Radioactivity as a driver of bacterial community composition in naturally radioactive mineral springs in the French Massif Central.

ABSTRACT: Some natural environments on Earth are characterised by high levels of radiation, including naturally radioelement enriched mineral springs in the French Massif Central. Therefore, naturally radioactive mineral springs are interesting ecosystems for understanding how bacterial populations in these springs have adapted to high levels of natural and chronic radioactivity over the very long term. The aim of this study was to analyse the bacterial communities of sediments from five naturally radioactive mineral springs in the French Massif Central, sampled in autumn 2019 and spring 2020, and to observe whether radionuclides, compared to other physicochemical parameters, are drivers of the bacterial community structuring in these extreme environments. Physicochemical measurements showed that tw

SUBMITTER: Holub G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11300270 | biostudies-literature | 2024

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature