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Title: Depth-discrete metagenomics reveals the roles of microbes in biogeochemical cycling in the tropical freshwater Lake Tanganyika

Journal Article · · The ISME Journal
ORCiD logo [1];  [2];  [3]; ORCiD logo [4];  [5]; ORCiD logo [6];  [7];  [8]; ORCiD logo [2]
  1. Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison, WI (United States). Dept. of Bacteriology; Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison, WI (United States). Dept. of Integrative Biology
  2. Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison, WI (United States). Dept. of Bacteriology
  3. Cornell Univ., Ithaca, NY (United States). Dept. of Natural Resources and the Environment
  4. Leibniz Inst. for Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, Berlin (Germany). Dept. of Ecosystem Research
  5. Wright Stat Univ., Dayton, OH (United States). Dept. of Biological Sciences
  6. Tanzania Fisheries Research Institute (TAFIRI), Dar es Salaam (Tanzania)
  7. Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries, Dodoma (Tanzania)
  8. Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison, WI (United States). Dept. of Bacteriology; Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison, WI (United States). Dept. of Civil and Encironmental Engineering

Lake Tanganyika (LT) is the largest tropical freshwater lake, and the largest body of anoxic freshwater on Earth’s surface. LT’s mixed oxygenated surface waters float atop a permanently anoxic layer and host rich animal biodiversity. However, little is known about microorganisms inhabiting LT’s 1470 meter deep water column and their contributions to nutrient cycling, which affect ecosystem-level function and productivity. Here, we applied genome-resolved metagenomics and environmental analyses to link specific taxa to key biogeochemical processes across a vertical depth gradient in LT. We reconstructed 523 unique metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) from 34 bacterial and archaeal phyla, including many rarely observed in freshwater lakes. We identified sharp contrasts in community composition and metabolic potential with an abundance of typical freshwater taxa in oxygenated mixed upper layers, and Archaea and uncultured Candidate Phyla in deep anoxic waters. Genomic capacity for nitrogen and sulfur cycling was abundant in MAGs recovered from anoxic waters, highlighting microbial contributions to the productive surface layers via recycling of upwelled nutrients, and greenhouse gases such as nitrous oxide. Overall, our study provides a blueprint for incorporation of aquatic microbial genomics in the representation of tropical freshwater lakes, especially in the context of ongoing climate change, which is predicted to bring increased stratification and anoxia to freshwater lakes.

Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER). Biological Systems Science Division; National Science Foundation (NSF)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC02-05CH11231; DEB-1030242; DEB-0842253; DEB-1344254
OSTI ID:
1816169
Journal Information:
The ISME Journal, Vol. 15, Issue 7; ISSN 1751-7362
Publisher:
Nature Publishing GroupCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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