Fine-scale spatial patterns in microbial community composition in an acid mine drainage

Abstract

Microbial community composition is essential for aquatic ecosystem functions and has been explored across diverse environments and various spatial scales. However, documented patterns are often based on samples from spatially/geographically separated locations or sites. Here, we define sampling volume as spatial scale and examine (by Illumina 16S rRNA sequencing) microbial community composition over a scale of 1 mL to 10 L in an acid mine drainage. β-Diversity analysis revealed that all samples grouped very tightly according to spatial scales and variations between every two scales were significant. Notably, mean β-diversity within each group was negatively correlated with spatial scales, indicating patchy microbial distribution. Partition of β-diversity further revealed that it was the relative abundances of some microbial taxa that largely changed among spatial scales. Phylogenetic analysis showed that microbial lineages were not randomly distributed, but displayed a tendency of more phylogenetically clustering at smaller spatial scales. Thus, we documented fine-scale spatial patterns in microbial community composition within a continuous aquatic environment, which may have practical implications for adequate sampling of aquatic systems in future studies.

Microbial community structure in an uranium-rich acid mine drainage site: implication for the biogeochemical release of uranium

“…Samples were sampled at a depth of approximately10 cm at each site 2 m offshore according to Liang et al (2017) . Three parallel subsamples were collected at each sampling location.…”

Chronic Environmental Perturbation Influences Microbial Community Assembly Patterns

“…Different initial communities subjected to the same perturbation may converge to communities with similar phylogenetic composition 6 or may diverge. 7 − 9 Acute (usually intense and short-term, e.g. , hours/days) pollution is therefore likely to transform communities through deterministic selection, while chronic (ongoing, usually less intense than acute and long-term, e.g.…”

“…In contrast, deterministic assembly is driven by contemporary natural or anthropogenic environmental perturbation, which induces selection of microbial traits, or exclusion of taxa, so that the community is better adapted to the new conditions. , Deterministic selection is favored by increased intensity of environmental perturbation, , but different responses have been reported. Different initial communities subjected to the same perturbation may converge to communities with similar phylogenetic composition or may diverge. − Acute (usually intense and short-term, e.g. , hours/days) pollution is therefore likely to transform communities through deterministic selection, while chronic (ongoing, usually less intense than acute and long-term, e.g.…”

Data_Sheet_1.PDF

“…Samples were sampled at a depth of approximately10 cm at each site 2 m offshore according to Liang et al (2017). Three parallel subsamples were collected at each sampling location.…”