Dataset Information

In situ environment rather than substrate type dictates microbial community structure of biofilms in a cold seep system.

ABSTRACT: Using microscopic and molecular techniques combined with computational analysis, this study examined the structure and composition of microbial communities in biofilms that formed on different artificial substrates in a brine pool and on a seep vent of a cold seep in the Red Sea to test our hypothesis that initiation of the biofilm formation and spreading mode of microbial structures differs between the cold seep and the other aquatic environments. Biofilms on different substrates at two deployment sites differed morphologically, with the vent biofilms having higher microbial abundance and better structural features than the pool biofilms. Microbes in the pool biofilms were more taxonomically diverse and mainly composed of various sulfate-reducing bacteria whereas the vent biofilms were exclusively dominated by sulfur-oxidizing Thiomicrospira. These results suggest that the redox environments at the deployment sites might have exerted a strong selection on microbes in the biofilms at two sites whereas the types of substrates had limited effects on the biofilm development.

SUBMITTER: Lee OO

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5378041 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

In situ environment rather than substrate type dictates microbial community structure of biofilms in a cold seep system.

Lee On On OO Wang Yong Y Tian Renmao R Zhang Weipeng W Shek Chun Shum CS Bougouffa Salim S Al-Suwailem Abdulaziz A Batang Zenon B ZB Xu Wei W Wang Guang Chao GC Zhang Xixiang X Lafi Feras F FF Bajic Vladmir B VB Qian Pei-Yuan PY

Scientific reports 20140108

Using microscopic and molecular techniques combined with computational analysis, this study examined the structure and composition of microbial communities in biofilms that formed on different artificial substrates in a brine pool and on a seep vent of a cold seep in the Red Sea to test our hypothesis that initiation of the biofilm formation and spreading mode of microbial structures differs between the cold seep and the other aquatic environments. Biofilms on different substrates at two deploym ...[more]

PMID: 24399144

Similar Datasets

Project description:The Okinawa Trough (OT) is a back-arc basin with a wide distribution of active cold seep systems. However, our understanding of the metabolic function of microbial communities in the cold seep sediments of the OT remains limited. In this study, we investigated the vertical profiles of functional genes involved in methane, nitrogen, and sulphur cycling in the cold seep sediments of the OT. Furthermore, we explored the possible coupling mechanisms between these biogeochemical cycles. The study revealed that the majority of genes associated with the nitrogen and sulphur cycles were most abundant in the surface sediment layers. However, only the key genes responsible for sulphur disproportionation (sor), nitrogen fixation (nifDKH), and methane metabolism (mcrABG) were more prevalent within sulfate-methane transition zone (SMTZ). Significant positive correlations (P < 0.05) were observed between functional genes involved in sulphur oxidation, thiosulphate disproportionation with denitrification, and dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA), as well as between AOM/methanogenesis and nitrogen fixation, and between sulphur disproportionation and AOM. A genome of Filomicrobium (class Alphaproteobacteria) has demonstrated potential in chemoautotrophic activities, particularly in coupling DNRA and denitrification with sulphur oxidation. Additionally, the characterized sulfate reducers such as Syntrophobacterales have been found to be capable of utilizing nitrate as an electron acceptor. The predominant methanogenic/methanotrophic groups in the OT sediments were identified as H2-dependent methylotrophic methanogens (Methanomassiliicoccales and Methanofastidiosales) and ANME-1a. This study offered a thorough understanding of microbial ecosystems in the OT cold seep sediments, emphasizing their contribution to nutrient cycling.IMPORTANCEThe Okinawa Trough (OT) is a back-arc basin formed by extension within the continental lithosphere behind the Ryukyu Trench arc system. Cold seeps are widespread in the OT. While some studies have explored microbial communities in OT cold seep sediments, their metabolic potential remains largely unknown. In this study, we used metagenomic analysis to enhance comprehension of the microbial community's role in nutrient cycling and proposed hypotheses on the coupling process and mechanisms involved in biogeochemical cycles. It was revealed that multiple metabolic pathways can be performed by a single organism or microbes that interact with each other to carry out various biogeochemical cycling. This data set provided a genomic road map on microbial nutrient cycling in OT sediment microbial communities.

Dataset Information

In situ environment rather than substrate type dictates microbial community structure of biofilms in a cold seep system.

Publications

In situ environment rather than substrate type dictates microbial community structure of biofilms in a cold seep system.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets