Abstract
Long-chain n-alkanes are vital constituents of plant-derived wax, however, their limited reactivity, life cycle in terms of biodegradation, and ecological impacts are not lucid in a niche-specific manner. Here, we provide an insight into the bacterial community and their functional variations associated with long-chain n-alkanes degradation across leaf litter-soil compartments in three rainforest habitats aiming to elucidate the microbial modulation linked to the long-chain n-alkanes concentration and composition. The ravine habitat showed significantly higher long-chain n-alkanes concentration, bacterial diversity and functional genes than the windward and leeward habitats. Among the statistically significant genera (p < 0.05) Intrasporangium, Virgisporangium, Micromonospora, and Planomicrobium were more abundant in the ravine habitat than in the other two habitats. Interestingly, three statistically significant genera including Sphingobium, Tepidisphaera, and Methylobacterium showed a decrease abundance with increasing soil depths compared to their abundance in leaf litter. The correlation analysis revealed that Rhizobium, Pseudorhodoferax, Micromonospora, Dongia, Actinoplanes, Bdellovibrio, Ohtaekwangia, Planctomicrobium, Opitutus, Actinokineospora, Novosphingobium, and Methylobacterium were significantly in a positive relationship with alkB gene and most of the long-chain n-alkanes (C27 to C34). The ordination analysis further unveiled a strong association among the long-chain n-alkanes concentration, potential degraders and alkB gene within the ravine habitat. Additionally, we observed a decreasing trend in the abundance of bacterial taxa and related functional genes with decreasing the long-chain n-alkane concentration, suggesting n-alkane specific taxa modulation. Fundamentally, this study provides niche-specific evidence that the concentration of long-chain n-alkanes could contribute to a shift in bacterial diversity, abundance and function in forest habitats.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
