Comparative Analysis of Andean Hot Springs
Comparative Analysis of Andean Hot Springs
The Andean mountains harbor diverse habitats, including an extensive chain of geothermally heated water sources. In this study we describe and compare the planktonic microbial communities present in six high mountain hot springs at varying altitudes and geographical locations and with distinct geochemical characteristics, such as temperature (29°C to 68°C) and pH (2.0 to 6.9). The diversity and structure of the microbial communities were assessed by pyrosequencing the V5 - V6 region of the 16S rRNA gene and they were compared by phylogenetic and statistical analyses.   The Colombian tropical Andes mountains have several active volcanoes and areas of geothermal activity that are made evident by the presence of hot springs, particularly along the Central and Eastern mountain ranges. These springs are found at elevations between 2 500 to 5 000 m and they vary in terms of their geochemistry and thermal source. There are more than 100 thermal springs located in geographic proximity to the Nevados National Natural Park (NNP) in the Central mountain range. Near to these, but as part of another volcanic system, is a spring called Parador de Quimbaya, which is associated with a high-temperature (> 250°C) area of thermal anomaly. On the Eastern Andean mountain range the Ojo del Diablo hot spring is part of a system of 22 springs with higher water temperature (around 80°C) and pH (3.6 to 7.4), when compared with those in the Nevados NNP. Water at these sites emerges at isolated and undisturbed high-mountain habitats and provides a unique resource for studying hot spring microbial communities.