Composition and Ecological Roles of the Core Microbiome along the Abyssal-Hadal Transition Zone Sediments of the Mariana Trench
Hongmei Jing, Xiang Xiao, Yue Zhang, Zhiyong Li, Huahua Jian, Yingfeng Luo, Zhuang Han
Abstract
The Mariana Trench is the deepest oceanic region on earth, its microbial ecological exploration has become feasible with the rapid progress of submersible and metagenomic sequencing. We investigated the community compositions and metabolic functions of the core microbiome along the abyssal-hadal transition zone of the Mariana Trench, although most studies by far were focused on the pelagic zone. We found a predominance of heterotrophic groups and related metabolic pathways, which were closely associated with nitrogen biogeochemical cycles driven by various nitrifying groups with the capability of dark carbon fixation.
Topics & Concepts
Abyssal zoneTrenchEcologyOceanographyAbyssal plainBiologyEnvironmental scienceGeologyGeographyPaleontologyChemistrySedimentLayer (electronics)Organic chemistryMethane Hydrates and Related PhenomenaMicrobial Community Ecology and PhysiologyHydrocarbon exploration and reservoir analysis