Assessing bacterial diversity in Myristica swamps: A metagenomic perspective from the Southern Western Ghats

The Western Ghats, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is home to the freshwater Myristica swamps, which thrive in acidic, waterlogged conditions in Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu. Myristica trees, essential for maintaining the ecosystem, are vital for its integrity. A study comparing bacterial diversity in sediment samples from Myristica swamp patches (Pezhummoodu (S1) and Verukuzhypacha (S2) in the Punnala Model Forest Station, and Manthadam (S3) in the Ambanar Model Forest Station) in the Southern Western Ghats of Kerala, using a metagenomic approach and Illumina MiSeq sequencing revealed that Proteobacteria were the predominant phyla, followed by Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, and Actinobacteria in both S1 and S2. Unclassified bacterial phyla were present in all samples. A Venn diagram revealed 43 genera unique to S1 and 194 unique to S2, with none found exclusively in S3. Pseudomonas is the dominant genera in S3, constituting 50.9 %. The study highlights significant bacterial communities in the myristica swamp soil and underscores the importance of microbial exploration in these environments. This is the first-ever metagenomic analysis of bacterial diversity in Myristica swamps, enhancing our understanding of the complex interactions that sustain these unique wetland habitats. The complex microbial network, comprising Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria, and Proteobacteria, promotes soil multi-nutrient cycling, pollutants breakdown, water quality, and nutrient availability. This knowledge has the potential to inform conservation strategies and facilitate the protection and restoration of Myristica swamps by maintaining their delicate microbial ecosystems.