Diversity and seasonal distribution of ammonia-oxidizing archaea in the water column of a tropical estuary along the southeast Arabian Sea
- Resource Type
- Authors
- Balakrishnan Meenakshikutty Adarsh; Mohamed Hatha Abdulla; Shanta Nair; P.V. Vipindas; Anas Abdulaziz; C. Jasmin; Tharakan Balu; Thekkendavida Velloth Rehitha; T. Jabir
- Source
- World journal of microbiologybiotechnology. 34(12)
- Subject
- 0301 basic medicine
DNA, Bacterial
Geologic Sediments
Thaumarchaeota
Library
Physiology
030106 microbiology
Nitrosopumilus
India
Environment
Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology
Genes, Archaeal
03 medical and health sciences
Water column
Ammonia
RNA, Ribosomal, 16S
Seawater
Phylogeny
geography
Tropical Climate
geography.geographical_feature_category
biology
Bacteria
Ecology
Estuary
General Medicine
Biodiversity
Sequence Analysis, DNA
biology.organism_classification
Archaea
Salinity
DNA, Archaeal
Seasons
Estuaries
human activities
Temperature gradient gel electrophoresis
Biotechnology
- Language
- ISSN
- 1573-0972
Diversity and distribution pattern of ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) were studied across a salinity gradient in the water column of Cochin Estuary (CE), a tropical monsoonal estuary along the southeast Arabian Sea. The water column of CE was found to be nutrient rich with high bacterial (3.7–6.7 × 108 cells L−1) and archaeal abundance (1.9–4.5 × 108 cells L−1). Diversity and seasonal variation in the distribution pattern of AOA were studied using clone library analysis and Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). Clone library analysis of both the amoA and 16S rRNA gene sequences showed similar diversity pattern, however the diversity was more clear when the 16S rRNA gene sequences were analyzed. More than 70% of the sequences retrieved were clustered under uncultured Thaumarchaeota group 1 lineage and the major fractions of the remaining sequences were grouped into the Nitrosopumilus lineage and Nitrosopelagicus lineage. The AOA community in the CE was less adaptable to changing environmental conditions and its distribution showed seasonal variations within the DGGE banding pattern with higher diversity during the pre-monsoon period. The distribution of AOA also showed its preference to intermediate salinity for their higher diversity. Summer monsoon associated runoff and flushing played a critical role in regulating the seasonality of AOA distribution.