Unravelling the genetic potential for hydrocarbon degradation in the sediment microbiome of Antarctic islands

Hydrocarbons may have a natural or anthropogenic origin and serve as a source of carbon and energy for microorganisms in Antarctic soils. Herein, 16S rRNA gene and shotgun sequencing were employed to characterize taxonomic diversity and genetic potential for hydrocarbon degradation of the microbiome from sediments of sites located in two Antarctic islands subjected to different temperatures, geochemical compositions, and levels of presumed anthropogenic impact, named: Crater Lake/Deception Island (pristine area), Whalers Bay and Fumarole Bay/Deception Island (anthropogenic-impacted area), and Hannah Point/Livingston Island (anthropogenic-impacted area). Hydrocarbon concentrations were measured for further correlation analyses with biological data. The majority of the hydrocarbon-degrading genes were affiliated to the most abundant bacterial groups of the microbiome: Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria. KEGG annotation revealed 125 catabolic genes related to aromatic hydrocarbon (styrene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene, naphthalene, and polycyclic hydrocarbons) and aliphatic (alkanes and cycloalkanes) pathways. Only aliphatic hydrocarbons, in low concentrations, were detected in all areas, thus not characterizing the areas under study as anthropogenically impacted or nonimpacted. The high richness and abundance of hydrocarbon-degrading genes suggest that the genetic potential of the microbiome from Antarctic sediments for hydrocarbon degradation is driven by natural hydrocarbon occurrence. Hydrocarbon input in Antarctic soils may result from anthropogenic and natural sources. In this case, a careful investigation was performed to evaluate Antarctic soil microorganisms' genetic potential for hydrocarbon degradation.

Automated summary

This study investigated the genetic potential of Antarctic soil microorganisms for hydrocarbon degradation, and found that the abundant hydrocarbon-degrading genes in Antarctic sediments were mainly affiliated with Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria. The study also revealed that hydrocarbon input in Antarctic soils may come from both anthropogenic and natural sources.