Metagenomic analysis of bacterial and eukaryotic communities of water column above gas and oil seeps of Baikal bed

This work was aimed to study the taxonomic structure of prokaryotic and eukaryotic communities along water column in sites of hydrocarbon discharge at Lake Baikal. We assessed the taxonomic diversity of communities of prokaryotic and eukaryotic microorganisms collected along the water column at sites of oil-methane and methane seeps. Taxonomic diversity was analyzed via massive parallel sequencing of 18S rRNA, 16S rRNA, pmoA and mxaF gene fragments using MiSeq instrument. Sample collection was performed in early July 2013 in South and Central Baikal: oil seep Gorevoy Utes (site I) and mud volcano Bolshoy (site II). We collected eight water samples from the water column of site I (at depths 0, 50, 100, 200, 300, 500, 700, and 855 meters) and five samples from the water column of site II (at depths 0, 50, 100, 700, and 1370 meters).