Bacterial community structure across environmental gradients in permafrost thaw ponds: methanotroph-rich ecosystems.

ABSTRACT: Permafrost thawing leads to the formation of thermokarst ponds that potentially emit CO2 and CH4 to the atmosphere. In the Nunavik subarctic region (northern Québec, Canada), these numerous, shallow ponds become well-stratified during summer. This creates a physico-chemical gradient of temperature and oxygen, with an upper oxic layer and a bottom low oxygen or anoxic layer. Our objective was to determine the influence of stratification and related limnological and landscape properties on the community structure of potentially active bacteria in these waters. Samples for RNA analysis were taken from ponds in three contrasting valleys across a gradient of permafrost degradation. A total of 1296 operational taxonomic units were identified by high throughput amplicon sequencing, targeting bact

SUBMITTER: Crevecoeur S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4396522 | biostudies-literature | 2015

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature