COMPARISON OF MICROBIOMES OF TWO DIFFERENT ECOTYPES OF THE CHORNOBYL EXCLUSION ZONE: POINTS OF TEMPORARY LOCALIZATION OF RADIOACTIVE WASTE (PTLRW) AND CONTAMINATED ECOSYSTEMS

Abstract

Points of temporary localization of radioactive waste (PTLRW) are areas adjacent to the Chоrnobyl NPP where trenches and burrows for radioactive waste localization were created during the priority measures to eliminate the accident. The aim of the presented work was to compare the structure of the microbial community on PTLRW and areas contaminated with radionuclides. The largest number of sequences (relative abundance > 1%) in samples from both PTLRV and radionuclide-contaminated ecosystems was observed of the Phylum: Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Acidobacteria, Planctomycetes, Verrucomicrobia, Gemmatimonadetes, Chloroflexi and Bacteroidetes. The dominant Order (relative abundance > 5%) were: Rhizobiales, Rhodospirillales, Actinomycetales, Solirubrobacterales, Acidimicrobiales Acidobacteriales, Solibacterales and Ellin6513. According to Shannon and Simpson, the soil with the highest biodiversity was in the soil taken from the surface of the trench in the «Red Forest». The lowest Chao1 index Shannon and Simpson Index had soil from outside of the trench in the «Red Forest». Comparing the two presented ecotypes, a significant difference was observed in the amount of the Proteobacteria Phylum, towards Actinobacteria, and Acidobacteria. Also, samples from the territory of the trench “Red Forest” had the largest number of identified Species. Therefore, we can conclude that there are processes of ecosystem formation. Namely, they are affected by high absorbed doses and additional nutrition, represented by radionuclide contamination and wood residues.

Keywords

• microbiome
• radionuclides
• chоrnobyl exclusion zone
• microorganisms