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Pyrosequencing-Based Assessment of the Microbial Community Structure of Pastoruri Glacier Area (Huascarán National Park, Perú), a Natural Extreme Acidic Environment

  • Environmental Microbiology
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Abstract

The exposure of fresh sulfide-rich lithologies by the retracement of the Nevado Pastoruri glacier (Central Andes, Perú) is increasing the presence of heavy metals in the water as well as decreasing the pH, producing an acid rock drainage (ARD) process in the area. We describe the microbial communities of an extreme ARD site in Huascarán National Park as well as their correlation with the water physicochemistry. Microbial biodiversity was analyzed by FLX 454 sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene. The suggested geomicrobiological model of the area distinguishes three different zones. The proglacial zone is located in the upper part of the valley, where the ARD process is not evident yet. Most of the OTUs detected in this area were related to sequences associated with cold environments (i.e., psychrotolerant species of Cyanobacteria or Bacteroidetes). After the proglacial area, an ARD-influenced zone appeared, characterized by the presence of phylotypes related to acidophiles (Acidiphilium) as well as other species related to acidic and cold environments (i.e., acidophilic species of Chloroflexi, Clostridium and Verrumicrobia). Sulfur- and iron-oxidizing acidophilic bacteria (Acidithiobacillus) were also identified. The post-ARD area was characterized by the presence of OTUs related to microorganisms detected in soils, permafrost, high mountain environments, and deglaciation areas (Sphingomonadales, Caulobacter or Comamonadaceae).

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the staff from Huaraz National Park for the sampling permits and support during the field trip. MB was supported by a FINCyT-Science and Technology Program Grant 117-2009-FINCyT-BDE, Presidency of the Council of Ministers of Peru. The authors wish to thank also Mª Paz Martín Redondo (Centro de Astrobiología) for the TXRF and ICP-MS analysis. The work has been supported by the Spanish Science and Innovation Grant CGL2011-22540.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centro de Astrobiología (INTA-CSIC), Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial, Carretera de Ajalvir km 4, Torrejón de Ardoz, 28850, Madrid, Spain

    Elena González-Toril, Yolanda Blanco, Manuel J. Gómez & Ángeles Aguilera

  2. Instituto Geológico y Minero de España, Rios Rosas 23, 28003, Madrid, Spain

    Esther Santofimia & Enrique López-Pamo

  3. Departamento Académico de Ciencias Ambientales. Facultad de Recursos Naturales Renovables, Universidad Nacional Agraria de la Selva, Avenida Universitaria S/N. Tingo María, Huánuco, Perú

    Miguel Bobadilla

  4. Facultad de Ciencias Ambientales, Universidad Nacional Santiago Antúnez de Mayolo, Avenida Centenario N 200, Huaraz, Ancash, Perú

    Rolando Cruz & Edwin Julio Palomino

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  1. Elena González-Toril
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  2. Esther Santofimia
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  9. Ángeles Aguilera
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Correspondence to Ángeles Aguilera.

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González-Toril, E., Santofimia, E., Blanco, Y. et al. Pyrosequencing-Based Assessment of the Microbial Community Structure of Pastoruri Glacier Area (Huascarán National Park, Perú), a Natural Extreme Acidic Environment. Microb Ecol 70, 936–947 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00248-015-0634-3

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