Insights into Antarctic microbiomes: diversity patterns for terrestrial and marine habitats

Author(s)

AMANDA G. BENDIA ^[1] ; JULIO CEZAR F. MOREIRA ^[2] ; JULIANA C.N. FERREIRA ^[3] ; RENATO G. ROMANO ^[4] ; IVAN G.C. FERREIRA ^[5] ; DIEGO C. FRANCO ^[6] ; HEITOR EVANGELISTA ^[7] ; ROSALINDA C. MONTONE ^[8] ; VIVIAN HELENA PELLIZARI ^[9]

Affiliation

^[1] Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Departamento de Oceanografia Biológica - Brasil

^[2] Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Departamento de Oceanografia Biológica - Brasil

^[3] Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Departamento de Oceanografia Biológica - Brasil

^[4] Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Departamento de Oceanografia Biológica - Brasil

^[5] Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Departamento de Oceanografia Biológica - Brasil

^[6] Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Departamento de Oceanografia Biológica - Brasil

^[7] Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ). Instituto de Biologia Roberto Alcantara Gomes - Brasil

^[8] Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Departamento de Oceanografia Física - Brasil

^[9] Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Departamento de Oceanografia Biológica - Brasil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências; v. 95, 2023-10-09.

Abstract

Abstract Microorganisms in Antarctica are recognized for having crucial roles in ecosystems functioning and biogeochemical cycles. To explore the diversity and composition of microbial communities through different terrestrial and marine Antarctic habitats, we analyze 16S rRNA sequence datasets from fumarole and marine sediments, soil, snow and seawater environments. We obtained measures of alpha- and beta-diversities, as well as we have identified the core microbiome and the indicator microbial taxa of a particular habitat. Our results showed a unique microbial community structure according to each habitat, including specific taxa composing each microbiome. Marine sediments harbored the highest microbial diversity among the analyzed habitats. In the fumarole sediments, the core microbiome was composed mainly of thermophiles and hyperthermophilic Archaea, while in the majority of soil samples Archaea was absent. In the seawater samples, the core microbiome was mainly composed by cultured and uncultured orders usually identified on Antarctic pelagic ecosystems. Snow samples exhibited common taxa previously described for habitats of the Antarctic Peninsula, which suggests long-distance dispersal processes occurring from the Peninsula to the Continent. This study contributes as a baseline for further efforts on evaluating the microbial responses to environmental conditions and future changes. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 12/23241-0 - Metagenomic of microbial communities from environments with geothermal activity at Deception Island Volcano, Antarctica
• Grantee: Amanda Gonçalves Bendia
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate