Exploring prokaryotic diversity in permafrost-affected soils of Ladakh’s Changthang region and its geochemical drivers

Abstract Global warming due to climate change has substantial impact on high-altitude permafrost affected soils. This raises a serious concern that the microbial degradation of sequestered carbon can result in alteration of the biogeochemical cycles. Therefore, the characterization of permafrost aff...

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Main Authors: Ahmad Ali, Phuntsog Dolma, Tatiana A. Vishnivetskaya, Tsewang Namgail, Tundup Dolma, Archana Chauhan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-05-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-94542-9
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author Ahmad Ali
Phuntsog Dolma
Tatiana A. Vishnivetskaya
Tsewang Namgail
Tundup Dolma
Archana Chauhan
author_facet Ahmad Ali
Phuntsog Dolma
Tatiana A. Vishnivetskaya
Tsewang Namgail
Tundup Dolma
Archana Chauhan
author_sort Ahmad Ali
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Global warming due to climate change has substantial impact on high-altitude permafrost affected soils. This raises a serious concern that the microbial degradation of sequestered carbon can result in alteration of the biogeochemical cycles. Therefore, the characterization of permafrost affected soil microbiomes, especially of unexplored high-altitude, low oxygen arid region, is important for predicting their response to climate change. This study presents the first report of the bacterial diversity of permafrost-affected soils in the Changthang region of Ladakh. The relationship between soil pH, organic carbon, electrical conductivity, and available micronutrients with the microbial diversity was investigated. Amplicon sequencing of permafrost affected soil samples from Jukti and Tsokar showed that Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria were the dominant phyla in all samples. The genera Brevitalea, Chthoniobacter, Sphingomonas, Hydrogenispora, Clostridium, Gaiella, Gemmatimonas were relatively abundant in the Jukti samples whereas the genera Thiocapsa, Actinotalea, Syntrophotalea, Antracticibcterium, Luteolibacter, Nitrospirillum dominated the Tsokar sample. Correlation analyses highlighted the influence of soil geochemical parameters on the bacterial community structure. PCoA analyses showed that the bacterial beta diversity varied significantly between the sampling locations (PERMANOVA test (F-value: 2.3316; R2 = 0.466, p = 0.001) and similar results were also obtained while comparing genus abundance data using the ANOSIM test (R = 0.345, p = 0.007).
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spelling doaj-art-b10e25ce7888432190ebedffdbc1d9112025-08-20T03:52:24ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-05-0115111710.1038/s41598-025-94542-9Exploring prokaryotic diversity in permafrost-affected soils of Ladakh’s Changthang region and its geochemical driversAhmad Ali0Phuntsog Dolma1Tatiana A. Vishnivetskaya2Tsewang Namgail3Tundup Dolma4Archana Chauhan5Department of Zoology, Panjab UniversityDepartment of Zoology, Panjab UniversityDepartment of Microbiology, University of TennesseeSnow Leopard Conservancy India TrustDepartment of Environment Studies, Panjab UniversityDepartment of Zoology, Panjab UniversityAbstract Global warming due to climate change has substantial impact on high-altitude permafrost affected soils. This raises a serious concern that the microbial degradation of sequestered carbon can result in alteration of the biogeochemical cycles. Therefore, the characterization of permafrost affected soil microbiomes, especially of unexplored high-altitude, low oxygen arid region, is important for predicting their response to climate change. This study presents the first report of the bacterial diversity of permafrost-affected soils in the Changthang region of Ladakh. The relationship between soil pH, organic carbon, electrical conductivity, and available micronutrients with the microbial diversity was investigated. Amplicon sequencing of permafrost affected soil samples from Jukti and Tsokar showed that Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria were the dominant phyla in all samples. The genera Brevitalea, Chthoniobacter, Sphingomonas, Hydrogenispora, Clostridium, Gaiella, Gemmatimonas were relatively abundant in the Jukti samples whereas the genera Thiocapsa, Actinotalea, Syntrophotalea, Antracticibcterium, Luteolibacter, Nitrospirillum dominated the Tsokar sample. Correlation analyses highlighted the influence of soil geochemical parameters on the bacterial community structure. PCoA analyses showed that the bacterial beta diversity varied significantly between the sampling locations (PERMANOVA test (F-value: 2.3316; R2 = 0.466, p = 0.001) and similar results were also obtained while comparing genus abundance data using the ANOSIM test (R = 0.345, p = 0.007).https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-94542-9MicrobiomeAlpine permafrostIllumina sequencingBacteria16S rRNA
spellingShingle Ahmad Ali
Phuntsog Dolma
Tatiana A. Vishnivetskaya
Tsewang Namgail
Tundup Dolma
Archana Chauhan
Exploring prokaryotic diversity in permafrost-affected soils of Ladakh’s Changthang region and its geochemical drivers
Scientific Reports
Microbiome
Alpine permafrost
Illumina sequencing
Bacteria
16S rRNA
title Exploring prokaryotic diversity in permafrost-affected soils of Ladakh’s Changthang region and its geochemical drivers
title_full Exploring prokaryotic diversity in permafrost-affected soils of Ladakh’s Changthang region and its geochemical drivers
title_fullStr Exploring prokaryotic diversity in permafrost-affected soils of Ladakh’s Changthang region and its geochemical drivers
title_full_unstemmed Exploring prokaryotic diversity in permafrost-affected soils of Ladakh’s Changthang region and its geochemical drivers
title_short Exploring prokaryotic diversity in permafrost-affected soils of Ladakh’s Changthang region and its geochemical drivers
title_sort exploring prokaryotic diversity in permafrost affected soils of ladakh s changthang region and its geochemical drivers
topic Microbiome
Alpine permafrost
Illumina sequencing
Bacteria
16S rRNA
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-94542-9
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