CASE STUDIES OF CLIMATE CHANGE EFFECTS ON MICROBIAL COMMUNITIES
INTRODUCTION
In
the course of the 19th century, many changes were produced due to environmental
factors, all provoked by anthropogenic activity, which affects the biogeochemical
cycles that take place in the environment. Some of these factors are
temperature, CO2 concentration and soil humidity. In the case of
temperature, for example, it has increased during the last century in order to
reach a value of more than 0.5 °C. In such a way, that the temperature of the
soil has also increased, which has made to accelerate the routes of the cycles
of the carbon in microbial communities, as they can be in
the process of the decomposition or the mineralization of nutrients. On the
other hand, the humidity of the soil has
also been affected by all these processes, and bearing in mind that it
regulates the flow of CO2, produced by the breathing of soil
organisms, the concentration of this compost in the soil will also be affected.
In the case of microbial colonies, it is possible
to see affected because if there is a saturation of CO2 it will only produce anaerobic conditions, which
will decrease the level of microbial activity, such as the reduction of the
speed of decomposition. In addition, this condition will reduce the production
of new CO2.
Therefore, it is possible to reach the conclusion that not all organisms will react in the same way to these changes that are produced in the Earth. In this text, it will speak concretely of effects that can produce these changes in microbial communities, dealing with different cases that arrive to produce. These microorganisms highlight the effects produced on the cycles of carbon and nitrogen, from which arise some of the most important gases in the composition of the atmosphere, such as CO2, CH4 or N2O. It should be borne in mind that microbial communities are very complex and specific because of their structure and the functions they provide, for which the climatic change can insert many different ways.
Some examples of cases are explained below.
Therefore, it is possible to reach the conclusion that not all organisms will react in the same way to these changes that are produced in the Earth. In this text, it will speak concretely of effects that can produce these changes in microbial communities, dealing with different cases that arrive to produce. These microorganisms highlight the effects produced on the cycles of carbon and nitrogen, from which arise some of the most important gases in the composition of the atmosphere, such as CO2, CH4 or N2O. It should be borne in mind that microbial communities are very complex and specific because of their structure and the functions they provide, for which the climatic change can insert many different ways.
Some examples of cases are explained below.
1.
Cyanobacteria in aquatic
environments that have an impact on climate
change
Cyanobacteria
are a group of bacteria that appropriate energy through the process of
photosynthesis, absorb solar energy and convert it into profitable energy.
The worldwide
proliferation of cyanobacterial flowers, which are harmful to ecological and animal
health, has continued
to promote eutrofitzation. Cyanobacteria have a very
high growth rate of bloom at high water temperatures; so the earth's
poaching provides that these
bacteria grow and are dispersed without control. The one that causes this
increase of temperature, are different intervals of nutrients on the
cyanobacterial flowers that are able to develop, for what it is necessary that the reductions of nutrients for the
control of flowering follow more aggressive in response to the climatic changes
that are produced to the planet Earth.
2.
Planktonic bacterial
communities in the ocean
The planktonic
bacterial communities of the marine environment can be considered affected by climate change
through a combination of direct and indirect effects.
As with direct effects,
as has been the case before, take into account
the high temperatures and the CO2 found
in the environment. With indirect
effects, it produces
a large spectrum of impacts
ranging from increased stratification of surface water to deoxygenation of
water; increased occurrence of extreme weather phenomena and modification of
the food chain and nutrient regimens cause a change in bacterioplankton control.
3.
Microbes in aquatic biofilms
under the effect of climate change
A biofilm is a complex addition of microorganisms growing on a solid
surface. These biofilms, when poached, include changes in the autotrophic
community composition and extracellular polymeric substances, stimulation of
the heterotrophic community and changes in the microbes.
This temperature has consequences on the functioning of the biofilm through direct control of biological activities
and the selection of adapted taxon, which provide information on the activities.
On the other hand, desiccation can produce permanent changes in the
community microbial composition and in extracellular enzymatic activities,
which also depend on the specific sensitivity of the species and biofilm
structure.
4.
