Bacterial structures and ecosystem functions in glaciated floodplains: contemporary states and potential future shifts.

ABSTRACT: Glaciated alpine floodplains are responding quickly to climate change through shrinking ice masses. Given the expected future changes in their physicochemical environment, we anticipated variable shifts in structure and ecosystem functioning of hyporheic microbial communities in proglacial alpine streams, depending on present community characteristics and landscape structures. We examined microbial structure and functioning during different hydrologic periods in glacial (kryal) streams and, as contrasting systems, groundwater-fed (krenal) streams. Three catchments were chosen to cover an array of landscape features, including interconnected lakes, differences in local geology and degree of deglaciation. Community structure was assessed by automated ribosomal intergenic spacer analysis and

SUBMITTER: Freimann R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3834847 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature