Archaeal Diversity and CO₂ Fixers in Carbonate-/Siliciclastic-Rock Groundwater Ecosystems.

ABSTRACT: Groundwater environments provide habitats for diverse microbial communities, and although Archaea usually represent a minor fraction of communities, they are involved in key biogeochemical cycles. We analysed the archaeal diversity within a mixed carbonate-rock/siliciclastic-rock aquifer system, vertically from surface soils to subsurface groundwater including aquifer and aquitard rocks. Archaeal diversity was also characterized along a monitoring well transect that spanned surface land uses from forest/woodland to grassland and cropland. Sequencing of 16S rRNA genes showed that only a few surface soil-inhabiting Archaea were present in the groundwater suggesting a restricted input from the surface. Dominant groups in the groundwater belonged to the marine group I (MG-I) Thaumarchaeota and

SUBMITTER: Lazar CS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5485487 | biostudies-literature | 2017

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature