Bacterial Diversity in Deep-Sea Sediment of West Pacific Nodule Province

Abstract

Dense polymetallic nodule fields are found in different areas of the Pacific and Indian Oceans. However, limited knowledge exists about microbial diversity, processes and functions in deep-sea polymetallic nodule sediments. This study investigated microbial diversity, composition and function in sediments from various locations and depths in a western Pacific polymetallic nodule province. Sediment cores were collected, DNA extracted, and the V3–V4 regions of the 16S rRNA gene were sequenced using Illumina MiSeq. The test results show that the abundance and diversity of microbial communities in sediments from different sites vary significantly. The dominant microbial communities at the family level in the three sediment samples were all mainly Marinobacteraceae and Alcanivoracaceae. Sediment samples from core 1 had similar microbial structures and microbial community functions. Surface sediment had higher species richness, diversity and evenness than the middle layer. The dominant phylum at different depths was consistent. There was significant spatial heterogeneity in the microbial community within sediments from polymetallic nodule regions. This study expands on our knowledge of the spatial and vertical distribution of microbial community diversity beneath polymetallic nodules in deep-sea settings.