Ecological stresses and changes in natural microflora of soil samples around Lake Urmia

Lake Urmia, after experiencing rapid volume growth over the past few years, almost dried up in the fall of 2023. Consecutive droughts, agricultural water consumption and dam construction on the rivers feeding Lake Urmia play a significant role in reducing its water volume. In this regard, the aim of the present study is to investigate the microbiological changes created as a result of ecological changes in the highly saline lake of Urmia, which is one of the extreme regions inside Iran.

The required samples were obtained from Qalgachi area, which is located near Lake Urmia. In this research, by using the usual methods of culture, purification, biochemical and microbiological tests, four microbial species were identified and classified by PCR.

Among the four microbial species selected in this research, two species (KULC3, KULC4) were salt-loving and the other two (KULC1, KULC5) belonged to different non-salt-loving species, which probably represent changes in the salt-loving microflora of Lake Urmia.

The occurrence of ecological changes in extreme and closed environments such as Lake Urmia, causes the possibility of microbiological changes in line with environmental changes. The results of this research showed that the microorganisms that live as natural flora in a certain area are able to adapt to the new ecological conditions and harmonize with the new environmental conditions.