Functional microbial diversity explains groundwater chemistry in a pristine aquifer.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The diverse microbial populations that inhabit pristine aquifers are known to catalyze critical in situ biogeochemical reactions, yet little is known about how the structure and diversity of this subsurface community correlates with and impacts upon groundwater chemistry. Herein we examine 8,786 bacterial and 8,166 archaeal 16S rRNA gene sequences from an array of monitoring wells in the Mahomet aquifer of east-central Illinois. Using multivariate statistical analyses we provide a comparative analysis of the relationship between groundwater chemistry and the microbial communities attached to aquifer sediment along with those suspended in groundwater.

Results

Statistical analyses of 16S rRNA gene sequences showed a clear distinction between attached and suspended c

SUBMITTER: Flynn TM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3700874 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature