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Mogul R, Vaishampayan P, Bashir M, McKay CP, Schubert K, Bornaccorsi R, Gomez E, Tharayil S, Payton G, Capra J, Andaya J, Bacon L, Bargoma E, Black D, Boos K, Brant M, Chabot M, Chau D, Cisneros J, Chu G, Curnutt J, DiMizio J, Engelbrecht C, Gott C, Harnoto R, Hovanesian R, Johnson S, Lavergne B, Martinez G, Mans P, Morales E, Oei A, Peplow G, Piaget R, Ponce N, Renteria E, Rodriguez V, Rodriguez J, Santander M, Sarmiento K, Scheppelmann A, Schroter G, Sexton D, Stephenson J, Symer K, Russo-Tait T, Weigel B, Wilhelm MB. Microbial Community and Biochemical Dynamics of Biological Soil Crusts across a Gradient of Surface Coverage in the Central Mojave Desert. Front Microbiol 2017; 8:1974. [PMID: 29109701 PMCID: PMC5660283 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.01974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2017] [Accepted: 09/25/2017] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
In this study, we expand upon the biogeography of biological soil crusts (BSCs) and provide molecular insights into the microbial community and biochemical dynamics along the vertical BSC column structure, and across a transect of increasing BSC surface coverage in the central Mojave Desert, CA, United States. Next generation sequencing reveals a bacterial community profile that is distinct among BSCs in the southwestern United States. Distribution of major phyla in the BSC topsoils included Cyanobacteria (33 ± 8%), Proteobacteria (26 ± 6%), and Chloroflexi (12 ± 4%), with Phormidium being the numerically dominant genus. Furthermore, BSC subsurfaces contained Proteobacteria (23 ± 5%), Actinobacteria (20 ± 5%), and Chloroflexi (18 ± 3%), with an unidentified genus from Chloroflexi (AKIW781, order) being numerically dominant. Across the transect, changes in distribution at the phylum (p < 0.0439) and genus (p < 0.006) levels, including multiple biochemical and geochemical trends (p < 0.05), positively correlated with increasing BSC surface coverage. This included increases in (a) Chloroflexi abundance, (b) abundance and diversity of Cyanobacteria, (b) OTU-level diversity in the topsoil, (c) OTU-level differentiation between the topsoil and subsurface, (d) intracellular ATP abundances and catalase activities, and (e) enrichments in clay, silt, and varying elements, including S, Mn, Co, As, and Pb, in the BSC topsoils. In sum, these studies suggest that BSCs from regions of differing surface coverage represent early successional stages, which exhibit increasing bacterial diversity, metabolic activities, and capacity to restructure the soil. Further, these trends suggest that BSC successional maturation and colonization across the transect are inhibited by metals/metalloids such as B, Ca, Ti, Mn, Co, Ni, Mo, and Pb.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rakesh Mogul
- Chemistry and Biochemistry Department, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, Pomona, CA, United States.,Science Team, NASA/CSU Spaceward Bound, Pomona, CA, United States
| | - Parag Vaishampayan
- Science Team, NASA/CSU Spaceward Bound, Pomona, CA, United States.,Blue Marble Space Institute of Science, Seattle, WA, United States.,Biotechnology and Planetary Protection Group, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, United States
| | - Mina Bashir
- Science Team, NASA/CSU Spaceward Bound, Pomona, CA, United States.,Biotechnology and Planetary Protection Group, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, United States.,Division of Endocrinology and Diabetology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Chris P McKay
- Science Team, NASA/CSU Spaceward Bound, Pomona, CA, United States.,Ames Research Center, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Mountain View, CA, United States
| | - Keith Schubert
- Science Team, NASA/CSU Spaceward Bound, Pomona, CA, United States.,Department of Computer Science, Baylor University, Waco, TX, United States
| | - Rosalba Bornaccorsi
- Science Team, NASA/CSU Spaceward Bound, Pomona, CA, United States.,SETI Institute, Mountain View, CA, United States
| | - Ernesto Gomez
- Science Team, NASA/CSU Spaceward Bound, Pomona, CA, United States.,Department of Computer Science, California State University, San Bernardino, San Bernardino, CA, United States
| | - Sneha Tharayil
- College of Education, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States.,Teacher Core, NASA/CSU Spaceward Bound, Pomona, CA, United States
| | - Geoffrey Payton
- Teacher Core, NASA/CSU Spaceward Bound, Pomona, CA, United States.,Orchard Academies 2B: Arts and Media, Bell, CA, United States
| | - Juliana Capra
- Teacher Core, NASA/CSU Spaceward Bound, Pomona, CA, United States.,Foothills Middle School, Arcadia, CA, United States
| | - Jessica Andaya
- Chemistry and Biochemistry Department, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, Pomona, CA, United States.,Research Cohorts, NASA/CSU Spaceward Bound, Pomona, CA, United States
| | - Leonard Bacon
- Research Cohorts, NASA/CSU Spaceward Bound, Pomona, CA, United States.,Maple Hill High School, Castleton-on-Hudson, NY, United States
| | - Emily Bargoma
- Biotechnology and Planetary Protection Group, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, United States.,Research Cohorts, NASA/CSU Spaceward Bound, Pomona, CA, United States
| | - David Black
- Research Cohorts, NASA/CSU Spaceward Bound, Pomona, CA, United States.,American Academy of Innovation, Jordan, UT, United States
| | - Katie Boos
- College of Education, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States.,Research Cohorts, NASA/CSU Spaceward Bound, Pomona, CA, United States
| | - Michaela Brant
- College of Education, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States.,Research Cohorts, NASA/CSU Spaceward Bound, Pomona, CA, United States
| | - Michael Chabot
- Chemistry and Biochemistry Department, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, Pomona, CA, United States.,Research Cohorts, NASA/CSU Spaceward Bound, Pomona, CA, United States
| | - Danny Chau
