How Salinity Affects Microbial Communities Across Different Environments
Author Information
Author(s): Menéndez‐Serra Mateu, Cáliz Joan, Triadó‐Margarit Xavier, Alonso David, Casamayor Emilio O.
Primary Institution: Centre of Advanced Studies of Blanes (CEAB), Spanish Research Council (CSIC)
Hypothesis
The potential effect of inter‐biome microbial dispersal on the planktonic assembly and the resulting community composition will be variable and strongly modulated by the selective pressures changing along the dynamic local salinity gradient.
Conclusion
As salinity increases, the contribution of inter‐biome dispersal to local planktonic communities decreases, shifting from generalists to specialists.
Supporting Evidence
- Microbial communities in terrestrial, aquatic and aerial biomes are distinct but interconnected.
- Organisms prevalent across the three biomes exhibited cosmopolitan behaviour based on global databases.
- Cosmopolitan groups dominated the planktonic community at lower salinities but diminished as salinity increased.
Takeaway
Microbes can live in different places like water, soil, and air, but as the water gets saltier, the types of microbes change from those that can live anywhere to those that like salty water.
Methodology
The study analyzed 16S rRNA gene data sets from aquatic, sedimentary, and aerial microbial communities across different salinity levels.
Limitations
The study's sediment data set was limited in size compared to the other biomes.
Statistical Information
P-Value
<0.001
Statistical Significance
p<0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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