Salinity versus microbial alpha diversity

In this study, sediment samples from Wood Buffalo National Park in Alberta, Canada were collected and processed for 16S/18S rRNA gene sequencing on the MiSeq. The sediment samples spanned the entire range of salinity from near-fresh to halite-saturated. Alpha diversity of microorganisms from all three domains of life (Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya) was calculated. Goals of the study included 1. investigating differences in alpha diversity of each domain versus salinity; and 2. analyzing differences in alpha diversity versus salinity among organisms using different salt-tolerance strategies.