Environmental gradients and conservation status determine the structure
and carbon-related metabolic potential of the prokaryotic communities of
Mediterranean inland saline shallow lakes
- Javier Miralles-Lorenzo,
- Antonio Picazo,
- Carlos Rochera,
- Daniel Morant,
- Emilio Casamayor,
- Mateu Menendez-Serra,
- Antonio Camacho
Javier Miralles-Lorenzo
Universitat de Valencia Institut Cavanilles de Biodiversitat i Biologia Evolutiva
Author ProfileAntonio Picazo
Universitat de Valencia Institut Cavanilles de Biodiversitat i Biologia Evolutiva
Author ProfileCarlos Rochera
Universitat de Valencia Institut Cavanilles de Biodiversitat i Biologia Evolutiva
Author ProfileDaniel Morant
Universitat de Valencia Institut Cavanilles de Biodiversitat i Biologia Evolutiva
Author ProfileAbstract
Mediterranean inland saline lakes may play an important role in the
carbon cycle due to the metabolic capacities of their prokaryotic
communities. However, these lakes are not homogeneous and have different
environmental characteristics. In this work, the structure and function
of the prokaryotic communities inhabiting water and sediments of 15
Mediterranean inland saline shallow lakes have been studied. These lakes
are grouped in categories according to their salinity, conservation
statuses and alterations, which determine the structuration of the
prokaryotic communities and their carbon-related metabolisms. Each
salinity category and conservation status showed characteristic
prokaryotic taxa. Relative abundance of methanogenic archaea tended to
increase along the salinity gradient, but this did not result into
increased methane emissions. The relationship between metabolic rates
and the predicted abundance of their marker genes depended on the type
of metabolism. Archaea played a relevant role in the organisation of
interactions between community members and were markers of good
conservation status. Water communities were shaped by the salinity
gradient, conservation status and seasonality, while sediment
communities were mostly determined by the salinity gradient. This work
highlights the importance of combining molecular studies with in situ
metabolic measurements to better understand carbon fluxes in inland
saline aquatic ecosystems.20 Sep 2024Submitted to Ecology and Evolution 21 Sep 2024Submission Checks Completed
21 Sep 2024Assigned to Editor
26 Sep 2024Reviewer(s) Assigned