Analysis and interpretation of hot springs water, biofilms, and sediment bacterial community profiling and their metabolic potential in the area of Taiwan geothermal ecosystem

• Published in: The Science of the total environment 2023-01, Vol.856, p.159115-159115, Article 159115
• Main Authors: Chen, Jung-Sheng, Hussain, Bashir, Tsai, Hsin-Chi, Nagarajan, Viji, Koner, Suprokash, Hsu, Bing-Mu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 16S rRNA gene sequencing; Bacterial abundance; Functional prediction; Geothermal valley; Hot spring; Ti-re-ku
• ISSN: 0048-9697; 1879-1026
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.159115

Microorganisms developed a mechanism that copes with heat, acidity, and high dissolved metal concentrations that likely first evolved. The geothermal fluids emerging in the geothermal springs of Taiwan, located at a subduction zone, are still under signs of progress in the characterization of the various microbial taxonomic changes over time. However, no systematic studies have been performed to compare water, biofilms, and sediment bacterial communities and the primary driving force of dissolved and mineral substrates capable of supporting microbial metabolism. In this study, 16S rRNA gene sequencing was employed for bacterial community exploration, and their potential metabolic pathways involved from water, biofilms, and sediment samples, collected from the geothermal valley (Ti-re-ku). Metagenomic data revealed that the water samples had higher bacterial diversity and richness than biofilms and sediment samples. At the genus level, Alicyclobacillus, Thiomonas, Acidocella, Metallibacterium, Picrophilus, and Legionella were significantly abundant in the water samples. The biofilms were rich in Aciditerrimonas, Bacillus, Acidithiobacillus, and Lysinibacillus, whereas the sediment samples were abundant in Sulfobacillus. The PICRUSt2-predicted functional results revealed that heavy metal-related functions such as heavy-metal exporter system, cobalt‑zinc‑cadmium resistance, arsenical pump, high-affinity nickel-transport, and copper resistance metabolisms were significant in the water samples. Moreover, sulfur-related pathways such as thiosulfate oxidation, dissimilatory sulfate reduction, and assimilatory sulfate reduction were important in water samples, followed by biofilms and sediment. Therefore, our findings highlighted the comparative taxonomic diversity and functional composition contributions to geothermal fluid, with implications for understanding the evolution and ecological niche dimension of microbes which are the key to geothermal ecosystem function. [Display omitted] •Water, biofilm and sediment samples were distinct in their bacterial diversity.•Water samples have a higher bacterial diversity and richness.•Heavy metal related functions were abundant in the water samples.•Sulfur-related functions were observed in biofilms and sediments.•The physicochemical properties were highly correlated with the running thermal water.