Microbial communities and the
global carbon cycle
Microbial communities, because
of climate change,
will partially control
the equilibrium of soil
stockpiling and carbon loss, as these microorganisms are influenced by
temperature, water availability, oxygen penetration and carbon supply.
These four different response mechanisms are proposed, which allow a
better general understanding of microbial climate responses. There are also
subsets of variables that give local microbial responses to climate
change, specifically sensitivity to soil moisture, which have a major effect on
predictions for carbon stocks and the proliferation of microorganisms in the soil.
Colonies of single microorganisms have an important role in the
global carbon cycle by metabolizing organic matter
and releasing more than 60 Pg of carbon for year. Since the
composition and microbial activities are strongly
influenced by environmental changes, the climatic change can exert pressure on the
microorganisms in order to accelerate or alleviate the emissions of winter
effect gases.
Climate change is one of the most important factors in the loss of
microbial diversity. This problem is really serious, since microorganisms make
up the largest part of the world's biological diversity, and have essential
functions in the biogeochemical processes that make life possible for organisms
located at higher levels of the tropic chain.
5.
Microbial processes in relation
to climate change and the use of land in the
tropics
As it has been said before, the climatic change and the change of the uses of the soil are two factors that influence the
composition of this one. The first factor refers to environmental variables,
such as temperature or the concentration of CO2 in the soil, while
the second is related to the anthropization process, which has increased
exponentially in recent years. All these changes directly affect the diversity
of the composition of microbial colonies. These individuals have an important
role in biogeochemical cycles, as they perform functions that are essential for
the rest of the organisms. Furthermore, it should be borne in mind that these changes
are not the same
in all ecosystems, so that, for example, the tropics area will have a better
effect due to the increase in temperature.
All these impacts
explained on this point have not come to be studied in detail in relation
to the microbial communities, so there is a need for more research.
CONCLUSION
Climate
change is a very important phenomenon for everyone, but today it’s not have
enough aware that there are small microorganisms that play a big role in regulating this disaster caused by climate change. For this reason
it is important to do a better research, because the bacteria are organisms
so small that the people
don’t take important mind about him and without
them most of the ecosystems or efficient characteristics for the live of other
organisms and the correct
life cycles of them over the long term would not have been created. Therefore,
they play an essential role in the development of ecosystems and make it possible for them
to proliferate.
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Este comentario ha sido eliminado por el autor.
ResponderEliminar(Avaluable)There are studies that confirm that there have been more never thematic in the history of the Earth, It could be the fact that species that have been extinct reappeared with the present climate change?
ResponderEliminarRefers to species in this case microorganism
In this case, rather than the reappearance of extinct microorganisms, microorganisms that have been sleeping under the ice for hundreds of years reappear. The increase of global temperature of the planet has begun to melt the permafrost of the poles, this is the permanent ice layer in the Polar Regions. With this melting, viruses and old bacteria have begun to be released, which remained latent, and have now come back to life, i.e. they are active again. One of the most recent cases occurred in August 2016, when in a corner of the Siberian tundra called the Yamal Peninsula, in the Arctic Circle, a 12-year-old boy lost his life after being infected by anthrax.
EliminarThus, this first-phase microorganism has reactivated after many years of inactivity due to low temperatures. Thus, it can be said that it is possible that many microorganisms that were dormant now reappear because of severe climate change.
I hope it will help.
Elena Hernández
Este comentario ha sido eliminado por el autor.
ResponderEliminar(Avaluable) One question climate change can produce a change in the current distribution of cyanobacteria? Thank you
ResponderEliminarTo answer this question, I had to look a little further into cyanobacteria. In this link below, you can see the distribution of cyanobacteria between 2004 and 2011 (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3942748/).
EliminarThe following link shows the global distribution of cyanobacteria of the genus Synechococcus in 2018 along the route of the Tara Oceans expedition (http://www.icm.csic.es/es/la-distribuci%C3%B3n-global-de-las-cianobacterias-m%C3%A1s-camale%C3%B3nicas).
And in answer to your question, climate change can affect the current distribution of cyanobacteria.
I hope it helps.
Myriam Cuenca
(Avaluable) One question, in the second example referring to plant communities in the ocean, is it known in which parts of the Earth this fact is occurring most?
