Spatial heterogeneity of physicochemical properties explains differences in microbial composition in arid soils from Cuatro Cienegas

Spatial heterogeneity of physicochemical properties explains differences in microbial composition in arid soils from Cuatro Cienegas, Mexico

Arid ecosystems are characterized by high spatial heterogeneity, and the variation among vegetation patches is a clear example. Soil biotic and abiotic factors associated with these patches have also been well documented as highly heterogeneous in space. Given the low vegetation cover and little precipitation in arid ecosystems, soil microorganisms are the main drivers of nutrient cycling. None...

Microbial secondary succession in soil microcosms of a desert oasis in the Cuatro Cienegas Basin, Mexico

Ecological succession is one of the most important concepts in ecology. However for microbial community succession, there is a lack of a solid theoretical framework regarding succession in microorganisms. This is in part due to microbial community complexity and plasticity but also because little is known about temporal patterns of microbial community shifts in different kinds of ecosystems, in...

Spatial heterogeneity of ions concentration explains microbial diversity distribution in arid soils from Cuatrocienegas

Complete Genome Sequence of Bacillus horikoshii Strain 20a from Cuatro Cienegas, Coahuila, Mexico

We sequenced the Bacillus horikoshii 20a genome, isolated from sediment collected in Cuatro Cienegas, Mexico. We identified genes involved in establishing antagonistic interactions in microbial communities (antibiotic resistance and bacteriocins) and genes related to the metabolism of cyanophycin, a reserve compound and spore matrix material potentially relevant for survival in an oligotrophic ...

An endangered oasis of aquatic microbial biodiversity in the Chihuahuan desert.

The Cuatro Cienegas basin in the Chihuahuan desert is a system of springs, streams, and pools. These ecosystems support >70 endemic species and abundant living stromatolites and other microbial communities, representing a desert oasis of high biodiversity. Here, we combine data from molecular microbiology and geology to document the microbial biodiversity of this unique environment. Ten water s...