Microbial diversity on sediments of shallow ponds in Cerrado

The study aimed to characterize the composition, abundance, richness, and diversity of the Bacteria and Archaea communities present in the sediment of two shallow natural ponds belonging to different basins and differing in size and depth in the Cerrado, considering the seasonal distribution of the annual precipitation. The sample collection was carried out in the dry and rainy seasons and the transition period between both. Understanding the composition and diversity of microbial communities in natural environments is the first step to understand and characterize the main ecological functions mediated by these microorganisms. Community characterization is particularly important in ecosystems under increasing pressures of conversion and environmental changes to define appropriate baselines to aquatic ecosystems preservation in Cerrado.