Sphingomonas clade and functional distribution with simulated climate change

Sorouri, Bahareh; Scales, Nicholas C.; Gaut, Brandon S.; Allison, Steven D.

doi:10.1128/spectrum.00236-24

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Sphingomonas clade and functional distribution with simulated climate change

Sorouri, Bahareh·Scales, Nicholas C.·Gaut, Brandon S.·Allison, Steven D.

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Abstract

Microbes are essential for the functioning of all ecosystems, and as global warming and anthropogenic pollution threaten ecosystems, it is critical to understand how microbes respond to these changes. We investigated the climate response of Sphingomonas, a widespread gram-negative bacterial genus, during an 18-month microbial community reciprocal transplant experiment across a Southern California climate gradient. We hypothesized that after 18 months, the transplanted Sphingomonas clade and functional composition would correspond with site conditions and reflect the Sphingomonas composition of native communities. We extracted Sphingomonas sequences from metagenomic data across the gradient and assessed their clade and functional composition. Representatives of at least 12 major Sphingomonas clades were found at varying relative abundances along the climate gradient, and transplanted Sphingomonas clade composition shifted after 18 months. Site had a significant effect (PERMANOVA; P < 0.001) on the distribution of both Sphingomonas functional (R 2 = 0.465) and clade composition (R 2 = 0.400), suggesting that Sphingomonas composition depends on climate parameters. Additionally, for both Sphingomonas clade and functional composition, ordinations revealed that the transplanted communities shifted closer to the native Sphingomonas composition of the grassland site compared with the site they were transplanted into. Overall, our results indicate that climate and substrate collectively determine Sphingomonas clade and functional composition.

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59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES Microbiology Sphingomonas climate gradient metagenomics phylogenetics traits

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Sorouri, Bahareh, Scales, Nicholas C., Gaut, Brandon S., Allison, Steven D.. 2024-04-04. Sphingomonas clade and functional distribution with simulated climate change. https://doi.org/10.1128/spectrum.00236-24

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