Dynamics of heavy metals and microbiota in glacial systems of Zhongar Alatau National Park, Kazakhstan

This study presents the results of the relationships between elemental and microbial structure (bacterial fragments) in the glacial region of the Zhongar Alatau Mountains. Water samples were collected from selected sites of the glacial system and subsequently filtered. The highest diversity and species richness of bacteria was found in glacial lakes and the lowest in glaciers. The species evenness indicates that there is a certain dominant bacterial species in glaciers. The species richness of bacteria was positively correlated with the concentration of biotic chemical elements. Community evenness or balance was positively related to chromium concentration but negatively related to mercury concentration. We confirmed synergistic accumulation of manganese, rubidium, potassium, barium and iron in glaciers. Bacteria varied significantly in subglacial moulds. Bacterial communities from glaciers and sediments of subglacial lakes differed significantly. All these factors may be related to anthropogenic pollution; glacier melt and dust storms in the study area. Investigations of bacterial communities and concentrations of chemical elements in the waters of glacial valleys of Zhongar Alatau show that synergistic concentrations of some chemical elements have their analogy in the occurrence of bacterial communities. Finally, we found that the primary chemical environment of glacial valleys correlated with spatial patterns of bacterial community structure.