Microbial diversity of Qaidam Basin Metagenome

This study describes the pattern of bacterial diversity inhabits in the Qaidam Basin of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. This is a pioneer study of bacterial diversity present on the surface and sub-surface soils at different locations of the basin. The Qaidam basin is cold-hyper desert and its geographical and Physico-chemical characteristics make it an interesting habitat to be explored for their bacterial diversity having unique community structure. The findings showed that the site is enriched by bacterial diversity and total nitrogen and total organic carbon are the drawing factors for the community structure at every study spot of the area. This study enhanced our understanding of the microbial ecology of the site first time explored, the pattern of bacterial distribution, and the ecological factors responsible for the bacterial structures. The study provides a base for further studies to explore the microbial structural pattern co-related with other factors, the survival mechanism adapted by microorganism present in such an inhospitable habitat and the phylogenetic characterization to find novel microorganisms.