Microbial communities and immigration in volcanic environments of Canary Islands (Spain)
2008
Portillo Guisado, María del Carmen | González Grau, Juan Miguel | Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia (España) | Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (España) | European Commission
Volcanic eruptions originated the Canary Islands (Spain), and today, different landscapes clearly show that active volcanism. The microbial communities present in these volcanic environments, both at high (above 70°C) and moderate (25–35°C) temperatures, were analyzed. Rock samples were processed using molecular techniques based on both DNA and RNA and complemented with the culture of microorganisms at a wide range of temperatures. Microorganisms detected through RNA-based molecular surveys were mostly related to mesophilic microorganisms, while representatives of hyperthermophiles were not detected. RNA decay curves at 80°C resulted in half-life estimates of less than 2 min for mesophilic microorganisms, supporting a recent and continuous arrival of microorganisms to the high temperature sampled sites. This study constitutes a unique experimental approach showing a great natural potential of microorganisms to spread out to different natural environments. The implications are of great interest for the biogeography, dispersal, and potential distribution of microorganisms, and their genetic information, in natural environments.
Show more [+] Less [-]The authors acknowledge support through the projects REN2002-00041, CGL2004-03927-C02–01/BOS, and CGL2006-26198-E, from the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science, and a CSIC intramural project 200640I197. Participation of FEDER funds in this support is acknowledged.
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