Emerging Ecotone and Microbial Community of a Sulfidic Spring in the Reka River near Škocjanske Jame, Slovenia

During long periods with no precipitation, a sulfidic spring (Smrdljivec) appears in the dry bed of the Reka River before sinking into the karst underground. The study characterizes the area’s geological setting, development of microbial communities and an ecotone, and impact on the vulnerable karst...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Diversity (Basel) 2021-12, Vol.13 (12), p.655
Main Authors: Mulec, Janez, Oarga-Mulec, Andreea, Skok, Sara, Šebela, Stanka, Cerkvenik, Rosana, Zorman, Tomaž, Holko, Ladislav, Eleršek, Tina, Pašić, Lejla
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biodiversity
Biodiversity hot spots
Biofilms
Caves
Climate change
Climatic conditions
Coal
conservation
Ecosystems
ecotone
Ecotones
Environmental conditions
Environmental factors
Fault lines
geochemical gradient
Geologic mapping
Geological mapping
Groundwater
Habitats
Hot spots (geology)
Hydrology
Karst
Marine microorganisms
Metagenomics
Microbial activity
microbial diversity
Microbiomes
Microorganisms
River ecology
Rivers
Spring water
sulfidic spring
Sulfur
Sulfur compounds
Sulfur content
Toxicity
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Summary:During long periods with no precipitation, a sulfidic spring (Smrdljivec) appears in the dry bed of the Reka River before sinking into the karst underground. The study characterizes the area’s geological setting, development of microbial communities and an ecotone, and impact on the vulnerable karst ecosystem. Geological mapping of the area, stable isotopic analyses, field measurements, and physico-chemical and toxicity analyses were applied to elucidate the environmental conditions. The spring’s microbial diversity was assessed using cultivation methods, microscopy, and metagenomics. Sulfur compounds in the spring probably originate from coal layers in the vicinity. Metagenomic analyses revealed 175 distinct operational taxonomic units in spring water and biofilms. Proteobacteria predominated in developed biofilms, and a “core” microbiome was represented by methylotrophs, including Methylobacter, Methylomonas, and Methylotenera. Diatoms represented an important component of biofilm biomass. A combination of environmental factors and climatic conditions allows the formation and accessibility of emerging biodiversity hotspots and ecotones. Details of their dynamic nature, global impact, and distribution should be highlighted further and given more protection.
ISSN:1424-2818
1424-2818
DOI:10.3390/d13120655