Spatial variations in microbial community composition inhabiting terrestrial mud volcanoes across the Eurasian continent. Sediment from terrestrial mud volcano

We hypothesize that microbiome in terrestrial mud volcanoes may be composed of specific colonists highly adapted to local environmental context and restricted with dispersal capability. Environmental selection over long timescales could result in substantial local diversification. In this regard, we analyzed microbial community structures of 14 terrestrial MVs across the Eurasian continent to test the validity of distance control and physiochemical factors in explaining biogeographic pattern.

我们提出如下假说：陆地泥火山（terrestrial mud volcanoes，后文简称MV）的微生物组（microbiome），或由高度适配本地环境背景且扩散能力受限的特定定殖类群构成。长期尺度下的环境筛选作用可催生显著的本地物种分化。基于此研究背景，我们对欧亚大陆范围内的14座陆地泥火山的微生物群落结构开展了分析，以验证距离约束与理化因子在解释生物地理格局时的有效性。