Characterization of the Prokaryotic Diversity in Cold Saline Perennial Springs of the Canadian High Arctic

• DOI: 10.1128/aem.01729-06
• Publication Date: 2007-01-13T01:35:27Z
• Authors: Nancy N. Perreault; Dale T. Andersen; Wayne H. Pollard; Charles W. Greer; Lyle G. Whyte
• Keywords: Crenarchaeota; Library; Chemocline; Euryarchaeota; Planctomycetes; Deltaproteobacteria; Acidobacteria; Verrucomicrobia; Gemmatimonadetes

The springs at Gypsum Hill and Colour Peak on Axel Heiberg Island in the Canadian Arctic originate from deep salt aquifers are among few known examples of cold thick permafrost Earth. discharge anoxic brines (7.5 to 15.8% salts), with a mean oxidoreduction potential -325 mV, contain high concentrations sulfate sulfide. We surveyed microbial diversity sediments seven by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) analyzing clone libraries 16S rRNA genes amplified Bacteria Archaea-specific primers. Dendrogram analysis DGGE banding patterns divided into two clusters based their geographic origin. Bacterial sequences library (spring GH-4) were classified phyla (Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, Gemmatimonadetes, Proteobacteria, Spirochaetes, Verrucomicrobia); Deltaproteobacteria Gammaproteobacteria represented half library. Sequences related Proteobacteria (82%), Firmicutes (9%), Bacteroidetes (6%) constituted 97% bacterial CP-1). Most GH-4 archaeal (79%) Crenarchaeota while CP-1 orders Halobacteriales Methanosarcinales Euryarchaeota. sulfur-oxidizing bacterium Thiomicrospira psychrophila dominated both (19%) (45%) libraries, 56 76% sulfur-metabolizing bacteria. These results suggest that utilization cycling sulfur compounds may play major role energy production maintenance communities these unique, environments.