Scholarly Work - Land Resources & Environmental Sciences
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://scholarworks.montana.edu/handle/1/8680
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Item Marsarchaeota are an aerobic archaeal lineage abundant in geothermal iron oxide microbial mats(2018-05) Jay, Zackary J.; Beam, Jacob P.; Dlakic, Mensur; Rusch, Douglas B.; Kozubal, Mark A.; Inskeep, William P.The discovery of archaeal lineages is critical to our understanding of the universal tree of life and evolutionary history of the Earth. Geochemically diverse thermal environments in Yellowstone National Park provide unprecedented opportunities for studying archaea in habitats that may represent analogues of early Earth. Here, we report the discovery and characterization of a phylum-level archaeal lineage proposed and herein referred to as the \'Marsarchaeota\', after the red planet. The Marsarchaeota contains at least two major subgroups prevalent in acidic, microaerobic geothermal Fe(III) oxide microbial mats across a temperature range from similar to 50-80 degrees C. Metagenomics, single-cell sequencing, enrichment culturing and in situ transcriptional analyses reveal their biogeochemical role as facultative aerobic chemoorganotrophs that may also mediate the reduction of Fe(III). Phylogenomic analyses of replicate assemblies corresponding to two groups of Marsarchaeota indicate that they branch between the Crenarchaeota and all other major archaeal lineages. Transcriptomic analyses of several Fe(III) oxide mat communities reveal that these organisms were actively transcribing two different terminal oxidase complexes in situ and genes comprising an F-420-dependent butanal catabolism. The broad distribution of Marsarchaeota in geothermal, microaerobic Fe(III) oxide mats suggests that similar habitat types probably played an important role in the evolution of archaea.Item Phosphate starvation response controls genes required to synthesize the phosphate analog arsenate(2018-05) Wang, Qian; Kang, Yoon-Suk; Alowaifeer, Abdullah; Shi, Kaixiang; Fan, Xia; Wang, Lu; Jetter, Jonathan; Bothner, Brian; Wang, Gejiao; McDermott, Timothy R.Environmental arsenic poisoning affects roughly 200 million people worldwide. The toxicity and mobility of arsenic in the environment is significantly influenced by microbial redox reactions, with arsenite (AsIII ) being more toxic than arsenate (AsV ). Microbial oxidation of AsIII to AsV is known to be regulated by the AioXSR signal transduction system and viewed to function for detoxification or energy generation. Here, we show that AsIII oxidation is ultimately regulated by the phosphate starvation response (PSR), requiring the sensor kinase PhoR for expression of the AsIII oxidase structural genes aioBA. The PhoRB and AioSR signal transduction systems are capable of transphosphorylation cross-talk, closely integrating AsIII oxidation with the PSR. Further, under PSR conditions, AsV significantly extends bacterial growth and accumulates in the lipid fraction to the apparent exclusion of phosphorus. This could spare phosphorus for nucleic acid synthesis or triphosphate metabolism wherein unstable arsenic esters are not tolerated, thereby enhancing cell survival potential. We conclude that AsIII oxidation is logically part of the bacterial PSR, enabling the synthesis of the phosphate analog AsV to replace phosphorus in specific biomolecules or to synthesize other molecules capable of a similar function, although not for total replacement of cellular phosphate.Item A large-scale multiomics analysis of wheat stem solidness and the wheat stem sawfly feeding response, and syntenic associations in barley, Brachypodium, and rice(2018-02) Biyiklioglu, Sezgi; Alptekin, Burcu; Akpinar, B. Ani; Varella, Andrea C.; Hofland, Megan L.; Weaver, David K.; Bothner, Brian; Budak, HikmetThe wheat stem sawfly (WSS), Cephus cinctus Norton (Hymenoptera: Cephidae), is an important pest of wheat and other cereals, threatening the quality and quantity of grain production. WSS larvae feed and develop inside the stem where they are protected from the external environment; therefore, pest management strategies primarily rely on host plant resistance. A major locus on the long arm of wheat chromosome 3B underlies most of the variation in stem solidness; however, the impact of stem solidness on WSS feeding has not been completely characterized. Here, we used a multiomics approach to examine the response to WSS in both solid- and semi-solid-stemmed wheat varieties. The combined transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomic data revealed that two important molecular pathways, phenylpropanoid and phosphate pentose, are involved in plant defense against WSS. We also detected a general downregulation of several key defense transcripts, including those encoding secondary metabolites such as DIMBOA, tricetin, and lignin, which suggested that the WSS larva might interfere with plant defense. We comparatively analyzed the stem solidness genomic region known to be associated with WSS tolerance in wild emmer, durum, and bread wheats, and described syntenic regions in the close relatives barley, Brachypodium, and rice. Additionally, microRNAs identified from the same