Elevational Constraints on the Composition and Genomic Attributes of Microbial Communities in Antarctic Soils

• DOI: 10.1128/msystems.01330-21
• Publication Date: 2022-01-18T14:33:00Z
• Authors: Nicholas B. Dragone; Jessica B. Henley; Hannah Holland-Mo...; Melisa Diaz; Ian D. Hogg; W. Berry Lyons; Diana H. Wall; Byron J. Adams; Noah Fierer
• Keywords: 0301 basic medicine; 2. Zero hunger; Bacteria; 290; Microbiota; Antarctic Regions; 15. Life on land; microbial ecology; Microbiology; Archaea; soil microbiology; QR1-502; Microbial ecology; Soil; 03 medical and health sciences; Soil microbiology; 13. Climate action; Soils; Antarctica; Metagenomics; soils; Soil Microbiology; Research Article

The inland soils found on the Antarctic continent represent one of more challenging environments for microbial life Earth. Nevertheless, harbor unique bacterial and archaeal (prokaryotic) communities able to cope with extremely cold dry conditions. These are not homogeneous, taxonomic composition functional capabilities (genomic attributes) these across environmental gradients remain largely undetermined. We analyzed prokaryotic in soil samples collected from Shackleton Glacier region Antarctica by coupling quantitative PCR, marker gene amplicon sequencing, shotgun metagenomic sequencing. that elevation was dominant factor explaining differences structures communities, drier saltier at higher elevations harboring less diverse assemblages cooccurring taxa. higher-elevation also had lower maximum potential growth rates (as inferred metagenome-based estimates codon usage bias) an overrepresentation genes associated trace gas metabolism. Together, results highlight utility assessing community shifts pronounced improve our understanding diversity strategies used microbes persist limits habitability. IMPORTANCE ideal system study how properties shape given relatively low occur located reasonable proximity another. Moreover, conditions typical most present opportunity investigate traits allow some inhospitable habitats cultivation-independent methods Transantarctic Mountains. show those characteristics have greatest impact structure colder, drier, sustaining were distinct hospitable respect their composition, genomic attributes, overall life-history strategies. Notably, harsher likely select taxa increased reliance metabolism support growth.