Phylogenetic diversity of cultivable bacteria in Lake Bazangan and their ecological role

Bacteria are the most abundant and richest groups of organisms that are involved in many important ecosystem processes. Despite their ecological importance, there is little literature about biodiversity, especially in aqueous environments. Iran has a variety of lakes in different locations, each of which have a special climate, with unique ecological features. Bazangan Lake, only natural lake with little salty is located in Khorasan Razavi and so far, there has not been researched on its microorganisms. The present study examined the phylogenetic diversity of cultivable bacteria in the Bazangan Lake. Sampling was conducted in November 2010. The bacterial screening led to isolation of 51 gram-positive and 15 gram-negative. 30 isolates were selected to molecular identification using 16S rRNA, studying Morphology, biochemistry and hydrolase enzymes. Identified strains belonged to beta, Gamma-Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes. Variety of Gram-ngative genus was more including Luteibacter, Xanthomonas, Varivorax, Collimonas and Flavobacterium. While Gram-positive bacteria is of less diversity including Bacillus, Fictibacillus, Staphylococcus and Paenibacillus. The maximum frequency is related to the genus Pseudomonas. The significant difference was not observed in gram-positive and gram-negative strains by checking hydrolase enzymes.