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Analysis of the microbial community and geochemistry of a sediment core from Great Slave Lake, Canada

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Abstract

Sediment cores taken from Great Slave Lake, Canada, were analysed to investigate their metabolically active microbial populations and geochemistry. The amplification of cDNA detected metabolically active bacterial (50 separate bands) and archaeal (49 separate band) communities. The bacterial communities were further resolved indicating active actinobacterial and γ-proteobacterial communities (36 and 43 individual bands respectively). Redundancy discriminate analysis and Monte Carlo permutation testing demonstrated the significant impact of geochemical parameters on microbial community structures. Geochemical analyses suggest that the upper 0.4 m represents soil weathering and erosion in the lake catchment. An increase in organic carbon in the lower core suggests either more primary productivity, indicating warmer climate conditions, associated with Holocene Climatic Optimum conditions pre 5,000 years BP or change from a reducing environment in the lower core to an oxidizing environment during more recent deposition. Drivers for bacterial, archaeal and actinobacterial community structures were sediment particle size, and its mineral composition. Depth also significantly affected γ- proteobacterial community structure. In contrast the organic carbon content did not significantly shape the microbial community structures within the sediment. This study indicates that geochemical parameters significantly contribute to microbial community structure in these sediments.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Applied Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE1 8ST, UK

    Jesmine Lim, John Woodward & Stephen P. Cummings

  2. Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064, USA

    Slawek Tulaczyk

  3. Scott Polar Research Institute, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge, CB2 1ER, UK

    Poul Christoffersen

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  1. Jesmine Lim
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  2. John Woodward
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  3. Slawek Tulaczyk
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  4. Poul Christoffersen
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  5. Stephen P. Cummings
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Correspondence to Stephen P. Cummings.

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Lim, J., Woodward, J., Tulaczyk, S. et al. Analysis of the microbial community and geochemistry of a sediment core from Great Slave Lake, Canada. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek 99, 423–430 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10482-010-9500-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10482-010-9500-y

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