Niche specialization of novel Thaumarchaeota to oxic and hypoxic acidic geothermal springs of Yellowstone National Park

Novel Thaumarchaeota lineages, endemic to Yellowstone National Park's acidic geothermal springs, exhibit unique metabolic adaptations. These archaea, thriving in high-temperature (65-72 °C) and low-pH (~3) environments, display niche specialization by coupling growth with oxygen or nitrate reduction in iron oxide habitats and sulfur reduction in hypoxic sediments. Metabolic reconstruction reveals their chemoorganotrophic nature, including a novel reverse sulfate reduction pathway for sulfide oxidation, and the use of aromatic compounds, carbohydrates, oligopeptides, and amino acids as carbon sources. Phylogenetic analysis positions these populations near the root of the Thaumarchaeota branch, indicating deeply rooted lineages within this phylum. The study integrated metagenome sequencing, geochemical measurements, and reverse-transcriptase PCR to confirm in situ activity, providing insights into their ecological roles and evolutionary significance.

Beam, J. P., Jay, Z. J., Kozubal, M. A., & Inskeep, W. P. (2013). Niche specialization of novel Thaumarchaeota to oxic and hypoxic acidic geothermal springs of Yellowstone National Park. The ISME Journal, 8(4), 938–951. https://doi.org/10.1038/ismej.2013.193