A GLOBAL SYNTHESIS OF AQUATIC DIAZOTROPH DISTRIBUTIONS AND METABOLIC DIVERSITY FROM INLAND FRESHWATERS TO THE COASTAL OCEAN
Recent research has broadened our understanding of the ecology of diverse diazotrophs, particularly in the ocean. For example, numerous studies have indicated widespread abundance and activity of heterotrophic marine diazotrophs in both the pelagic and benthic realms, and has emphasized critical roles for syntrophy and symbioses involving diazotrophs and other organisms. However, surprisingly little is known about diazotrophs in freshwater ecosystems as compared to their marine counterparts. Here, we present a meta-analysis of global diazotroph biodiversity along the inland-to-coastal continuum. First, we compiled a database of putative diazotrophs within the Genome Taxonomy DataBase (GTDB), including analysis of metabolic potential in the resulting thousands of genomes. We then screened thousands of metagenomic assemblies from streams, rivers, lakes, estuaries, and coastal oceans for nif genes, and aggregated amplicon data from dozens of projects amplifying nifH from similar environments. We confirm the importance of non-cyanobacteria diazotrophs across inland and coastal ecosystems, with a majority of diazotroph sequences in many water and sediment samples representing heterotrophic or chemotrophic microbes. We also identified ecosystem types with unique diazotrophic communities across the globe, including highly divergent communities in, for example, mangrove sediments and freshwater wetlands. This synthesis allows for an unprecedented and unique view of diazotroph ecology at local, regional, and global scales.
Primary Presenter: Julian Damashek, Hamilton College (jdamashe@hamilton.edu)
Authors:
Julian Damashek, Hamilton College (jdamashe@hamilton.edu)
Cody Sheik, University of Minnesota Duluth (cssheik@d.umn.edu)
Benjamin Kramer, University of Minnesota (bjkramer@umn.edu)
Caitlin Petro, Georgia Institute of Technology (cpetro@gatech.edu)
Stephen DeVilbiss, United States Geological Survey (sdevilbiss@usgs.gov)
Christian Reeder, Aix Marseille University, Institut Méditerranéen d'Océanologie (christianfurboreeder@oceanbridges.net)
Juan Pierella-Karlusich, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (pierella@mit.edu)
Subhadeep Chowdhury, Aix Marseille University, Institut Méditerranéen d’Océanologie (subhadeep.chowdhury@mio.osupytheas.fr)
Jane Marks, Northern Arizona University (jane.marks@nau.edu)
Patricia Valdespino-Castillo, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (pancronica@gmail.com)
Paula Furey, St. Catherine University (pcfurey@stkate.edu)
Megan Berberich, Michigan Technological University (meberber@mtu.edu)
Amy Marcarelli, Michigan Technological University (ammarcar@mtu.edu)
Thad Scott, Baylor University (thad_scott@baylor.edu)
Robinson Fulweiler, Boston University (rwf@bu.edu)
A GLOBAL SYNTHESIS OF AQUATIC DIAZOTROPH DISTRIBUTIONS AND METABOLIC DIVERSITY FROM INLAND FRESHWATERS TO THE COASTAL OCEAN
Category
Scientific Sessions > SS14 - Exploring Nitrogen Fixation Along the Freshwater-Marine Continuum; A Joint ASLO-SFS Endeavor
Description
Time: 01:15 PM
Date: 4/6/2024
Room: Lecture Hall