Abstract
Bacterial communities play an important role in the biogeochemical cycle in reservoir ecosystems. However, the dynamic changes in both planktonic and sediment bacterial communities in a highly regulated dam reservoir remain unclear. This study investigated the temporal distribution patterns of bacterial communities in a transition section of the Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR) using Illumina MiSeq sequencing. Results suggested that in comparison to the planktonic bacteria, sediment bacteria contributed more to the reservoir microbial communities, accounting for 97% of the 7434 OTUs. The Shannon diversity index in the water (3.22~5.68) was generally lower than that in the sediment (6.72~7.56). In the high water level period (January and March), Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Cyanobacteria, and Firmicutes were the most abundant phyla, whereas in the low water level period (May, July, and September), the dominant phyla were Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Bacteroidetes. Sediment samples were dominated by Proteobacteria, Chloroflexi, and Acidobacteria. Principal coordinate analysis of the bacterioplankton communities showed greater sensitivity to monthly changes than that of the sediment bacterial communities. Network analysis suggested that in comparison to planktonic bacterial communities, sediment bacterial communities were more complex and stable. The linear relationship between the CH4/CO2 ratio, water level, and relative abundance of methanotrophs highlighted the potential methane-oxidizing process in the mid-part of the TGR. Moreover, the potential impact of dam regulation on the bacterial communities was revealed by the significant relationship between abundant phyla and the inflow of the TGR.
Key points
• Bacterioplankton communities showed great sensitivity to monthly changes.
• Potential methane-oxidizing process was revealed in this representative area.
• Water inflow regulated by dam has significant effects on dominant bacterioplankton.
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Acknowledgments
The authors thank Ziwei Wang, Yuyang Zhang, and Zhengmian Liu who participated in field sampling.
Funding
This study was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (no. 51861125204 and 91647208) and National Key Research and Development Plan of China (grant number 2017YFC0404705). The Chongqing Bureau of Science and Technology also provided partial financial support of the study through the following research projects: project no. cstc2020jscx-msxmX0121, and no. cstc2020jcyj-jqX0010.
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YQ and QT investigated, studied, and wrote the original manuscript. LL provided the frame, the research goal of article, and supervised this work. YW revised the manuscript and supervised this work. II revised the manuscript. ZL was responsible for proofreading and reviewed article. All authors read and approved the manuscript.
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Qin, Y., Tang, Q., Lu, L. et al. Changes in planktonic and sediment bacterial communities under the highly regulated dam in the mid-part of the Three Gorges Reservoir. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 105, 839–852 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-020-11047-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-020-11047-3