Objective: Crenarchaeota is a major archaeal lineage in terrestrial hot springs and important in biogeochemical cycles of life-essential elements. In this study, we investigated the diversity of Crenarchaeota in hot springs and the surrounding environments in Kamchatka, Russia. In addition, we compared crenarchaeotal community structures in Kamchatka, Russia and Yunnan province, China.
Methods: Crenarchaeal 16S rRNA gene clone libraries were constructed and the sequences and abundances of representational clone were obtained. Phylogenetic analysis was then performed and the community structures in different samples were compared.
Results: The high temperature spring Burlyashi Liza (BSL, 89 degrees C) comprised Thermoprotei. The moderate temperature spring TF Vent 2 (TFV, 49 degrees C) harbored unidentified Thermoprotei group, unidentified crenarchaeal group, HWCG-II (hot water crenarchaeotal group II), and Group1. 1b (one thaumarchaeotal subgroup). Most of sequences that obtained from surrounding environments ( <15 degrees C) are closely with the representational clone pJP from a Yellowstone hot spring. Jackknife cluster and Principal coordinates analysis (PCoA) showed that the samples have more similarity in crenarchaeal communities at similar temperatures.
Conclusion: The diversities of Crenarchaeota in Kamchatka hot springs are somewhat different from those in Yunnan province. Terrestrial hot springs obviously affect the crenarchaeotal communities in surrounding environments. Temperature is the major factor controlling the community structure in terrestrial hot springs.