Eukaryotic microbial diversity of phototrophic microbial mats in two Icelandic geothermal hot springs

Autors/ores

  • Ángeles Aguilera Center of Astrobiology, National Institute for Aerospace Technology-CSIC, Torrejon de Ardoz, Spain
  • Virginia Souza-Egipsy Center of Astrobiology, National Institute for Aerospace Technology-CSIC, Torrejon de Ardoz, Spain
  • Elena González-Toril Center of Astrobiology, National Institute for Aerospace Technology-CSIC, Torrejon de Ardoz, Spain
  • Olaya Rendueles Center of Astrobiology, National Institute for Aerospace Technology-CSIC, Torrejon de Ardoz, Spain
  • Ricardo Amils Center of Astrobiology, National Institute for Aerospace Technology-CSIC, Torrejon de Ardoz, Spain Center of Molecular Biology (UAM-CSIC), Autonomous University of Madrid, Cantoblanco, Spain

Paraules clau:

eukaryotic microbial community · extremophiles · phytobenthos · water chemistry · Icelandic hot springs

Resum

The composition of the eukaryotic community and the three-dimensional structure of diverse phototrophic microbial mats from two hot springs in Iceland (Seltun and Hveradalir geothermal areas) were explored by comparing eukaryotic assemblages from microbial mats. Samples were collected in July 2007 from 15 sampling stations along thermal and pH gradients following both hot springs. Physicochemical data revealed high variability in terms of pH (ranging from 2.8 to 7), with high concentrations of heavy metals, including up to 20 g Fe/l, 80 mg Zn/l, 117 mg Cu/l, and 39 mg Ni/l at the most acidic sampling points. Phylogenetic analysis of 18S rDNA genes revealed a diversity of sequences related to several taxa, including members of the Bacillariophyta, Chlorophyta, Rhodophyta, and Euglenophyta phyla as well as ciliates, amoebae, and stramenopiles. The closest relatives to some of the sequences detected came from acidophilic organisms, even when the samples were collected at circumneutral water locations. Electron microscopy showed that most of the microecosystems analyzed were organized as phototrophic microbial mats in which filamentous cyanobacteria usually appeared as a major component. Deposits of amorphous minerals rich in silica, iron, and aluminium around the filaments were frequently detected. [Int Microbiol 2010; 13(1):21-32]

Biografies de l'autor/a

Ángeles Aguilera, Center of Astrobiology, National Institute for Aerospace Technology-CSIC, Torrejon de Ardoz, Spain

Center of Astrobiology, National Institute for Aerospace Technology-CSIC, Torrejon de Ardoz, Spain

Virginia Souza-Egipsy, Center of Astrobiology, National Institute for Aerospace Technology-CSIC, Torrejon de Ardoz, Spain

Center of Astrobiology, National Institute for Aerospace Technology-CSIC, Torrejon de Ardoz, Spain

Elena González-Toril, Center of Astrobiology, National Institute for Aerospace Technology-CSIC, Torrejon de Ardoz, Spain

Center of Astrobiology, National Institute for Aerospace Technology-CSIC, Torrejon de Ardoz, Spain

Olaya Rendueles, Center of Astrobiology, National Institute for Aerospace Technology-CSIC, Torrejon de Ardoz, Spain

Center of Astrobiology, National Institute for Aerospace Technology-CSIC, Torrejon de Ardoz, Spain

Ricardo Amils, Center of Astrobiology, National Institute for Aerospace Technology-CSIC, Torrejon de Ardoz, Spain Center of Molecular Biology (UAM-CSIC), Autonomous University of Madrid, Cantoblanco, Spain

Center of Astrobiology, National Institute for Aerospace Technology-CSIC, Torrejon de Ardoz, Spain
Center of Molecular Biology (UAM-CSIC), Autonomous University of Madrid, Cantoblanco, Spain

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Publicat

2010-07-28

Número

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Articles