Phylogenetic and functional diversity of the subterranean microbial communities of the Terra Ronca State Park (TRSP), São Domingos, Goiás.

Abstract

Subterranean environments are generally considered oligotrophic and have specific characteristics that determine the local flora, such as: different conditions of humidity, temperature and nature of nutritional resources. Although studies on environmental microbial diversity have been considerable advances few have investigated the terrestrial microbiota of subterranean environments, especially in tropical regions. The recent study found that the cave's microbial community in temperate region is similar to communities in oligotrophic environments such as oceans. So in extreme environments can find microbial metabolites still unknown. Considering that the microbial diversity of these environments is virtually unexplored, this project aims to make a physico-chemico-microbiological characterization of substrates collected in caves from the Terra Ronca State Park (TRSP), São Domingos, Goiás. We propose to evaluate and compare the phylogenetic and functional diversity of the microbial community along a gradient of features in each cave studied. They will be held by the sequencing of 16S rRNA and 18S rRNA, and the metagenome study of the samples with the higher taxa diversity in the previous analysis. The functional diversity of the microbial community will be evaluated by the physiological profile of the community using the microplate BIOLOGTM Ecoplate. The data generated in this study will help in to discuss of the functional interaction of these microorganisms in this ecosystem, assess the possible alternative metabolic pathways in nutrient cycling and assess vulnerable regions by low taxonomic and functional diversity for management plans. (AU)