Altitudinal patterns of diversity and functional traits of metabolically active microorganisms in stream biofilms.

ABSTRACT: Resources structure ecological communities and potentially link biodiversity to energy flow. It is commonly believed that functional traits (generalists versus specialists) involved in the exploitation of resources depend on resource availability and environmental fluctuations. The longitudinal nature of stream ecosystems provides changing resources to stream biota with yet unknown effects on microbial functional traits and community structure. We investigated the impact of autochthonous (algal extract) and allochthonous (spruce extract) resources, as they change along alpine streams from above to below the treeline, on microbial diversity, community composition and functions of benthic biofilms. Combining bromodeoxyuridine labelling and 454 pyrosequencing, we showed that diversity was low

SUBMITTER: Wilhelm L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4611509 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature