Is the Composition of Communities in Bromeliad Water and Adjacent Soil Similar?

Abstract

Soil and bromeliads are important habitats contributing to the biodiversity of the Atlantic Forest in Brazil. However, knowledge of unicellular eukaryotes and bacteria in these environments remains limited. This study compared the diversity and community structure of unicellular eukaryotes, fungi, metazoan, and bacteria in bromeliad water tanks (BWT) and adjacent soil using 16S and 18S rRNA gene metabarcoding. Communities differed significantly between habitats but shared some taxa, suggesting habitat connectivity. Ciliates dominated unicellular eukaryotes in BWT, while Cercozoa prevailed in soil. Bacterial communities were dominated by Pseudomonadota, while fungal composition was more uniform, with Ascomycota as the dominant phylum across samples. Metazoan communities varied among abundant phyla, and their presence in BWT suggests the use of this water resource within the forest. This study provides essential baseline data on eukaryotic and bacterial diversity in this unique ecosystem, highlighting how distinct habitats within the Atlantic Forest support different communities.