Metabolic flexibility allows generalist bacteria to become dominant in a frequently disturbed ecosystem

0303 health sciences 03 medical and health sciences 13. Climate action 14. Life underwater 15. Life on land
DOI: 10.1101/2020.02.12.945220 Publication Date: 2020-02-13T22:39:25Z
ABSTRACT
Abstract Ecological theory suggests that habitat disturbance differentially influences distributions of generalist and specialist species. While well-established for macroorganisms, this has rarely been explored microorganisms. Here we tested these principles in permeable (sandy) sediments, ecosystems with much spatiotemporal variation resource availability other conditions. Microbial community composition function was profiled intertidal subtidal sediments using 16S amplicon sequencing metagenomics, yielding 135 metagenome-assembled genomes. abundance significantly differed sediment depth and, to a lesser extent, sampling date. Several taxa were highly abundant prevalent all samples, including within orders Woeseiales Flavobacteriales; genome reconstructions indicate facultatively anaerobic are metabolically flexible adapt fluctuations by different electron donors acceptors. In contrast, obligately such as sulfate reducers (Desulfobacterales, Desulfobulbales) proposed candidate phylum MBNT15 less overall only thrived more stable deeper sediments. We substantiated findings measuring three metabolic processes sediments; whereas the generalist-associated sulfide oxidation hydrogenogenic fermentation occurred rapidly at depths, specialist-associated process reduction restricted addition, manipulative experiment confirmed generalists outcompete during simulated disturbance. Altogether, suggest become dominant dynamic environments, specialism restricts bacteria narrower niches. Thus, an ecological describing distribution patterns macroorganisms likely extends Such have broad biogeochemical ramifications.
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