficient washout of the aerosolized bacterial cells during a snowstorm, which was followed by very low concentrations of bacteria in the atmosphere during the consecutive 4 weeks. We suggest that this is because in late spring, the long-range transport ceased, and the local sources which comprised only of ice and snow surfaces were weak resulting in low bacterial concentrations. This was supported by observed changes in the chemical composition of aerosols. In summer, the air bacterial community was confined to local sources such as soil, plant material and melting sea-ice. Aerosolized and deposited Cyanobacteria in spring had a high activity potential, implying their activity in the atmosphere or in surface snow. Overall, we show how the composition of bacterial aerosols in the high Arctic varies on a seasonal scale, identify their potential sources, demonstrate how their community sizes varies in time, investigate their diversity and determine their activity potential during and post Arctic haze.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lasse Z. Jensen
- Section for Microbiology, Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- Arctic Research Centre, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- iCLIMATE Aarhus University Interdisciplinary Centre for Climate Change, Roskilde, Denmark
| | | | - Sven-Erik Gryning
- DTU Wind and Energy Systems, Technical University of Denmark, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Andreas Massling
- iCLIMATE Aarhus University Interdisciplinary Centre for Climate Change, Roskilde, Denmark
- Department of Environmental Science, Aarhus University, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Kai Finster
- Section for Microbiology, Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Stellar Astrophysics Centre, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Tina Šantl-Temkiv
- Section for Microbiology, Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- Arctic Research Centre, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- iCLIMATE Aarhus University Interdisciplinary Centre for Climate Change, Roskilde, Denmark
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Stellar Astrophysics Centre, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- *Correspondence: Tina Šantl-Temkiv,
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7
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Sannino C, Cannone N, D'Alò F, Franzetti A, Gandolfi I, Pittino F, Turchetti B, Mezzasoma A, Zucconi L, Buzzini P, Guglielmin M, Onofri S. Fungal communities in European alpine soils are not affected by short-term in situ simulated warming than bacterial communities. Environ Microbiol 2022; 24:4178-4192. [PMID: 35691701 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.16090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
The impact of global warming on biological communities colonizing European alpine ecosystems was recently studied. Hexagonal open top chambers (OTCs) were used for simulating a short-term in situ warming (estimated around 1°C) in some alpine soils to predict the impact of ongoing climate change on resident microbial communities. Total microbial DNA was extracted from soils collected either inside or outside the OTCs over 3 years of study. Bacterial and fungal rRNA copies were quantified by qPCR. Metabarcoding sequencing of taxonomy target genes was performed (Illumina MiSeq) and processed by bioinformatic tools. Alpha- and beta-diversity were used to evaluate the structure of bacterial and fungal communities. qPCR suggests that, although fluctuations have been observed between soils collected either inside and outside the OTCs, the simulated warming induced a significant (p < 0.05) shift only for bacterial abundance. Likewise, significant (p < 0.05) changes in bacterial community structure were detected in soils collected inside the OTCs, with a clear increase of oligotrophic taxa. On the contrary, fungal diversity of soils collected either inside and outside the OTCs did not exhibit significant (p < 0.05) differences, suggesting that the temperature increase in OTCs compared to ambient conditions was not sufficient to change fungal communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ciro Sannino
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Nicoletta Cannone
- Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, Insubria University, Varese, Italy
| | - Federica D'Alò
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy
| | - Andrea Franzetti
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences (DISAT), University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Isabella Gandolfi
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences (DISAT), University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Francesca Pittino
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences (DISAT), University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Benedetta Turchetti
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Ambra Mezzasoma
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Laura Zucconi
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy
| | - Pietro Buzzini
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Mauro Guglielmin
- Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, Insubria University, Varese, Italy
| | - Silvano Onofri
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy
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Soil microbial metabolism on carbon and nitrogen transformation links the crop-residue contribution to soil organic carbon. NPJ Biofilms Microbiomes 2022; 8:14. [PMID: 35365687 PMCID: PMC8975862 DOI: 10.1038/s41522-022-00277-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2021] [Accepted: 02/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The beneficial effect of crop residue amendment on soil organic carbon (SOC) stock and stability depends on the functional response of soil microbial communities. Here we synchronized microbial metagenomic analysis, nuclear magnetic resonance and plant-15N labeling technologies to gain understanding of how microbial metabolic processes affect SOC accumulation in responses to differences in N supply from residues. Residue amendment brought increases in the assemblage of genes involved in C-degradation profiles from labile to recalcitrant C compounds as well as N mineralization. The N mineralization genes were correlated with the C and N accumulation in the particulate and mineral-associated C pools, and plant-derived aliphatic forms of SOC. Thus, the combined C and N metabolic potential of the microbial community transforms residue into persistent organic compounds, thereby increasing C and N sequestration in stable SOC pools. This study emphasizes potential microbially mediated mechanisms by which residue N affects C sequestration in soils.
