Spatio-temporal analysis of bacterial diversity in Himalayan freshwater
stream using 16s rRNA NovaSeq PE250 sequencing
Abstract
Critical zone is a heterogeneous, near surface environment, in which,
complex interactions involving rock, soil, water, air, and living
organisms, regulate the natural habitat and determine the availability
of life sustaining resources and support all ecosystems on the earth.
Rivers are the important components of the critical zone and are the
major sites for the microbial carbon and nitrogen fixation. In current
study, we have studied the spatio-temporal variation in the bacterial
diversity from four sites, in a freshwater stream viz. Pranmati,
of Himalayan Critical Zone using 16S rRNA illumina NovaSeq PE250
sequencing. Physico-chemical properties of water samples also recorded
from the four sites of the Pranmati stream. Proteobacteria,
Bacteroidetes and Cyanobacteria were the dominant phyla in the summer
water samples. In winter samples, along with Proteobacteria,
Cyanobacteria was dominant at sites two sites of the stream. The alpha
and beta diversity indices were studied and correlated with the
physico-chemical parameters of the water samples. The functional role of
the microbial community was investigated. The metagenomics analysis of
microbial communities of streams like Pranmati is important to estimate,
evaluate and record the microbial taxa before they change or are lost
due to climate change.