Epifluorescent direct counts of bacteria and viruses from topsoil of various desert dust storm regions

González-Martín, Cristina; Teigell-Perez, Nuria; Lyles, Mark; Valladares, Basilio; Griffin, Dale W.

doi:10.1016/j.resmic.2012.08.009

Cited by 38 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…Spatial heterogeneity in bacterial community composition has previously been described in other hot desert edaphic environments (e.g. Direito et al ., ; Ehrenfreund et al ., ; Gonzalez‐Martin et al ., ). In the Utah Desert for example, open soil bacterial communities displayed spatial heterogeneity with large differences in community structure over very small (cm) distances (Direito et al ., ; Ehrenfreund et al ., ; Kotler et al ., ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

The influence of surface soil physicochemistry on the edaphic bacterial communities in contrasting terrain types of theCentralNamibDesert

et al. 2015

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Notwithstanding, the severe environmental conditions, deserts harbour a high diversity of adapted micro-organisms. In such oligotrophic environments, soil physicochemical characteristics play an important role in shaping indigenous microbial communities. This study investigates the edaphic bacterial communities of three contrasting desert terrain types (gravel plains, sand dunes and ephemeral rivers) with different surface geologies in the Central Namib Desert. For each site, we evaluated surface soil physicochemistries and used explorative T-RFLP methodology to get an indication of bacterial community diversities. While grain size was an important parameter in separating the three terrain types physicochemically and specific surface soil types could be distinguished, the desert edaphic bacterial communities displayed a high level of local spatial heterogeneity. Ten variables contributed significantly (P < 0.05) to the variance in the T-RFLP data sets: fine silt, medium and fine sand content, pH, S, Na, Zn, Al, V and Fe concentrations, and 40% of the total variance could be explained by these constraining variables. The results suggest that local physicochemical conditions play a significant role in shaping the bacterial structures in the Central Namib Desert and stress the importance of recording a wide variety of environmental descriptors to comprehensively assess the role of edaphic parameters in shaping microbial communities.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

The influence of surface soil physicochemistry on the edaphic bacterial communities in contrasting terrain types of theCentralNamibDesert

et al. 2015

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“…Bacterial concentrations in soils range from ≈10 3 to 10 9 microorganisms per gram (Gonzalez-Martin et al, 2013;Griffin, 2007;Kellogg and Griffin, 2006). Microbial-ecology studies have shown that the virus (bacteriophages) concentration in environmental samples is usually one to two logs greater than bacteria in water, whereas in desert soils they are typically equal to one to two logs less (Gonzalez-Martin et al, 2013). Many of these microorganisms can be aerosolized; most of them are probably transported only small distances due to their attachment to large soil-particulate matter, and many others may die or lose viability during transport due to stress (e.g., desiccation and UV stress).…”

Section: Airborne Microorganisms Transported By Dust Stormsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Recently, in September 2012, a Hantavirus outbreak occurred in Yosemite National Park, the United States, affecting 10 people, of which three cases were fatal (CDC, 2012). Bacteriophages have been found to occur as high as 1.1 × 10 7 viruses per gram of soil in deserts; this demonstrates that viruses are a major biocomponent of any dust storm (Gonzalez-Martin et al, 2013).…”

Section: Airborne Microorganisms Transported By Dust Stormsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Global Dispersion of Pathogenic Microorganisms by Dust Storms and Its Relevance to Agriculture

González-Martín

Teigell-Perez

Valladares

et al. 2014

Advances in Agronomy

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“…Griffin [ 23 and references therein] estimated that one gram of desert topsoil contains approximately 109 bacteria and 108 viruses. Gonzalez-Martin et al 24 found substantial variability in both bacterial and viral estimates in soils taken from different desert environments around the world. Importantly, the harsh ecological conditions of these environments is thought to select for characteristics that increase the effectiveness of long distance atmospheric dispersal by these organisms.…”

Section: Natural Mineral and Chemical Constituents Of Dustmentioning

confidence: 99%

Examining the links between air quality, climate change and respiratory health in Qatar

et al. 2013

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Little information exists concerning (i) source contributions to airborne particulate pollution in Qatar, (ii) the potential impact that deteriorating air quality may have on the respiratory health of residents, and (iii) how climate change may affect respiratory health through its impact on air quality. Air quality in Qatar may be negatively affected by naturally occurring contributions including dust/sand originating from adjacent desert regions, microbial communities that may be associated with these particulates, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released by blooms of phytoplankton in coastal waters. Of increasing concern are anthropogenic contributions, including emissions from the rapidly growing number of vehicles, from ships travelling in the Persian Gulf, and from industrial and construction activities. We examine the relative importance of these contributions and discuss some of the expected impacts on respiratory health. We conclude by speculating on the impact that climate change may have on air quality and respiratory health around Qatar.

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Epifluorescent direct counts of bacteria and viruses from topsoil of various desert dust storm regions

Cited by 38 publications

References 17 publications

The influence of surface soil physicochemistry on the edaphic bacterial communities in contrasting terrain types of theCentralNamibDesert

The influence of surface soil physicochemistry on the edaphic bacterial communities in contrasting terrain types of theCentralNamibDesert

The Global Dispersion of Pathogenic Microorganisms by Dust Storms and Its Relevance to Agriculture

Examining the links between air quality, climate change and respiratory health in Qatar

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