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Co-occurrence of nitrite-dependent anaerobic methane oxidizing and anaerobic ammonia oxidizing bacteria in two Qinghai-Tibetan saline lakes

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Abstract

Nitrite-dependent anaerobic methane-oxidizing (n-damo) bacteria and anaerobic ammonia oxidizing (anammox) bacteria are two groups of microorganisms involved in global carbon and nitrogen cycling. In order to test whether the n-damo and anammox bacteria co-occur in natural saline environments, the DNA and cDNA samples obtained from the surficial sediments of two saline lakes (with salinity of 32 and 84 g/L, respectively) on the Tibetan Plateau were PCR-amplified with the use of anammox- and n-damo-specific primer sets, followed by clone library construction and phylogenetic analysis. DNA and cDNA-based clones affiliated with n-damo and anammox bacteria were successfully retrieved from the two samples, indicating that these two groups of bacteria can co-occur in natural saline environments with salinity as high as 84 g/L. Our finding has great implications for our understanding of the global carbon and nitrogen cycle in nature.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430074, China

    Jian Yang, Hongchen Jiang, Geng Wu & Hailiang Dong

  2. State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences, Beijing, 100083, China

    Weiguo Hou

  3. Qinghai Institute of Salt Lakes, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining, 810008, China

    Yongjuan Sun

  4. State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Sciences, Cold and Arid Regions Environmental and Engineering Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, 730000, China

    Jian Yang & Zhongping Lai

  5. Department of Geology and Environmental Earth Science, Miami University, Oxford, OH, 45056, USA

    Hailiang Dong

Authors
  1. Jian Yang
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  2. Hongchen Jiang
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  3. Geng Wu
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  4. Weiguo Hou
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  5. Yongjuan Sun
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  6. Zhongping Lai
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  7. Hailiang Dong
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Hongchen Jiang or Hailiang Dong.

Additional information

Jian Yang obtained his B.S. degree in biotechnology from Sichuan University of Science & Engineering (Zigong) and M.S. degree in geochemistry at Qinghai Institute of Salt Lakes, Chinese Academy of Sciences (Xining), respectively. Now he is a Ph.D. candidate in the State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences (Wuhan). His research interest focuses on geomicrobiology in Tibetan saline lakes.

Hongchen Jiang obtained his B.S. degree from Beijing Capital Normal University in 2000, M.S. degree from China University of Geosciences-Beijing in 2003, and Ph. D. degree from Miami University (Oxford, Ohio) in 2007, respectively. He worked as a Postdoctoral Research Associate in the University of Oklahoma in 2008. Now he is a Professor in the State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences-Wuhan. His expertise is in the area of geomicrobiology in extreme environments (e.g., saline lakes, hot springs, permafrost, and deep subsurface). Much of his work focuses on microbial diversity and ecological function under extreme environmental conditions (e.g., high- and low-temperature, high salinity), and microbial response to environmental change. Dr. Jiang has published more than 40 peer-reviewed research articles in his research area. He is serving on the editorial board of Frontiers in Terrestrial Microbiology (2010-present).

Geng Wu obtained his B.S. degree from Yangtze University (Jianghan Petroleum University) in 2004, M.S. degree from Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST) in 2007, and Ph.D. degree from HUST in 2011, respectively. Now Dr. Wu work as a Postdoctoral Research Associate in the State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences-Wuhan. His expertise is in the area of biogeochemistry cycle of As and Sb in extreme environments (hot spring), polluted soil and groundwater. Much of his work focuses on microbial diversity and ecological function under extreme environmental conditions (hot springs), and biogeochemistry cycle of As and Sb in the system of plant-microbe-soilgroundwater.

Weiguo Hou obtained his B.S. in Biotechnology and M.S. in microbiology from Nanjing Normal University in 2004 and 2007, and Ph.D. in geochemistry from Chinese Academy of Sciences in 2010, respectively. He is now a Postdoctoral Research Associate in geomicrobiology at China University of Geosciences-Beijing under the supervisation of Prof. Hailiang Dong. His interests include paleo-climate, bio-geochemistry, and extremphiles.

Yongjuan Sun obtained her B.S. and M.S. degree in mineralogy, petrology, mineral deposit geology from Chang’an University in 2004 and 2007, respectively. Now she is a Ph.D. candidate in Qinghai Institute of Salt Lakes, Chinese Academy of Sciences. She also is a Research Assistant in Qinghai Institute of Salt Lakes, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Her research interests include evolution of Qaidam Basin lakes, paleoanthropology, luminescence dating chronology.

Zhongping Lai obtained a B.S. degree in Geography from East China Normal University in Shanghai in 1992; a M.S. from Chinese Academy of Sciences in 1997; and a Ph.D. from Oxford University in 2005. Upon finishing his Ph.D., he was awarded an Alexander von Humboldt Fellowship in Germany. He is now a professor in State Key Laboratory of Cryosphere Sciences, Cold and Arid Regions Environmental and Engineering Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences. He has published more than 50 papers in international SCI journals. His research interests include Quaternary environmental change, luminescence dating in both application and technique development. He is now the Associate Editors of Quaternary Research and Aeolian Research, and is also the members of editorial boards of Geochronometria, International Journal of Luminescence and Applications, and Advances in Geosciences.

Hailiang Dong obtained his B.S. in Geology from China University of Geosciences-Wuhan, M.S. in Geology from China University of Geosciences-Beijing, and Ph.D. in Geology from University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. He worked as a postdoctoral research associate on bioremediation of contaminated water resources and mineral-microbe interactions from 1997–2000 in Princeton University. In August, 2000, he initiated his current faculty appointment at Miami University, where he has risen through the ranks to Professor of Geomicrobiology, Mineralogy, and Geochemistry. He also serves as an Adjunct Professor in China University of Geosciences-Wuhan (2008-present, “The Changjiang Scholars Program”) and China University. His research interests focus on the interactions between microbes and minerals, microbial diversity and functions in extreme environments, and bioremediation of nuclide-contaminations. He has published more than 120 peerreviewed papers. He is now an Associate Editor of Clays & Clay Minerals (March 2008-present) and serves on the Editorial Board of Frontiers in Terrestrial Microbiology (2010-present).

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Yang, J., Jiang, H., Wu, G. et al. Co-occurrence of nitrite-dependent anaerobic methane oxidizing and anaerobic ammonia oxidizing bacteria in two Qinghai-Tibetan saline lakes. Front. Earth Sci. 6, 383–391 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11707-012-0336-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11707-012-0336-9

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