The Sphagnum microbiome supports bog ecosystem functioning under extreme conditions.

Anastasia Bragina, Lisa Oberauner-Wappis, Christin Zachow, Bettina Halwachs, Gerhard Thallinger, Henry Müller, Gabriele Berg

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Sphagnum‐dominated bogs represent a unique yet widely distributed type of terrestrial ecosystem and strongly contribute to global biosphere functioning. Sphagnum is colonized by highly diverse microbial communities, but less is known about their function. We identified a high functional diversity within the Sphagnum microbiome applying an Illumina‐based metagenomic approach followed by de novo assembly and MG‐RAST annotation. An interenvironmental comparison revealed that the Sphagnum microbiome harbours specific genetic features that distinguish it significantly from microbiomes of higher plants and peat soils. The differential traits especially support ecosystem functioning by a symbiotic lifestyle under poikilohydric and ombrotrophic conditions. To realise a plasticity–stability balance, we found abundant subsystems responsible to cope with oxidative and drought stresses, to exchange (mobile …
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)4489-4851
JournalMolecular Ecology
Volume23
Issue number18
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2014

Fields of Expertise

  • Human- & Biotechnology

Treatment code (Nähere Zuordnung)

  • Basic - Fundamental (Grundlagenforschung)
  • Theoretical

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