A metagenomic snapshot of taxonomic and functional diversity in an Alpine glacier cryoconite ecosystem: Alpine cryoconite metagenome

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

131 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Cryoconite is a microbe-mineral aggregate which darkens the ice surface of glaciers. Microbial process and marker gene PCR-dependent measurements reveal active and diverse cryoconite microbial communities on Polar glaciers. Here we provide the first report of a cryoconite metagenome and culture-independent study of Alpine cryoconite microbial diversity. We assembled 1.2 Gbp of metagenomic DNA sequenced using a Illumina HiScanSQ from cryoconite holes across the ablation zone of Rotmoosferner in the Austrian Alps. The metagenome revealed a bacterially-dominated community, with Proteobacteria (62% of bacterial-assigned contigs) and Bacteroidetes (14%) considerably more abundant than Cyanobacteria (2.5%). Streptophyte DNA dominated the eukaryotic metagenome. Functional genes linked to N, Fe, S and P cycling illustrated an acquisitive trend and a nitrogen cycle based upon efficient ammonia recycling. A comparison of 32 metagenome datasets revealed a similarity in functional profiles between the cryoconite and metagenones characterized from other cold microbe-mineral aggregates. Overall, the metagenomic snapshot reveals the cryoconite ecosystem of this Alpine glacier as dependent on scavenging carbon and nutrients from allochthonous sources, in particular mosses transported by wind from ice-marginal habitats, consistent with net heterotrophy indicated by productivity measurements. A transition from singular snapshots of cryoconite metagenomes to comparative analyses is advocated.
Original languageEnglish
Article number035003
JournalEnvironmental Research Letters
Volume8
Issue number3
Early online date03 Jul 2013
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2013

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'A metagenomic snapshot of taxonomic and functional diversity in an Alpine glacier cryoconite ecosystem: Alpine cryoconite metagenome'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this