This is a joint project between Eawag and WSL researchers. We study the genetic and metabolic diversity of cyanobacteria that polulate large parts of the rock surface in the Alps. These are Tintenstrich Communities (TC, “ink lines”), that appear as black stripes that develop on rock surface mostly where water runoff occurs. They are mostly formed by lichen that are associated with either green algae or cyanobacteria.
Sampling of lichen and herbivores at Tintenstrich communities in Swiss Alps.
In the 1940s the scientist Otto Jaag was a pioneer who characterized TC communities in different areas of Switzerland using morphological analysis. Cyanobacteria also can produce toxic metabolites that are well studied in surface waters. However, we currently have no information about cyanotoxins from Tintenstrich in the Swiss. With our work, we return to Jaag field sites and investigate the genetic and metabolite biodiversity of cyanobacteria with state-of-the art analytical tools including Illumina sequencing and high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry. Beyong the biodiversity, we further investigate possible transport of bacteria or toxins from the TCs with the runoff water and study herbivore interaction with cyano-lichen.
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authors => protected'Oliveira, J.; Pittino, F.; Scheidegger, C.; Fink, S.; Ja nssen, E. M. -L.' (107 chars)
title => protected'Genetic and metabolic diversity of cyanobacteria on the rock–water interfa ce in mountainous ecosystems' (104 chars)
journal => protected'Environmental Science and Technology' (36 chars)
year => protected2025 (integer)
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categories => protected'metabarcoding; toxin; anabaenopeptin; microcystin; cyanopeptolin; Tintenstri ch; lichen' (86 chars)
description => protected'<em>Tintenstrich</em> communities are specialized lithic biofilms dominated by free-living cyanobacteria, also occurring in lichen associations, forming a unique ecological interface between rock environments and aquatic habitat s in mountainous areas. To better understand their composition and genetic a nd metabolic potential, we analyzed 207 samples from the Swiss Alps and Jura Mountains. We determined how key environmental factors shaped cyanobacteria l abundance, assessed whether these communities harbor genes for toxin biosy nthesis, characterized their taxonomic composition at the family and genus l evel, and evaluated the actual occurrence of cyanotoxins and other bioactive metabolites. Cyanobacterial abundance proved to be influenced by factors su ch as elevation, exposure, and their interaction with siliceous rock substra ta. Targeted PCR and Sanger sequencing revealed the presence of toxin-encodi ng genes, particularly for <em>ndaF</em>/<em>mcyE</em> fragments, which may encode microcystin and/or nodularin biosynthesis, while specific genes for m icrocystins, anatoxins, and cylindrospermopsins were rather rare. Metabarcod ing analysis identified 11 cyanobacterial families, with Chroococcaceae, Nos tocaceae, and Leptolyngbyaceae being the most abundant. Complementary high-r esolution mass spectrometry confirmed the occasional presence of nodularins and microcystins, alongside more frequent detection of other bioactive pepti des such as anabaenopeptins and cyanopeptolins. Overall, these findings prov ide the most comprehensive insight to date into <em>Tintenstrich</em>-associ ated cyanobacteria, underscoring their environmental significance given thei r genetic and metabolic potential.' (1706 chars)
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title => protected'Lithic bacterial communities: ecological aspects focusing on <em>Tintenstric h</em> communities' (94 chars)
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categories => protected'cyanobacteria; Tintenstrich; lithic bacterial communities; extreme environme nts; lichens' (88 chars)
description => protected'<em>Tintenstrich</em> communities (TCs) mainly comprise Cyanobacteria develo ping on rock substrates and forming physical structures that are strictly co nnected to the rock itself. Endolithic and epilithic bacterial communities a re important because they contribute to nutrient release within run-off wate rs flowing on the rock surface. Despite TCs being ubiquitous, little informa tion about their ecology and main characteristics is available. In this stud y, we characterized the bacterial communities of rock surfaces of TCs in Swi tzerland through Illumina sequencing. We investigated their bacterial commun ity composition on two substrate types (siliceous rocks [SRs] and carbonate rocks [CRs]) through multivariate models. Our results show that Cyanobacteri a and Proteobacteria are the predominant phyla in this environment. Bacteria l <em>α</em>-diversity was higher on CRs than on SRs, and the <em>β</em>-d iversity of SRs varied with changes in rock surface structure. In this study , we provide novel insights into the bacterial community composition of TCs, their differences from other lithic communities, and the effects of the roc k substrate and structure.' (1166 chars)
