Paper Title
Rhizospheric Microbial Diversity of Andean Wetlands from Central Peru using Metabarcoding Analysis

Abstract
Problem Statement: The high Andean wetlands are key ecosystems that are impacted by unsustainable trade of peat and livestock overgrazing. This reduces the vegetation cover, water and humidity of soils and their rhizospheric microbial community. Objective: To evaluate the microbial diversity of rhizospheric soils across bothimpacted (IZ) and non-impacted anthropogenic zones (NIZ) in Pumacocha wetland (Ancash region, central Peru). Methods: DNA was extracted from rhizospheric soils and the 16S gene sequencing was performed by Illumina Miseq using True Seq DNA Library. Bioinformatic analyses were performed to assessthe composition and relative abundance of microorganisms. These variables were associated to the ecological conditions of wetland soils. Results: The composition of species resulted similar in both zones; whereas, the relative abundance was higher in IZ (Shannon index = 6, Simpson index = 0.9; Bray-Curtis index). Both zones resulted in unknown community of bacteria. Other predominant bacteria in IZ were Acidothermus,Bradhyrizobium, andNitrobacterand the genera Aquisphaera and Bacilluswere prevalent in NIZ. Regarding the ecological conditions, the most significant differences were in organic matter (IZ=17.69%, NIZ= 40,06%), electric conductivity (IZ= 0.26dS/m, NIZ= 0.51dS/m) and type of soil (sandy and loamy for NIZ). Numerous plant species predominate in NIZ (Distichiamuscoides, Oxicloeandina, Plantago rigida, Werneriapygmaea and Oreobolusobtusangulus). Conclusion: The similar microbial composition in both study zones suggests adaptability of microorganisms to different environmental conditions. However, the higher levels of organic matter and electric conductivity in NIZ might be related with abundance of plant species. Keywords – Bofedales, DNA, Metabarcoding, Microbiota, Rhizospheric soils, Vegetation Funding: Proyecto Prociencia N°035-2021.