Abstract
The actinobacterial diversity was investigated in the sediments of five cold springs in Wuli region on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau using 16S rRNA gene phylogenetic analysis. The actinobacterial communities of the studied cold springs were diverse and the obtained actinobacterial operational taxonomic units were classified into 12 actinobacterial orders (e.g., Acidimicrobiales, Corynebacteriales, Gaiellales, Geodermatophilales, Jiangellales, Kineosporiales, Micromonosporales, Micrococcales, Nakamurellales, Propionibacteriales, Pseudonocardiales, Streptomycetales) and unclassified Actinobacteria. The actinobacterial composition varied among the investigated cold springs and were significantly correlated (r = 0.748, P = 0.021) to environmental variables. The actinobacterial communities in the cold springs were more diverse than other cold habitats on the Tibetan Plateau, and their compositions showed unique geographical distribution characteristics. Statistical analyses showed that biogeographical isolation and unique environmental conditions might be major factors influencing actinobacterial distribution among the investigated cold springs.
Highlights
A large portion of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP) is underlain by permafrost, which is suitable for gas hydrate development (Wang and French, 1995; Zhou et al, 2000)
Recent evidence indicates that gas hydrate is present in the permafrost zone of Qilian Mountains in the northern margin of QTP (Lu et al, 2009; Zhu et al, 2010)
The objective of this study was to investigate the actinobacterial diversity and community structure in five Tibetan cold springs based on 16S rRNA gene phylogenetic analyses
Summary
A large portion of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP) is underlain by permafrost, which is suitable for gas hydrate development (Wang and French, 1995; Zhou et al, 2000). The methane-fueled communities in marine cold seeps possess high metabolic rates, and they play important roles in carbon and nitrogen cycling (Hinrichs and Boetius, 2002; Boetius and Suess, 2004; Nakagawa et al, 2007; Reeburgh, 2007; Dang et al, 2010). Because of their potentially important role in global climate change, microbial communities in marine cold seeps have received much attention (Sibuet and Olu-Le Roy, 2002; Reeburgh, 2007)
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