What Lies Beneath

WHAT LIES BENEATH

The Temengor Lake was formed during the construction of a hydroelectric dam and has since supported several pivotal human activities, including fisheries, ecotourism and supply of drinking water. There is also intensive tilapia farming activities, utilising the open cage culture system. In comparison to temperate lakes, very little is known about the natural microbiota living in different sections of tropical lakes.

Using metagenome approach, we compared the microbiota of photic and aphotic zones of the lake, from both aquaculture and undisturbed sites. We discovered several phylas equipped with armoury to survive in anoxic habitats in the aphotic zones. Notably, the aphotic water of the disturbed site also showed an overrepresentation of genes associated with the metabolism of carbohydrates, likely driven by the enrichment of nutrient resulting from aquaculture activities above. Overall, the survey shows how microflora relates to different habitats formed by both abiotic and biotic-related changes within large freshwater body