Temporal dynamics of geothermal microbial communities in Aotearoa-New Zealand
Microbial biogeography studies, in particular for geothermal-associated habitats, have focused on spatial patterns and/or individual sites, which have limited ability to describe the dynamics of ecosystem behaviour. Here, we report the first comprehensive temporal study of bacterial and archaeal com...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-03-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Microbiology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2023.1094311/full |
| _version_ | 1797867094410264576 |
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| author | Jean F. Power Caitlin L. Lowe Carlo R. Carere Carlo R. Carere Ian R. McDonald S. Craig Cary Matthew B. Stott Matthew B. Stott |
| author_facet | Jean F. Power Caitlin L. Lowe Carlo R. Carere Carlo R. Carere Ian R. McDonald S. Craig Cary Matthew B. Stott Matthew B. Stott |
| author_sort | Jean F. Power |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Microbial biogeography studies, in particular for geothermal-associated habitats, have focused on spatial patterns and/or individual sites, which have limited ability to describe the dynamics of ecosystem behaviour. Here, we report the first comprehensive temporal study of bacterial and archaeal communities from an extensive range of geothermal features in Aotearoa-New Zealand. One hundred and fifteen water column samples from 31 geothermal ecosystems were taken over a 34-month period to ascertain microbial community stability (control sites), community response to both natural and anthropogenic disturbances in the local environment (disturbed sites) and temporal variation in spring diversity across different pH values (pH 3, 5, 7, 9) all at a similar temperature of 60–70°C (pH sites). Identical methodologies were employed to measure microbial diversity via 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing, along with 44 physicochemical parameters from each feature, to ensure confidence in comparing samples across timeframes. Our results indicated temperature and associated groundwater physicochemistry were the most likely parameters to vary stochastically in these geothermal features, with community abundances rather than composition more readily affected by a changing environment. However, variation in pH (pH ±1) had a more significant effect on community structure than temperature (±20°C), with alpha diversity failing to adequately measure temporal microbial disparity in geothermal features outside of circumneutral conditions. While a substantial physicochemical disturbance was required to shift community structures at the phylum level, geothermal ecosystems were resilient at this broad taxonomic rank and returned to a pre-disturbed state if environmental conditions re-established. These findings highlight the diverse controls between different microbial communities within the same habitat-type, expanding our understanding of temporal dynamics in extreme ecosystems. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T23:35:51Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1d5b41c0fef140f7a5d7e302dcb7d1ee |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-302X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T23:35:51Z |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Microbiology |
| spelling | doaj.art-1d5b41c0fef140f7a5d7e302dcb7d1ee2023-03-20T11:35:29ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Microbiology1664-302X2023-03-011410.3389/fmicb.2023.10943111094311Temporal dynamics of geothermal microbial communities in Aotearoa-New ZealandJean F. Power0Caitlin L. Lowe1Carlo R. Carere2Carlo R. Carere3Ian R. McDonald4S. Craig Cary5Matthew B. Stott6Matthew B. Stott7Thermophile Research Unit, Te Aka Mātuatua | School of Science, Te Whare Wānanga o Waikato | University of Waikato, Hamilton, New ZealandThermophile Research Unit, Te Aka Mātuatua | School of Science, Te Whare Wānanga o Waikato | University of Waikato, Hamilton, New ZealandTe Tari Pūhanga Tukanga Matū | Department of Chemical and Process Engineering, Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New ZealandBiomolecular Interaction Centre, Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury, Christchurch, Aotearoa-New ZealandThermophile Research Unit, Te Aka Mātuatua | School of Science, Te Whare Wānanga o Waikato | University of Waikato, Hamilton, New ZealandThermophile Research Unit, Te Aka Mātuatua | School of Science, Te Whare Wānanga o Waikato | University of Waikato, Hamilton, New ZealandBiomolecular Interaction Centre, Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury, Christchurch, Aotearoa-New ZealandTe Kura Pūtaiao Koiora | School of Biological Sciences, Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New ZealandMicrobial biogeography studies, in particular for geothermal-associated habitats, have focused on spatial patterns and/or individual sites, which have limited ability to describe the dynamics of ecosystem behaviour. Here, we report the first comprehensive temporal study of bacterial and archaeal communities from an extensive range of geothermal features in Aotearoa-New Zealand. One hundred and fifteen water column samples from 31 geothermal ecosystems were taken over a 34-month period to ascertain microbial community stability (control sites), community response to both natural and anthropogenic disturbances in the local environment (disturbed sites) and temporal variation in spring diversity across different pH values (pH 3, 5, 7, 9) all at a similar temperature of 60–70°C (pH sites). Identical methodologies were employed to measure microbial diversity via 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing, along with 44 physicochemical parameters from each feature, to ensure confidence in comparing samples across timeframes. Our results indicated temperature and associated groundwater physicochemistry were the most likely parameters to vary stochastically in these geothermal features, with community abundances rather than composition more readily affected by a changing environment. However, variation in pH (pH ±1) had a more significant effect on community structure than temperature (±20°C), with alpha diversity failing to adequately measure temporal microbial disparity in geothermal features outside of circumneutral conditions. While a substantial physicochemical disturbance was required to shift community structures at the phylum level, geothermal ecosystems were resilient at this broad taxonomic rank and returned to a pre-disturbed state if environmental conditions re-established. These findings highlight the diverse controls between different microbial communities within the same habitat-type, expanding our understanding of temporal dynamics in extreme ecosystems.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2023.1094311/fullgeothermal microbiologytemporal biogeographymicrobial biogeographyextremophileshot springsAotearoa-New Zealand |
| spellingShingle | Jean F. Power Caitlin L. Lowe Carlo R. Carere Carlo R. Carere Ian R. McDonald S. Craig Cary Matthew B. Stott Matthew B. Stott Temporal dynamics of geothermal microbial communities in Aotearoa-New Zealand Frontiers in Microbiology geothermal microbiology temporal biogeography microbial biogeography extremophiles hot springs Aotearoa-New Zealand |
| title | Temporal dynamics of geothermal microbial communities in Aotearoa-New Zealand |
| title_full | Temporal dynamics of geothermal microbial communities in Aotearoa-New Zealand |
| title_fullStr | Temporal dynamics of geothermal microbial communities in Aotearoa-New Zealand |
| title_full_unstemmed | Temporal dynamics of geothermal microbial communities in Aotearoa-New Zealand |
| title_short | Temporal dynamics of geothermal microbial communities in Aotearoa-New Zealand |
| title_sort | temporal dynamics of geothermal microbial communities in aotearoa new zealand |
| topic | geothermal microbiology temporal biogeography microbial biogeography extremophiles hot springs Aotearoa-New Zealand |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2023.1094311/full |
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