Distribution and Interaction Patterns of Bacterial Communities in an Ornithogenic Soil of Seymour Island, Antarctica

• Published in: Microbial ecology 2015-04, Vol.69 (3), p.684-694
• Main Authors: Rampelotto, Pabulo Henrique, Barboza, Anthony Diego Muller, Pereira, Antônio Batista, Triplett, Eric W, Schaefer, Carlos Ernesto G. R, de Oliveira Camargo, Flávio Anastácio, Roesch, Luiz Fernando Wurdig
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antarctic Regions; Bacteria; Bacteria - genetics; Bacteria - metabolism; bacterial communities; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Community structure; DNA, Bacterial - genetics; DNA, Bacterial - metabolism; Ecology; Geoecology/Natural Processes; Islands; Life Sciences; Marine; Microbial Ecology; Microbiology; Microbiota; Microorganisms; Molecular Sequence Data; Nature Conservation; ornithogenic soils; penguins; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S - genetics; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S - metabolism; soil bacteria; Soil depth; SOIL MICROBIOLOGY; Taxa; Topology; Water Quality/Water Pollution
• ISSN: 0095-3628; 1432-184X
• DOI: 10.1007/s00248-014-0510-6

Next-generation, culture-independent sequencing offers an excellent opportunity to examine network interactions among different microbial species. In this study, soil bacterial communities from a penguin rookery site at Seymour Island were analyzed for abundance, structure, diversity, and interaction networks to identify interaction patterns among the various taxa at three soil depths. The analysis revealed the presence of eight phyla distributed in different proportions among the surface layer (0–8 cm), middle layer (20–25 cm), and bottom (35–40 cm). The bottom layer presented the highest values of bacterial richness, diversity, and evenness when compared to surface and middle layers. The network analysis revealed the existence of a unique pattern of interactions in which the soil microbial network formed a clustered topology, rather than a modular structure as is usually found in biological communities. In addition, specific taxa were identified as important players in microbial community structure. Furthermore, simulation analyses indicated that the loss of potential keystone groups of microorganisms might alter the patterns of interactions within the microbial community. These findings provide new insights for assessing the consequences of environmental disturbances at the whole-community level in Antarctica.