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Variations in sand physiochemical properties and bacterial communities along an altitude gradient in the Taklimakan Desert
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  • Juan Li,
  • Yang Liu,
  • Guangxiu Liu,
  • shiweng Li,
  • Binglin Zhang,
  • minghui Wu,
  • xue Yu,
  • Wei Zhang,
  • Asaf khan,
  • Tuo Chen,
  • Gaoseng Zhang
Juan Li

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Yang Liu
Chinese Academy Sciences
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Guangxiu Liu
Cold and Arid Regions Environmental and Engineering Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences
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shiweng Li
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Binglin Zhang
Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy Sciences
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minghui Wu
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Gaoseng Zhang
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Abstract

The Taklimakan Desert is the largest desert in China and the second-largest mobile desert in the world. It is characterized by an increasing altitude gradient from north to south. In this study, a total of 48 sand samples were collected in the Taklimakan Desert, and variations in physicochemical parameters and bacterial communities in the samples and the correlation between them were explored. The bacterial community was characterized using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The obtained taxonomic data revealed significant differences in the relative abundance of bacterial communities and populations among the samples. The predominant phyla were Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, and Bacteroidetes. The abundance of Actinobacteria increased gradually while that of Firmicutes decreased gradually with the increase in altitude. At the genus level, the abundance of Bacillus showed a gradual decrease while that of unclassified Micrococcaceae showed a gradual increase. Altitude and pH were the primary factors that shaped the bacterial communities in the desert. Besides, Ca2+ and P were also significantly correlated with the abundance of bacterial communities. The indicator taxa were significant differences in the surface and the subsurface samples.
27 Aug 2020Submitted to MicrobiologyOpen
31 Aug 2020Submission Checks Completed
31 Aug 2020Assigned to Editor
04 Sep 2020Reviewer(s) Assigned
13 Sep 2020Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
25 Sep 2020Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
03 Nov 20201st Revision Received
03 Nov 2020Submission Checks Completed
03 Nov 2020Assigned to Editor
03 Nov 2020Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
03 Nov 2020Reviewer(s) Assigned