Indicator species drive the key ecological functions of microbiota in a river impacted by acid mine drainage generated by rare earth elements mining in South China

• DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.15501
• Publication Date: 2021-04-14T01:13:00Z
• Authors: Ziwu Chen; Xi Zhong; Mengyuan Zheng; Wen‐Shen Liu; Yingheng Fei; Kengbo Ding; Yaying Li; Ye Liu; Yuanqing Chao; Ye‐Tao Tang; Shizhong Wang; Rongliang Qiu
• Keywords: Thaumarchaeota; Acid Mine Drainage; Nitrogen Cycle; Geomicrobiology

Acid mine drainage (AMD) generated by rare earth elements (REEs) deposits exploration contains high concentrations of REEs, ammonium and sulfates, which is quite different from typical metallic AMD. Currently, microbial responses ecological functions in REEs-AMD impacted rivers are unknown. Here, 16S rRNA analysis genome-resolved metagenomics were performed on community collected a contaminated river. The results showed that significantly changed river diversity shaped unique indicator species (e.g. Thaumarchaeota, Methylophilales, Rhodospirillales Burkholderiales). main environmental factors regulating pH, among concentration REEs increased REEs-dependent enzyme-encoding genes (XoxF ExaF/PedH). Additionally, we reconstructed 566 metagenome-assembled genomes covering 70.4% identifying indicators. Genome-centric revealed the abundant archaea Thaumarchaeota Xanthomonadaceae often involved nitrification denitrification, while family Burkholderiaceae capable sulfide oxidation coupled with dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium. These indicators play crucial roles nitrogen sulfur cycling as well immobilization rivers. This study confirmed potential dual effect at functional gene level. Our investigation further provided new insights for development bioremediation.