Bacterial community composition and diversity in Kalakuli, an alpine glacial-fed lake in Muztagh Ata of the westernmost Tibetan Plateau

• DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fix085
• Publication Date: 2017-06-26T07:08:46Z
• Authors: Keshao Liu; Yongqin Liu; Nianzhi Jiao; Baiqing Xu; Zhengquan Gu; Tingting Xing; Jinbo Xiong
• Keywords: Dominance (genetics); Diversity index

It is widely accepted that bacterial community composition and diversity in remote alpine lakes are structured by environmental conditions such as nutrient status temperature. However, the mechanisms underlie structure remain unclear. We used 16S rRNA gene-based Illumina MiSeq sequencing to investigate complex ecological interactions between communities Kalakuli Lake, an glacial-fed lake Muztagh Ata of westernmost Tibetan Plateau. Our results indicated was dominated Actinobacteria Proteobacteria. The threshold estimates showed there were apparent shifts dominance from Proteobacteria groups associated with increasing carbon nitrogen (C:N) ratio, change points 6.794 2.448, respectively. Using multiple statistical methods, we found abiotic factors dissolved organic total had substantial impacts on diversity, while compositions significantly correlated both biotic element abundance ones, temperature pH. These findings demonstrated C:N ratio played a significant role shifting dominant assemblages watershed provided evidence nutrients affecting diversity. argue this study could further shed light how climate change-induced glacial retreat may impact under future global warming scenarios.