- Orchard Academies 2B: Arts and Media, Bell, CA, United States.,Research Cohorts, NASA/CSU Spaceward Bound, Pomona, CA, United States
| | - Jessica Cisneros
- Biotechnology and Planetary Protection Group, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, United States.,Research Cohorts, NASA/CSU Spaceward Bound, Pomona, CA, United States
| | - Geoff Chu
- Ames Research Center, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Mountain View, CA, United States.,Research Cohorts, NASA/CSU Spaceward Bound, Pomona, CA, United States
| | - Jane Curnutt
- Department of Computer Science, Baylor University, Waco, TX, United States.,Research Cohorts, NASA/CSU Spaceward Bound, Pomona, CA, United States
| | - Jessica DiMizio
- Research Cohorts, NASA/CSU Spaceward Bound, Pomona, CA, United States.,Center for Excellence in STEM Education, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA, United States
| | - Christian Engelbrecht
- Research Cohorts, NASA/CSU Spaceward Bound, Pomona, CA, United States.,Center for Math and Science Education, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Caroline Gott
- Chemistry and Biochemistry Department, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, Pomona, CA, United States.,Research Cohorts, NASA/CSU Spaceward Bound, Pomona, CA, United States
| | - Raechel Harnoto
- Research Cohorts, NASA/CSU Spaceward Bound, Pomona, CA, United States.,Center for Excellence in STEM Education, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA, United States
| | - Ruben Hovanesian
- Chemistry and Biochemistry Department, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, Pomona, CA, United States.,Research Cohorts, NASA/CSU Spaceward Bound, Pomona, CA, United States
| | - Shane Johnson
- Research Cohorts, NASA/CSU Spaceward Bound, Pomona, CA, United States.,Center for Excellence in STEM Education, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA, United States
| | - Britne Lavergne
- Research Cohorts, NASA/CSU Spaceward Bound, Pomona, CA, United States.,Center for Math and Science Education, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Gabriel Martinez
- Chemistry and Biochemistry Department, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, Pomona, CA, United States.,Research Cohorts, NASA/CSU Spaceward Bound, Pomona, CA, United States
| | - Paul Mans
- Ames Research Center, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Mountain View, CA, United States.,Research Cohorts, NASA/CSU Spaceward Bound, Pomona, CA, United States
| | - Ernesto Morales
- Chemistry and Biochemistry Department, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, Pomona, CA, United States.,Research Cohorts, NASA/CSU Spaceward Bound, Pomona, CA, United States
| | - Alex Oei
- Chemistry and Biochemistry Department, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, Pomona, CA, United States.,Research Cohorts, NASA/CSU Spaceward Bound, Pomona, CA, United States
| | - Gary Peplow
- Research Cohorts, NASA/CSU Spaceward Bound, Pomona, CA, United States.,Smiley Elementary School, Redlands, CA, United States
| | - Ryan Piaget
- Ames Research Center, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Mountain View, CA, United States.,Research Cohorts, NASA/CSU Spaceward Bound, Pomona, CA, United States
| | - Nicole Ponce
- Research Cohorts, NASA/CSU Spaceward Bound, Pomona, CA, United States.,Center for Math and Science Education, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Eduardo Renteria
- Chemistry and Biochemistry Department, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, Pomona, CA, United States.,Research Cohorts, NASA/CSU Spaceward Bound, Pomona, CA, United States
| | - Veronica Rodriguez
- Chemistry and Biochemistry Department, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, Pomona, CA, United States.,Research Cohorts, NASA/CSU Spaceward Bound, Pomona, CA, United States
| | - Joseph Rodriguez
- Chemistry and Biochemistry Department, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, Pomona, CA, United States.,Research Cohorts, NASA/CSU Spaceward Bound, Pomona, CA, United States
| | - Monica Santander
- Chemistry and Biochemistry Department, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, Pomona, CA, United States.,Research Cohorts, NASA/CSU Spaceward Bound, Pomona, CA, United States
| | - Khamille Sarmiento
- Chemistry and Biochemistry Department, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, Pomona, CA, United States.,Research Cohorts, NASA/CSU Spaceward Bound, Pomona, CA, United States
| | - Allison Scheppelmann
- Research Cohorts, NASA/CSU Spaceward Bound, Pomona, CA, United States.,Center for Excellence in STEM Education, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA, United States
| | - Gavin Schroter
- Research Cohorts, NASA/CSU Spaceward Bound, Pomona, CA, United States.,Center for Excellence in STEM Education, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA, United States
| | - Devan Sexton
- Chemistry and Biochemistry Department, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, Pomona, CA, United States.,Research Cohorts, NASA/CSU Spaceward Bound, Pomona, CA, United States
| | - Jenin Stephenson
- Research Cohorts, NASA/CSU Spaceward Bound, Pomona, CA, United States.,Center for Math and Science Education, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Kristin Symer
- Research Cohorts, NASA/CSU Spaceward Bound, Pomona, CA, United States.,Center for Excellence in STEM Education, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA, United States
| | - Tatiane Russo-Tait
- Research Cohorts, NASA/CSU Spaceward Bound, Pomona, CA, United States.,Center for Math and Science Education, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Bill Weigel
- Chemistry and Biochemistry Department, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, Pomona, CA, United States.,Research Cohorts, NASA/CSU Spaceward Bound, Pomona, CA, United States
| | - Mary B Wilhelm
- Ames Research Center, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Mountain View, CA, United States.,Research Cohorts, NASA/CSU Spaceward Bound, Pomona, CA, United States
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