Microbial iron acquisition is influenced by spatial and temporal conditions in a glacial influenced river and estuary system

Abstract

In Arctic regions, glaciers are major sources of iron to rivers and streams; however, estuaries are considered iron sinks due to the coagulation and flocculation processes that occur at higher salinities. It is unknown how iron dynamics in a glacial influenced river and estuary environment affect microbial mechanisms for iron acquisition. Microbial taxonomic and functional sequencing was performed on samples taken throughout the year from the Kenai River and the estuary, Alaska. Despite distinct iron, sodium, and other nutrient concentrations, the river and estuary did not have statistically different microbial communities nor was time of sampling significant. However, ferrous iron transport (Feo) system genes were more abundant in river environments, while siderophore genes were more abundant and diverse in estuary environments. Siderophore transport and iron storage genes were found in all samples, but gene abundance and distribution were potentially influenced by physical drivers such as discharge rates and nutrient distributions. Differences in iron metabolism between river and estuary ecosystems indicate environmental conditions drive microbial mechanisms to sequester iron. This could have implications for iron transport as the Arctic continues to warm.