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title => protected'Cyanobacteria: extreme environments and toxic metabolites' (57 chars)
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categories => protected'bioaccumulation; cyanobacteria; cyanotoxins; lichen; water quality' (66 chars)
description => protected'Cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae, are photosynthetic bacteria t hat can colonize different habitats, including extreme ones. They are of gre at interest to the scientific community, especially because of their ability to produce cyanotoxins: toxic secondary metabolites potentially harmful to organisms especially when released to surface waters.' (357 chars)
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Genetic and metabolic diversity of cyanobacteria on the rock–water interface in mountainous ecosystems
Tintenstrich communities are specialized lithic biofilms dominated by free-living cyanobacteria, also occurring in lichen associations, forming a unique ecological interface between rock environments and aquatic habitats in mountainous areas. To better understand their composition and genetic and metabolic potential, we analyzed 207 samples from the Swiss Alps and Jura Mountains. We determined how key environmental factors shaped cyanobacterial abundance, assessed whether these communities harbor genes for toxin biosynthesis, characterized their taxonomic composition at the family and genus level, and evaluated the actual occurrence of cyanotoxins and other bioactive metabolites. Cyanobacterial abundance proved to be influenced by factors such as elevation, exposure, and their interaction with siliceous rock substrata. Targeted PCR and Sanger sequencing revealed the presence of toxin-encoding genes, particularly for ndaF/mcyE fragments, which may encode microcystin and/or nodularin biosynthesis, while specific genes for microcystins, anatoxins, and cylindrospermopsins were rather rare. Metabarcoding analysis identified 11 cyanobacterial families, with Chroococcaceae, Nostocaceae, and Leptolyngbyaceae being the most abundant. Complementary high-resolution mass spectrometry confirmed the occasional presence of nodularins and microcystins, alongside more frequent detection of other bioactive peptides such as anabaenopeptins and cyanopeptolins. Overall, these findings provide the most comprehensive insight to date into Tintenstrich-associated cyanobacteria, underscoring their environmental significance given their genetic and metabolic potential.
Oliveira, J.; Pittino, F.; Scheidegger, C.; Fink, S.; Janssen, E. M. -L. (2025) Genetic and metabolic diversity of cyanobacteria on the rock–water interface in mountainous ecosystems, Environmental Science and Technology, 59(38), 20595-20607, doi:10.1021/acs.est.5c05763, Institutional Repository
Lithic bacterial communities: ecological aspects focusing on Tintenstrich communities
Tintenstrich communities (TCs) mainly comprise Cyanobacteria developing on rock substrates and forming physical structures that are strictly connected to the rock itself. Endolithic and epilithic bacterial communities are important because they contribute to nutrient release within run-off waters flowing on the rock surface. Despite TCs being ubiquitous, little information about their ecology and main characteristics is available. In this study, we characterized the bacterial communities of rock surfaces of TCs in Switzerland through Illumina sequencing. We investigated their bacterial community composition on two substrate types (siliceous rocks [SRs] and carbonate rocks [CRs]) through multivariate models. Our results show that Cyanobacteria and Proteobacteria are the predominant phyla in this environment. Bacterial α-diversity was higher on CRs than on SRs, and the β-diversity of SRs varied with changes in rock surface structure. In this study, we provide novel insights into the bacterial community composition of TCs, their differences from other lithic communities, and the effects of the rock substrate and structure.
Pittino, F.; Fink, S.; Oliveira, J.; Janssen, E. M. L.; Scheidegger, C. (2024) Lithic bacterial communities: ecological aspects focusing on Tintenstrich communities, Frontiers in Microbiology, 15, 1430059 (12 pp.), doi:10.3389/fmicb.2024.1430059, Institutional Repository
Cyanobacteria: extreme environments and toxic metabolites
Cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae, are photosynthetic bacteria that can colonize different habitats, including extreme ones. They are of great interest to the scientific community, especially because of their ability to produce cyanotoxins: toxic secondary metabolites potentially harmful to organisms especially when released to surface waters.
Pittino, F.; Oliveira, J.; De Almeida Torres, M.; Fink, S.; Janssen, E. M. L.; Scheidegger, C. (2022) Cyanobacteria: extreme environments and toxic metabolites, Chimia, 76(11), 967-969, doi:10.2533/chimia.2022.967, Institutional Repository
