Metabarcoding analysis of microbial communities in transition zone ponds along the dead sea shoreline

The rapid recession of the Dead Sea generates novel extreme aquatic environments, necessitating a comprehensive assessment of their spatiotemporal ecological dynamics and unexplored biodiversity. Consequently, this study investigates the microbial community structures inhabiting distinct emerging perennial ponds along the Dead Sea shoreline. It focuses on three different saline perennial ponds (dubbed: black, red, green) near the Dead Sea formed after the continuous seashore recession due to climate change and anthropogenic activities. The ponds, characterized by different water colorations, were selected based on their unique ecological features and accessibility. Water and sediment samples were collected and subjected to hydro-chemical and physicochemical analysis. Both 16 S rRNA genes and ITS metabarcoding sequencing were performed to assess the microbial communities present in each pond, and their dynamics across two different seasons (summer vs. spring). The data revealed significant spatiotemporal variations in microbial community composition, with a heightened photosynthetic activity during spring season in all ponds. The black pond contained active sulfur-cycling consortium, while the red pond contained red-pigmented bacterial species, contributing to the red-pinkish watercolor. The green pond contained green/brown algae and cyanobacteria , possibly contributing to its green-yellowish color. A substantial fraction of the recovered fungal and bacterial sequences was not represented in current reference databases indicating that the microbial community may include uncharacterized taxa that needs further study. Several -animal, plant and human- potentially pathogenic bacteria and fungi were also identified. By establishing a baseline understanding of these unique communities, this study underscores their broader ecological significance. Furthermore, it positions these emerging habitats as valuable frontiers for the development of novel biocatalysts and advanced biotechnological tools.