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microbial diversity; 16 S rDNA; Chungara Lake; Parinacota wetland; Piacota Lake; Salar de Huasco; Salar de Ascotan; Roseobacter clade
Abstract:
The microbial diversity of five unconnected high altitude (≥ 3800 m a.s.l.) wetlands from the Chilean
Altiplano was analyzed by a culture-independent approach, using 16 S rRNA gene sequences of different microbial
groups. The wetlands (Chungara Lake, Parinacota wetland, Piacota Lake, Salar de Huasco and Salar de
Ascotan) differed in terms of habitat type and physicochemical properties. The bacterial communities of these
systems were dominated by Bacteroidetes (24–94 % of the clones) and Proteobacteria (Alpha, Beta, Gamma and
Delta subgroups) with smaller contributions by the Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, Planctomycetes, Verrucomicrobia,
Chloroflexi, Cyanobacteria, Acidobacteria, Deinococcus-Thermus and Candidate Division WS3. Fourteen phylotypes
matching Alphaproteobacteria were part of the marine Roseobacter clade, representing new clusters of
this group. Archaeal diversity was much lower than that seen for bacteria, and was dominated by Euryarchaeota;
however Crenarchaeota were also present. Considering the large differences in microbial community composition
between sites and samples, the presence of eleven phylotypes common to two or more habitats is highlighted. The
frequent presence of new taxa in different phylogenetic groups in the altiplanic wetlands studied here revealed the
unique characteristics of Bacteria and Archaea in these fragile Andean ecosystems.
