Factors affecting seasonal variation of microbial community structure in Hulun Lake, China

Sci Total Environ. 2022 Jan 20:805:150294. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.150294. Epub 2021 Sep 11.

Abstract

Microbial communities play an important role in water quality regulation and biogeochemical cycling in freshwater ecosystems. However, there is a lack of research on the seasonal variation in lake water microorganisms in cold environments. In this study, 16S rRNA gene high-throughput sequencing was used to explore the microbial community and its influencing factors in Hulun Lake water during different seasons. The results showed that Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Bacteroidetes were the most important phyla in the microbial community of Hulun Lake, but they had significant seasonal differences in their distribution. In addition, significant seasonal differences were observed in the α diversity of microorganisms, with bacterial diversity being higher in winter than in summer. Changes in environmental variables were significantly correlated with changes in the microbial community, and the rapid changes in temperature, pH, and dissolved oxygen are potentially the major factors influencing seasonal bacterial diversity trends. The findings of the present study enhance our understanding of the microbial communities in alpine lake ecosystems and are of great significance for the management and protection of lake ecosystems.

Keywords: Alpha diversity; Alpine lake ecosystem; Environmental factors; Freshwater lake; Gene sequencing; Seasonal variation.

MeSH terms

  • China
  • Ecosystem
  • Lakes*
  • Microbiota*
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / genetics
  • Seasons

Substances

  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S