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Leinberger J, Milke F, Christodoulou M, Poehlein A, Caraveo-Patiño J, Teske A, Brinkhoff T. Microbial epibiotic community of the deep-sea galatheid squat lobster Munidopsis alvisca. Sci Rep 2022; 12:2675. [PMID: 35177734 PMCID: PMC8854721 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-06666-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2021] [Accepted: 02/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Life at hydrothermal vent sites is based on chemosynthetic primary producers that supply heterotrophic microorganisms with substrates and generate biomass for higher trophic levels. Often, chemoautotrophs associate with the hydrothermal vent megafauna. To investigate attached bacterial and archaeal communities on deep-sea squat lobsters, we collected ten specimens from a hydrothermal vent in the Guaymas Basin (Gulf of California). All animals were identified as Munidopsis alvisca via morphological and molecular classification, and intraspecific divergence was determined. Amplicon sequencing of microbial DNA and cDNA revealed significant differences between microbial communities on the carapaces of M. alvisca and those in ambient sea water. Major epibiotic bacterial taxa were chemoautotrophic Gammaproteobacteria, such as Thiotrichaceae and Methylococcaceae, while archaea were almost exclusively represented by sequences affiliated with Ca. Nitrosopumilus. In sea water samples, Marine Group II and III archaea and organoheterotrophic Alphaproteobacteria, Flavobacteriia and Planctomycetacia were more dominant. Based on the identified taxa, we assume that main metabolic processes, carried out by M. alvisca epibiota, include ammonia, methane and sulphide oxidation. Considering that M. alvisca could benefit from sulphide detoxification by its epibiota, and that attached microbes are supplied with a stable habitat in proximity to substrate-rich hydrothermal fluids, a mutualistic host-microbe relationship appears likely.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janina Leinberger
- Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment, University of Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Felix Milke
- Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment, University of Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Magdalini Christodoulou
- German Centre for Marine Biodiversity Research (DZMB), Senckenberg am Meer, Wilhelmshaven, Germany
| | - Anja Poehlein
- Genomic and Applied Microbiology and Göttingen Genomics Laboratory, Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | | | - Andreas Teske
- Department of Earth, Marine and Environmental Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, USA
| | - Thorsten Brinkhoff
- Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment, University of Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany.