ResponderEliminarThank you
This phenomenon is most prevalent in subantarctic regions, in equatorial divergence or in the temperate-subtropical northern front. These biogeographic distributions may be associated with the existence of physical barriers such as water body fronts, which limit habitat connectivity and the range of dispersal of species.
EliminarI hope it helps.
Myriam Cuenca
(Evaluable) One of the consequences of climate change will be the increase in water temperature in the oceans. This could favor the development of large masses of CO2-fixing bacteria such as cyanobacteria. Do you know if this can favor the appearance of new carbon sinks that mitigate the increase in global temperature?
ResponderEliminarEste comentario ha sido eliminado por el autor.
EliminarThe biological fixation of CO2 is currently achieved through the photosynthesis of
Eliminarterrestrial plants and a huge number of photosynthetic microorganisms. It is expected that the plants contribute to a reduction of only 3-6% of the emissions
global CO2 levels but, answering your question microalgae and cyanobacteria can grow much more faster than terrestrial plants, so its CO2 fixation efficiency is approximately between 10 and 50 times higher than terrestrial plants, even though cyanobacteria are more effective in the fixation of CO2 , they are still not effective enough to counteract the effects of climate change.
Hope I have answered your question.
Núria Comabella.
I leave you the link in case you want to know more about the role of cyanobacteria and microalgae in the effects of climate change as an environmental indicators to calculate greenhouse gas emissions: https://www.adaptecca.es/sites/default/files/editor_documentos/cambio_climatico_acuicultura.pdf
(Avluable) You say that soil temperature has changed since nineties, so does that affect to the species that we can find in continental waters, like cyanobacterial species, are we going to find the same kind of taxon? If this changes, how does this change affect to other species remaining in water surface?
ResponderEliminarAll these environmental changes affect at the different species out there, being able to make it appear new species or that extinguish. Considering that among these species there are interactions, which can be direct or indirect, all changes that may suffer some species may affect other.
EliminarI hope it helps.
Laura Ayuso
(Avaluable) In the third example of your article that talks about microbes in aquatic biofilms, you say that they can be produced permanent changes in the microbial community as a cause of dessecation. But is this dessecation permanent or momentary? Can they survive in permanent dessecation conditions?
ResponderEliminarIn the desiccation state some bacteria survive only for seconds whereas others can tolerate desiccation for thousands, perhaps millions, of years. The desiccated (anhydrobiotic) cell, its monolayer coverage, DNA and proteins, are disturbed because dessication. The tolerance of microorganisms reflects a complex array of interactions at the structural, physiological, and molecular levels. Many of the mechanisms remain cryptic, but it is clear that they involve interactions, such as those between proteins and co-solvents. A water replacement hypothesis accounts for how the microorganisms preserve the integrity of membranes and proteins.
EliminarNevertheless, we have no insight into the state of the cytoplasm of a dried cell. There is no evidence for any obvious adaptations of proteins that can counter the effects of drying. Among the microorganisms can exist as anhydrobiotic cells, like cyanobacteria that have a marked capacity to survive in dry conditions.
I hope I have answered your question.
Núria Comabella
EVALUABLE
ResponderEliminarAccording to experts who say that one of the great effects of climate change will be the important shifts in rain patterns and seeing as an example the big negative effect that this fact has had on the microbial community of the Atacama Desert, I would like to ask (because I haven’t seen it clear enough) in which hypothetical or real case the microbial communities will gain benefit due to the effects of climate change.
Thanks,
Ander Congil
I think the simplest way to explain this fact is to use an example. As is well known, cyanobacterial communities proliferate at high speed in hot water. Currently, the increase in the global temperature of the planet aggravated by climate change, thus produces an increase in water temperatures. This increase of heat in the water masses is a benefit for the communities of bacteria, since these will be able to proliferate at a greater speed since they will have the necessary resources in the environment in which they live. This benefit for these microorganisms is harmful for humans, since the cyanobacteria to be able to release toxins only produce increased risks to our health as for example effects on the organs such as the liver or irritations in the dermis. Thus, climate change does not benefit all microbial communities, but some do.
EliminarI hope it helps.
Thank you
Elena Hernández