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Aigle A, Gubry-Rangin C, Thion C, Estera-Molina KY, Richmond H, Pett-Ridge J, Firestone MK, Nicol GW, Prosser JI. Experimental testing of hypotheses for temperature- and pH-based niche specialization of ammonia oxidizing archaea and bacteria. Environ Microbiol 2021; 22:4032-4045. [PMID: 32783333 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.15192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2020] [Accepted: 07/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Investigation of niche specialization in microbial communities is important in assessing consequences of environmental change for ecosystem processes. Ammonia oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and archaea (AOA) present a convenient model for studying niche specialization. They coexist in most soils and effects of soil characteristics on their relative abundances have been studied extensively. This study integrated published information on the influence of temperature and pH on AOB and AOA into several hypotheses, generating predictions that were tested in soil microcosms. The influence of perturbations in temperature was determined in pH 4.5, 6 and 7.5 soils and perturbations in pH were investigated at 15°C, 25°C and 35°C. AO activities were determined by analysing changes in amoA gene and transcript abundances, stable isotope probing and nitrate production. Experimental data supported major predictions of the effects of temperature and pH, but with several significant discrepancies, some of which may have resulted from experimental limitations. The study also provided evidence for unpredicted activity of AOB in pH 4.5 soil. Other discrepancies highlighted important deficiencies in current knowledge, particularly lack of consideration of niche overlap and the need to consider combinations of factors when assessing the influence of environmental change on microbial communities and their activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Aigle
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Cruickshank Building, Aberdeen, AB24 3UU, UK
| | - C Gubry-Rangin
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Cruickshank Building, Aberdeen, AB24 3UU, UK
| | - C Thion
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Cruickshank Building, Aberdeen, AB24 3UU, UK
| | - K Y Estera-Molina
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - H Richmond
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Cruickshank Building, Aberdeen, AB24 3UU, UK
| | - J Pett-Ridge
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Physical and Life Sciences Directorate, Livermore, CA, 94551, USA
| | - M K Firestone
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - G W Nicol
- Laboratoire Ampère, École Centrale de Lyon, Université de Lyon, Ecully, 69134, France
| | - J I Prosser
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Cruickshank Building, Aberdeen, AB24 3UU, UK
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