Comprehensive assessment of bacterial communities and their functional profiles in the Huang Gang Creek in the Tatun Volcano Group basin, Taiwan using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing

• Published in: Ecotoxicology and environmental safety Vol. 234; p. 113375
• Main Authors: Chen, Jung-Sheng, Tsai, Hsin-Chi, Hsu, Yu-Ling, Nagarajan, Viji, Su, Hung-Yuan, Hussain, Bashir, Hsu, Bing-Mu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Inc 01.04.2022; Elsevier
• Subjects: 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing; Bacterial abundance; Biofilms; Functional prediction; Hot spring drainage; Water; Water; Biofilms; Hot spring drainage; 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing; Bacterial abundance; Functional prediction
• ISSN: 0147-6513; 1090-2414
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2022.113375

The microbial characteristics of water bodies located in the outflow of hot springs may affect the water quality parameters of the associated river ecosystem. Using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing, we investigated the bacterial diversity and functional profiles of the Huang Gang (HG) Creek, located in the trace metal-rich, acid-sulfate thermal springs zone of the Tatun Volcano Group (TVG). Biofilms and water samples were collected from the upstream, midstream, and geothermal valleys and downstream of the creek. The results showed that the biofilm and water samples had distinct bacterial diversity and abundance profiles. Acidophilic sulfur-oxidizing bacteria were found to be more abundant in water samples, whereas aquatic photosynthetic bacterial communities were dominant in biofilms. The water samples were contaminated with Legionella and Chlamydiae, which could contaminate the nearby river and cause clinical infections in humans. The upstream samples were highly unique and displayed higher diversity than the other sites. Moderate thermo-acidophiles were dominant in the upstream and midstream regions, whereas the geothermal valley and downstream samples were abundant in thermo-acidophiles. In addition, functional profiling revealed higher expression of sulfur, arsenic, and iron-related functions in water and lead-related functions in the biofilms of the creek. As described in previous studies, the hydrochemical properties of the HG Creek were influenced by the TVG hot springs. Our findings indicated that the hydrochemical properties of the HG Creek were highly correlated with the bacterial diversity and functional potential of running water as compared to biofilms. [Display omitted] •Bacterial characteristics of water were associated with hydro-chemical properties.•Proteo- and Cyano-bacteria are dominant phyla in water and biofilm, respectively.•Infectious potential Legionella and Chlamydiae genera have been found in the water.•Sulfur, arsenic, and iron functional bacteria were abundant in water than biofilms.•Acidophilic thermophiles were abundant in the geothermal valley associated samples.