Microbially mediated sulphide production in a thermal, acidic algal mat community in Yellowstone National Park
Michael J. Ferris, Timothy S. Magnuson, Jennifer A. Fagg, Roland Thar, Michael Kühl, Kathy B. Sheehan and Joan M. Henson
Environmental Microbiology, 2003
Abstract
Our objective in this study was to characterize
prokaryotic sulphide production within the oxygenic,
predominantly eukaryotic algal mat in an acidic
stream, Nymph Creek, in Yellowstone National Park
(YNP). We used microsensors to examine fluctuations
in H2S and O2 concentrations over time through the vertical aspect of the ~3 mm mat in a 46–48°C region
of the creek. We also used analyses of PCR-amplified
16S rRNA gene sequences obtained from denaturing
gradient gels, and PCR-amplified sequences of a
functional gene associated with microbial sulphate
respiration (dsrA) to characterize the bacterial community
in the same region of the mat. During midday,
photosynthesis rates were high within the first
500um interval of the mat and high oxygen concentrations
(600% air saturation) penetrated deeply
(>1800 um) into the mat. During early evening and
night, oxygen concentrations within the first 1100 um
of the mat decreased over time from 60% air saturation
(a.s) to 12% a.s. A precipitous decline in oxygen concentration
occurred at a depth of 1100 um in all night
measurements and anoxic conditions were present
below 1200 um. Within this anoxic region, sulphide
concentrations increased from nearly 0 uM at 1200 um
depth to 100 uM at 2400 um depth. Enrichment cultures
inoculated with Nymph Creek mat organisms also produced H2S. Sequence analyses of 16S rRNA
and dsrA genes indicated the presence of at least five
bacterial genera including species involved in dissimilative
sulphate or sulphur reduction.
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