Distinct temporal diversity profiles for nitrogen cycling genes in a hyporheic microbiome.

ABSTRACT: Biodiversity is thought to prevent decline in community function in response to changing environmental conditions through replacement of organisms with similar functional capacity but different optimal growth characteristics. We examined how this concept translates to the within-gene level by exploring seasonal dynamics of within-gene diversity for genes involved in nitrogen cycling in hyporheic zone communities. Nitrification genes displayed low richness-defined as the number of unique within-gene phylotypes-across seasons. Conversely, denitrification genes varied in both richness and the degree to which phylotypes were recruited or lost. These results demonstrate that there is not a universal mechanism for maintaining community functional potential for nitrogen cycling activities, even a

SUBMITTER: Nelson WC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6984685 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature