Fracked and unfracked stream samples. aquatic metagenome

High-throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene was performed to characterize the microbial community structure of water, sediment, bryophyte, and biofilm samples from 26 headwater stream sites in northwestern Pennsylvania with different histories of fracking activity within Marcellus shale formations. Further, we sought to describe the relationship between microbial community structure and the environmental parameters measured. Also, we wanted to determine if any reductions in species richness as well as evenness in sites with Marcellus shale activity would be observed. This study revealed apparent shifts in the autochthonous microbial communities and highlighted potential members that could be responding to changing stream conditions as a result of nascent industrial activity in these aquatic ecosystems.