This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Reprints and Permissions Copyright Information Books from ASM Press MicrobeWorld Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Neufeld, J. D. Articles by Mohn, W. W. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Neufeld, J. D. Articles by Mohn, W. W. Agricola Articles by Neufeld, J. D. Articles by Mohn, W. W.

Unexpectedly High Bacterial Diversity in Arctic Tundra Relative to Boreal Forest Soils, Revealed by Serial Analysis of Ribosomal Sequence Tags

Josh D. Neufeld and William W. Mohn^*

Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, 300-6174 University Boulevard, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada

Received 14 December 2004/ Accepted 5 May 2005

Arctic tundra and boreal forest soils have globally relevant functions that affect atmospheric chemistry and climate, yet the bacterial composition and diversity of these soils have received little study. Serial analysis of ribosomal sequence tags (SARST) and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) were used to compare composite soil samples taken from boreal and arctic biomes. This study comprises an extensive comparison of geographically distant soil bacterial communities, involving the analysis of 12,850 ribosomal sequence tags from six composite soil samples. Bacterial diversity estimates were greater for undisturbed arctic tundra soil samples than for boreal forest soil samples, with the highest diversity associated with a sample from an extreme northern location (82^oN). The lowest diversity estimate was obtained from an arctic soil sample that was disturbed by compaction and sampled from a greater depth. Since samples from the two biomes did not form distinct clusters on the basis of SARST data and DGGE fingerprints, factors other than latitude likely influenced the phylogenetic compositions of these communities. The high number of ribosomal sequences analyzed enabled the identification of possible cosmopolitan and endemic bacterial distributions in particular soils.

Present address: Department of Biological Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, United Kingdom.

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Blackwood, C. B., Hudleston, D., Zak, D. R., Buyer, J. S. (2007). Interpreting Ecological Diversity Indices Applied to Terminal Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism Data: Insights from Simulated Microbial Communities. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 73: 5276-5283 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Ashby, M. N., Rine, J., Mongodin, E. F., Nelson, K. E., Dimster-Denk, D. (2007). Serial Analysis of rRNA Genes and the Unexpected Dominance of Rare Members of Microbial Communities. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 73: 4532-4542 [Abstract] [Full Text]