Microbial Community Dynamics in Early Tufa Biofilms.

ABSTRACT: Karst freshwater systems represent unique ecological niches where physicochemical and biological interactions promote intensive calcium carbonate precipitation and the formation of tufa barriers. Here, we studied the composition, diversity, and functional potential of prokaryotic and microeukaryotic communities involved in early-stage tufa formation at two sites within the Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia. Over a 5-day period in two different seasons, tufa and water samples were collected at Prošćansko Lake and Novakovića Brod to examine temporal and spatial microbial dynamics. High-throughput sequencing revealed early stabilization of prokaryotic communities within tufa biofilms, dominated by genera, such as Bacillus, Delftia, Hyphomicrobium, and Methylobacterium-Methylorubrum, which

SUBMITTER: Cackovic A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12620666 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature