Next-generation sequencing of microbial communities in the Athabasca River and its tributaries in relation to oil sands mining activities.

ABSTRACT: The Athabasca oil sands deposit is the largest reservoir of crude bitumen in the world. Recently, the soaring demand for oil and the availability of modern bitumen extraction technology have heightened exploitation of this reservoir and the potential unintended consequences of pollution in the Athabasca River. The main objective of the present study was to evaluate the potential impacts of oil sands mining on neighboring aquatic microbial community structure. Microbial communities were sampled from sediments in the Athabasca River and its tributaries as well as in oil sands tailings ponds. Bacterial and archaeal 16S rRNA genes were amplified and sequenced using next-generation sequencing technology (454 and Ion Torrent). Sediments were also analyzed for a variety of chemical and physical c

SUBMITTER: Yergeau E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3485728 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature