Taxonomic diversity of the microbial community of the Daban-Gorkhon cold chalybeate spring (Vitim plateau)

The article investigates the ecological conditions of the habitat of microbial communities of water and bottom sediments of the Daban-Gorkhon chalybeate spring (Vitim Plateau). The water of the Daban-Gorkhon spring is characterized as hydrocarbonate calcium-magnesium-sodium with an iron content of 2.16 mg/l, its temperature in summer is 8 °C. We have studied the taxonomic diversity of microbial communities in the water and bottom sediments of the source using molecular genetic methods. Representatives of the phyla Proteobacteria, Bacteroidota, Actinobacteriota dominated in the communities of interest. The results of a study of taxonomic diversity at the genus level showed that prokaryotes from low-temperature freshwater habitats form the basis of the microbial communities of water and bottom sediments of the cold chalybeate spring Daban-Gorkhon. We have established wide spread of iron cycle bacteria in the studied communities, which is facilitated by the presence of iron in water.