Pcr-dgge based diversity analysis of bacteria and archaea from mud volcanoes on Andaman Islands, India

Mud volcanoes at Baratang and Kattan started ejecting mud after the 2004 Tsunami incidence. In this study, prokaryotic diversity in the flowing mud was investigated by using PCR-DGGE approach. Presence of 88 organisms was detected of which, 36% population detected was affiliated to archaea. All the archaea detected were representatives of Euryarchaeota. 64% population was affiliated to bacteria, mainly dominated by Proteobacteria. In Proteobacteria, alpha proteobacteria contributed 26.785%, beta proteobacteria was found to be 28.57%, gamma proteobacteria contributed 16.071% and delta proteobacteria was 5.357%. Actinobacteria contributed 7.14% followed by firmicutes being 12.5%. Sphingobacteriales contributed 1.78% and ungrouped organisms contributed 1.78%. Statistical analyses of all DGGE gels indicate that the diversity of Kattan mud volcano was comparatively greater than Baratang mud volcano. The results indicate that a large number of unexplored microbial groups may exist in this unique ecosystem.