genomic region revealed potential regulatory pathways associated with the WSS response. We propose a model outlining the molecular responses of the WSS-wheat interactions. These findings provide insight into the link between stem solidness and WSS feeding at the molecular level.Item Semiochemicals to enhance herbivory by Diorhabda carinulata aggregations in saltcedar (Tamarix spp.) infestations(2018-01) Gaffke, Alexander M.; Sing, Sharlene E.; Dudley, Tom L.; Bean, Daniel W.; Russak, Justin A.; Mafra-Nato, Agenor; Grieco, Paul A.; Peterson, Robert K. D.; Weaver, David K.BACKGROUND: Semiochemicals for monitoring, attracting or repelling pest and beneficial organisms are increasingly deployed in agricultural and forest systems for pest management activities. However, the use of aggregation pheromones and host plant attractants for the express purpose of increasing the efficacy of classical biological control agents of weeds has not been widely reported. Therefore, we conducted field-based assays to determine if a specialized wax based matrix impregnated with an aggregation pheromone of the northern tamarisk beetle Diorhabda carinulata (Desbrochers) or host plant volatiles could increase the efficacy of D. carinulata. RESULTS: The aggregation pheromone and host plant volatiles were formulated for field application using a wax based matrix. Reported release rates suggest this matrix is a viable formulation for enhancing D. carinulata aggregations under field conditions. Pheromone-treated saltcedar plants (Tamarix spp.) not only had higher densities of adult and larval D. carinulata, but also sustained greater levels of foliar damage than control plants. Increased damage from the focused feeding of D. carinulata caused an increase in foliar dieback and decrease in live canopy volume of semiochemical-treated plants. CONCLUSION: Field deployment of these semiochemical formulations could be useful in directing populations of D. carinulata for increased impact on Tamarix spp.Item Diversity and Distribution of Freshwater Aerobic Anoxygenic Phototrophic Bacteria across a Wide Latitudinal Gradient(2017-03) Ferrera, Isabel; Sarmento, Hugo; Priscu, John C.; Chiuchiolo, Amy L.; González, José M.; Grossart, Hans-PeterAerobic anoxygenic phototrophs (AAPs) have been shown to exist in numerous marine and brackish environments where they are hypothesized to play important ecological roles. Despite their potential significance, the study of freshwater AAPs is in its infancy and limited to local investigations. Here, we explore the occurrence, diversity and distribution of AAPs in lakes covering a wide latitudinal gradient: Mongolian and German lakes located in temperate regions of Eurasia, tropical Great East African lakes, and polar permanently ice-covered Antarctic lakes. Our results show a widespread distribution of AAPs in lakes with contrasting environmental conditions and confirm that this group is composed of different members of the Alpha- and Betaproteobacteria. While latitude does not seem to strongly influence AAP abundance, clear patterns of community structure and composition along geographic regions were observed as indicated by a strong macro-geographical signal in the taxonomical composition of AAPs. Overall, our results suggest that the distribution patterns of freshwater AAPs are likely driven by a combination of small-scale environmental conditions (specific of each lake and region) and large-scale geographic factors (climatic regions across a latitudinal gradient).Item When a habitat freezes solid: Microorganisms over-winter within the ice column of a coastal Antarctic lake(2011-03) Foreman, Christine M.; Dieser, Markus; Greenwood, Mark C.; Cory, R. M.; Laybourn-Parry, Johanna; Lisle, John T.; Jaros, C.; Miller, P. L.; Chin, Yu-Ping; McKnight, Diane M.A major impediment to understanding the biology of microorganisms inhabiting Antarctic environments is the logistical constraint of conducting field work primarily during the summer season. However, organisms that persist throughout the year encounter severe environmental changes between seasons. In an attempt to bridge this gap, we collected ice core samples from Pony Lake in early November 2004 when the lake was frozen solid to its base, providing an archive for the biological and chemical processes that occurred during winter freezeup. The ice contained bacteria and virus-like particles, while flagellated algae and ciliates over-wintered in the form of inactive cysts and spores. Both bacteria and algae were metabolically active in the ice core melt water. Bacterial production ranged from 1.8 to 37.9 μg C L−1 day−1. Upon encountering favorable growth conditions in the melt water, primary production ranged from 51 to 931 μg C L−1 day−1. Because of the strong H2S odor and the presence of closely related anaerobic organisms assigned to Pony Lake bacterial 16S rRNA gene clones, we hypothesize that the microbial assemblage was strongly affected by oxygen gradients, which ultimately restricted the majority of phylotypes to distinct strata within the ice column. This study provides evidence that the microbial community over-winters in the ice column of Pony Lake and returns to a highly active metabolic state when spring melt is initiated.