Microbial Diversity and Connectivity in Deep-Sea Sediments of the South Atlantic Polar Front.

ABSTRACT: Ultraslow spreading ridges account for one-third of the global mid-ocean ridges. Their impact on the diversity and connectivity of benthic deep-sea microbial assemblages is poorly understood, especially for hydrothermally inactive, magma-starved ridges. We investigated bacterial and archaeal diversity in sediments collected from an amagmatic segment (10°-17°E) of the Southwest Indian Ridge (SWIR) and in the adjacent northern and southern abyssal zones of similar water depths within one biogeochemical province of the Indian Ocean. Microbial diversity was determined by 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene sequencing. Our results show significant differences in microbial communities between stations outside and inside the SWIR, which were mostly explained by environmental selection. Community simila

SUBMITTER: Varliero G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6465420 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature