Identification and Phylogeny of potential bacteria isolated from mangroves of Ashtamudi Lake - A Ramsar site in peninsular India

Abstract

The tropical and subtropical coastal plains are known for harboring mangroves, which represent one of the most remarkable and distinctive ecosystems globally. These ecosystems are formed through the mutual interaction between emergent land plants and sediment microbiomes. The rhizosphere of mangroves and the adjacent sediments host a diverse range of microbial communities that play a crucial role in supporting vital ecological processes such as decomposition and nutrient recycling. Additionally, these microbial communities contribute to the nourishment and sustenance of mangrove vegetation. The objective of the present study was to investigate the bacterial diversity present in the mangrove sediments of Ashtamudi Lake, located in Kollam. This was accomplished through 16S rRNA sequencing, a widely employed technique for assessing microbial diversity. As a result, 16 potential strains of bacterial isolates belonging to genera such as Pseudomonas, Bacillus, Arthrobacter, Aeromonas, Oceanisphaera, and Mammalliicoccus were successfully identified. Furthermore, the evolutionary relationships among these bacterial strains were explored to gain insights into their genetic relatedness and phylogenetic classification.