Distinct taxonomic and functional profiles of high Arctic and alpine permafrost-affected soil microbiomes
Abstract Background Global warming is affecting all cold environments, including the European Alps and Arctic regions. Here, permafrost may be considered a unique ecosystem harboring a distinct microbiome. The frequent freeze–thaw cycles occurring in permafrost-affected soils, and mainly in the seas...
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:011a33a97e92478da8de6eacd600aa48 2023-07-16T03:56:08+02:00 Distinct taxonomic and functional profiles of high Arctic and alpine permafrost-affected soil microbiomes Ciro Sannino Weihong Qi Joel Rüthi Beat Stierli Beat Frey 2023-06-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.1186/s40793-023-00509-6 https://doaj.org/article/011a33a97e92478da8de6eacd600aa48 EN eng BMC https://doi.org/10.1186/s40793-023-00509-6 https://doaj.org/toc/2524-6372 doi:10.1186/s40793-023-00509-6 2524-6372 https://doaj.org/article/011a33a97e92478da8de6eacd600aa48 Environmental Microbiome, Vol 18, Iss 1, Pp 1-22 (2023) High Arctic European alps Metagenome Functionality Permafrost Active layer Environmental sciences GE1-350 Microbiology QR1-502 article 2023 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.1186/s40793-023-00509-6 2023-06-25T00:37:20Z Abstract Background Global warming is affecting all cold environments, including the European Alps and Arctic regions. Here, permafrost may be considered a unique ecosystem harboring a distinct microbiome. The frequent freeze–thaw cycles occurring in permafrost-affected soils, and mainly in the seasonally active top layers, modify microbial communities and consequently ecosystem processes. Although taxonomic responses of the microbiomes in permafrost-affected soils have been widely documented, studies about how the microbial genetic potential, especially pathways involved in C and N cycling, changes between active-layer soils and permafrost soils are rare. Here, we used shotgun metagenomics to analyze the microbial and functional diversity and the metabolic potential of permafrost-affected soil collected from an alpine site (Val Lavirun, Engadin area, Switzerland) and a High Arctic site (Station Nord, Villum Research Station, Greenland). The main goal was to discover the key genes abundant in the active-layer and permafrost soils, with the purpose to highlight the potential role of the functional genes found. Results We observed differences between the alpine and High Arctic sites in alpha- and beta-diversity, and in EggNOG, CAZy, and NCyc datasets. In the High Arctic site, the metagenome in permafrost soil had an overrepresentation (relative to that in active-layer soil) of genes involved in lipid transport by fatty acid desaturate and ABC transporters, i.e. genes that are useful in preventing microorganisms from freezing by increasing membrane fluidity, and genes involved in cell defense mechanisms. The majority of CAZy and NCyc genes were overrepresented in permafrost soils relative to active-layer soils in both localities, with genes involved in the degradation of carbon substrates and in the degradation of N compounds indicating high microbial activity in permafrost in response to climate warming. Conclusions Our study on the functional characteristics of permafrost microbiomes underlines the remarkably ... Article in Journal/Newspaper Arctic Global warming Greenland permafrost Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Arctic Greenland Station Nord ENVELOPE(-16.663,-16.663,81.599,81.599) Environmental Microbiome 18 1 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
High Arctic European alps Metagenome Functionality Permafrost Active layer Environmental sciences GE1-350 Microbiology QR1-502 |
spellingShingle |
High Arctic European alps Metagenome Functionality Permafrost Active layer Environmental sciences GE1-350 Microbiology QR1-502 Ciro Sannino Weihong Qi Joel Rüthi Beat Stierli Beat Frey Distinct taxonomic and functional profiles of high Arctic and alpine permafrost-affected soil microbiomes |
topic_facet |
High Arctic European alps Metagenome Functionality Permafrost Active layer Environmental sciences GE1-350 Microbiology QR1-502 |
description |
Abstract Background Global warming is affecting all cold environments, including the European Alps and Arctic regions. Here, permafrost may be considered a unique ecosystem harboring a distinct microbiome. The frequent freeze–thaw cycles occurring in permafrost-affected soils, and mainly in the seasonally active top layers, modify microbial communities and consequently ecosystem processes. Although taxonomic responses of the microbiomes in permafrost-affected soils have been widely documented, studies about how the microbial genetic potential, especially pathways involved in C and N cycling, changes between active-layer soils and permafrost soils are rare. Here, we used shotgun metagenomics to analyze the microbial and functional diversity and the metabolic potential of permafrost-affected soil collected from an alpine site (Val Lavirun, Engadin area, Switzerland) and a High Arctic site (Station Nord, Villum Research Station, Greenland). The main goal was to discover the key genes abundant in the active-layer and permafrost soils, with the purpose to highlight the potential role of the functional genes found. Results We observed differences between the alpine and High Arctic sites in alpha- and beta-diversity, and in EggNOG, CAZy, and NCyc datasets. In the High Arctic site, the metagenome in permafrost soil had an overrepresentation (relative to that in active-layer soil) of genes involved in lipid transport by fatty acid desaturate and ABC transporters, i.e. genes that are useful in preventing microorganisms from freezing by increasing membrane fluidity, and genes involved in cell defense mechanisms. The majority of CAZy and NCyc genes were overrepresented in permafrost soils relative to active-layer soils in both localities, with genes involved in the degradation of carbon substrates and in the degradation of N compounds indicating high microbial activity in permafrost in response to climate warming. Conclusions Our study on the functional characteristics of permafrost microbiomes underlines the remarkably ... |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Ciro Sannino Weihong Qi Joel Rüthi Beat Stierli Beat Frey |
author_facet |
Ciro Sannino Weihong Qi Joel Rüthi Beat Stierli Beat Frey |
author_sort |
Ciro Sannino |
title |
Distinct taxonomic and functional profiles of high Arctic and alpine permafrost-affected soil microbiomes |
title_short |
Distinct taxonomic and functional profiles of high Arctic and alpine permafrost-affected soil microbiomes |
title_full |
Distinct taxonomic and functional profiles of high Arctic and alpine permafrost-affected soil microbiomes |
title_fullStr |
Distinct taxonomic and functional profiles of high Arctic and alpine permafrost-affected soil microbiomes |
title_full_unstemmed |
Distinct taxonomic and functional profiles of high Arctic and alpine permafrost-affected soil microbiomes |
title_sort |
distinct taxonomic and functional profiles of high arctic and alpine permafrost-affected soil microbiomes |
publisher |
BMC |
publishDate |
2023 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1186/s40793-023-00509-6 https://doaj.org/article/011a33a97e92478da8de6eacd600aa48 |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(-16.663,-16.663,81.599,81.599) |
geographic |
Arctic Greenland Station Nord |
geographic_facet |
Arctic Greenland Station Nord |
genre |
Arctic Global warming Greenland permafrost |
genre_facet |
Arctic Global warming Greenland permafrost |
op_source |
Environmental Microbiome, Vol 18, Iss 1, Pp 1-22 (2023) |
op_relation |
https://doi.org/10.1186/s40793-023-00509-6 https://doaj.org/toc/2524-6372 doi:10.1186/s40793-023-00509-6 2524-6372 https://doaj.org/article/011a33a97e92478da8de6eacd600aa48 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1186/s40793-023-00509-6 |
container_title |
Environmental Microbiome |
container_volume |
18 |
container_issue |
1 |
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1771542288790454272 |