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Perez-Mon C, Stierli B, Plötze M, Frey B. Fast and persistent responses of alpine permafrost microbial communities to in situ warming. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 807:150720. [PMID: 34610405 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.150720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2021] [Revised: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Global warming in mid-latitude alpine regions results in permafrost thawing, together with greater availability of carbon and nutrients in soils and frequent freeze-thaw cycles. Yet it is unclear how these multifactorial changes will shape the 1 m-deep permafrost microbiome in the future, and how this will in turn modulate microbially-mediated feedbacks between mountain soils and climate (e.g. soil CO2 emissions). To unravel the responses of the alpine permafrost microbiome to in situ warming, we established a three-year experiment in a permafrost monitoring summit in the Alps. Specifically, we simulated conditions of warming by transplanting permafrost soils from a depth of 160 cm either to the active-layer topsoils in the north-facing slope or in the warmer south-facing slope, near the summit. qPCR-based and amplicon sequencing analyses indicated an augmented microbial abundance in the transplanted permafrost, driven by the increase in copiotrophic prokaryotic taxa (e.g. Noviherbaspirillum and Massilia) and metabolically versatile psychrotrophs (e.g. Tundrisphaera and Granulicella); which acclimatized to the changing environment and potentially benefited from substrates released upon thawing. Metabolically restricted Patescibacteria lineages vastly decreased with warming, as reflected in the loss of α-diversity in the transplanted soils. Ascomycetous sapro-pathotrophs (e.g. Tetracladium) and a few lichenized fungi (e.g. Aspicilia) expanded in the transplanted permafrost, particularly in soils transplanted to the warmer south-facing slope, replacing basidiomycetous yeasts (e.g. Glaciozyma). The transplantation-induced loosening of microbial association networks in the permafrost could potentially indicate lesser cooperative interactions between neighboring microorganisms. Broader substrate-use microbial activities measured in the transplanted permafrost could relate to altered soil C dynamics. The three-year simulated warming did not, however, enhance heterotrophic respiration, which was limited by the carbon-depleted permafrost conditions. Collectively, our quantitative findings suggest the vulnerability of the alpine permafrost microbiome to warming, which might improve predictions on microbially-modulated transformations of mountain soil ecosystems under the future climate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla Perez-Mon
- Rhizosphere Processes Group, Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, Birmensdorf, Switzerland
| | - Beat Stierli
- Rhizosphere Processes Group, Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, Birmensdorf, Switzerland
| | - Michael Plötze
- Institute for Geotechnical Engineering, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Beat Frey
- Rhizosphere Processes Group, Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, Birmensdorf, Switzerland.
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11
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Grimm M, Grube M, Schiefelbein U, Zühlke D, Bernhardt J, Riedel K. The Lichens' Microbiota, Still a Mystery? Front Microbiol 2021; 12:623839. [PMID: 33859626 PMCID: PMC8042158 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.623839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2020] [Accepted: 03/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Lichens represent self-supporting symbioses, which occur in a wide range of terrestrial habitats and which contribute significantly to mineral cycling and energy flow at a global scale. Lichens usually grow much slower than higher plants. Nevertheless, lichens can contribute substantially to biomass production. This review focuses on the lichen symbiosis in general and especially on the model species Lobaria pulmonaria L. Hoffm., which is a large foliose lichen that occurs worldwide on tree trunks in undisturbed forests with long ecological continuity. In comparison to many other lichens, L. pulmonaria is less tolerant to desiccation and highly sensitive to air pollution. The name-giving mycobiont (belonging to the Ascomycota), provides a protective layer covering a layer of the green-algal photobiont (Dictyochloropsis reticulata) and interspersed cyanobacterial cell clusters (Nostoc spec.). Recently performed metaproteome analyses confirm the partition of functions in lichen partnerships. The ample functional diversity of the mycobiont contrasts the predominant function of the photobiont in production (and secretion) of energy-rich carbohydrates, and the cyanobiont's contribution by nitrogen fixation. In addition, high throughput and state-of-the-art metagenomics and community fingerprinting, metatranscriptomics, and MS-based metaproteomics identify the bacterial community present on L. pulmonaria as a surprisingly abundant and structurally integrated element of the lichen symbiosis. Comparative metaproteome analyses of lichens from different sampling sites suggest the presence of a relatively stable core microbiome and a sampling site-specific portion of the microbiome. Moreover, these studies indicate how the microbiota may contribute to the symbiotic system, to improve its health, growth and fitness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Grimm
- Institute of Microbiology, University Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Martin Grube
- Institute of Plant Sciences, Karl-Franzens-University Graz, Graz, Austria
| | | | - Daniela Zühlke
- Institute of Microbiology, University Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Jörg Bernhardt
- Institute of Microbiology, University Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Katharina Riedel
- Institute of Microbiology, University Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
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