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High 16S rDNA bacterial diversity in glacial meltwater lake sediment, Bratina Island, Antarctica

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Abstract

The microbial diversity in maritime meltwater pond sediments from Bratina Island, Ross Sea, Antarctica was investigated by 16S rDNA-dependent molecular phylogeny. Investigations of the vertical distribution, phylogenetic composition, and spatial variability of Bacteria and Archaea in the sediment were carried out. Results revealed the presence of a highly diverse bacterial population and a significantly depth-related composition. Assessment of 173 partial 16S rDNA clones analyzed by amplified rDNA restriction analysis (ARDRA) using tetrameric restriction enzymes (HinP1I 5′G∇CGC3′and Msp I. 5′C∇CGG3′, BioLabs) revealed 153 different bacterial OTUs (operational taxonomic units). However, only seven archaeal OTUs were detected, indicating low archaeal diversity. Based on ARDRA results, 30 bacterial clones were selected for sequencing and the sequenced clones fell into seven major lineages of the domain Bacteria; the α, γ, and δ subdivisions of Proteobacteria, the Cytophaga–Flavobacterium–Bacteroides, the Spirochaetaceae, and the Actinobacteria. All of the archaeal clones sequenced belonged to the group Crenarchaeota and phylogenetic analysis revealed close relationships with members of the deep-branching Group 1 Marine Archaea.

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Acknowledgments

This research was carried out under the auspices of the University of Waikato Antarctic Terrestrial Biology Research program. We gratefully acknowledge financial support from the University of Waikato and Antarctica New Zealand (D.A.C.), the Carl Tryggers Foundation (S.S.) and the Wenner-Gren foundations (S.S.). We thank Dr. M. Thomas for providing useful information on phylogenetic analysis.

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Author notes

  1. Sara Sjöling

    Present address: Section for Natural Sciences, Södertörns Högskola, 141 89, Huddinge, Sweden

  2. Don A. Cowan

    Present address: Department of Biotechnology, University of the Western Cape, 7535, Bellville, Cape Town, South Africa

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University College London, Gower St., London, WC1E 6BT, UK

    Sara Sjöling & Don A. Cowan

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  1. Sara Sjöling
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  2. Don A. Cowan
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Correspondence to Sara Sjöling.

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Communicated by K. Horikoshi

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Sjöling, S., Cowan, D.A. High 16S rDNA bacterial diversity in glacial meltwater lake sediment, Bratina Island, Antarctica. Extremophiles 7, 275–282 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00792-003-0321-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00792-003-0321-z

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