Microbial Diversity in Algerian Hypersaline Environments: Insights from Hadjer El-Melh and Zahrez-Gharbi (Djelfa, Algeria)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.22399/ijcesen.5137Keywords:
Hypersaline environments, Microbial diversity, 16S rRNA sequencing, Hadjer El-Melh, Zahrez-Gharbi, HalophilesAbstract
Hypersaline environments harbor highly specialized and diverse microbial communities shaped by extreme physicochemical conditions. This study investigates the microbial diversity of two hypersaline water samples from Algeria: Hajr El Meleh (Salt Rock) (S1) and Zahrez-Gharbi (S2). Physicochemical analyses revealed extremely high salinities (26.5% and 23.0% NaCl, respectively), near-neutral pH, and elevated concentrations of Na⁺, Cl⁻, Mg²⁺, and SO₄²⁻. Using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing via the Illumina MiSeq platform, we characterized bacterial and archaeal communities at multiple taxonomic levels. Alpha diversity indices (Chao1, Shannon, ACE) indicated higher species richness and evenness in S1. Taxonomic profiling showed dominance of Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, and Bacteroidota in both sites, with sample-specific phyla such as Halobacterota (S2) and Euryarchaeota (S1). At the family, genus, and species levels, significant variations were observed: S1 was enriched in Salinibacter, Methanobrevibacter smithii, and Finegoldia magna, while S2 was characterized by Bacillus, Veillonella, and Campylobacter. The presence of numerous unclassified taxa across both samples highlights the potential for novel microbial lineages in these extreme habitats. Our findings highlight the patterns of microbial community structure and diversity in relation to salinity, ion composition, and geological context, contributing to the understanding of extremophile adaptation in saline ecosystems.
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