Amplicon sequencing of genus Nitrospira from nine Austrian saline-alkaline lakes

To portray Nitrospira distribution, diversity, functionality, and adaptation in an extreme natural system we studied hypo- and subsaline, highly alkaline (pH 8.5-9.8) lakes of the Austrian national park “Neusiedler See-Seewinkel” by amplicon sequencing. Our results show surprisingly diverse Nitrospira populations from lineages I, II and IV inhabiting lake sediments with high alkalinity and elevated salinity and indicate a strong competitive advantage of Nitrospira lineage IV members at high pH.