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- Title
Degradation of cyanobacterial biomass in anoxic tidal-flat sediments: a microcosm study of metabolic processes and community changes.
- Authors
Graue, Jutta; Engelen, Bert; Cypionka, Heribert
- Abstract
To follow the anaerobic degradation of organic matter in tidal-flat sediments, a stimulation experiment with 13C-labeled Spirulina biomass (130 mg per 21 g sediment slurry) was conducted over a period of 24 days. A combination of microcalorimetry to record process kinetics, chemical analyses of fermentation products and RNA-based stable-isotope probing (SIP) to follow community changes was applied. Different degradation phases could be identified by microcalorimetry: Within 2 days, heat output reached its maximum (55 μW), while primary fermentation products were formed (in μmol) as follows: acetate 440, ethanol 195, butyrate 128, propionate 112, H2 127 and smaller amounts of valerate, propanol and butanol. Sulfate was depleted within 7 days. Thereafter, methanogenesis was observed and secondary fermentation proceeded. H2 and alcohols disappeared completely, whereas fatty acids decreased in concentration. Three main degraders were identified by RNA-based SIP and denaturant gradient gel electrophoresis. After 12 h, two phylotypes clearly enriched in 13C: (i) Psychrilyobacter atlanticus, a fermenter known to produce hydrogen and acetate and (ii) bacteria distantly related to Propionigenium. A Cytophaga-related bacterium was highly abundant after day 3. Sulfate reduction appeared to be performed by incompletely oxidizing species, as only sulfate-reducing bacteria related to Desulfovibrio were labeled as long as sulfate was available.
- Subjects
CYANOBACTERIA; BIODEGRADATION; BACTERIAL ecology; BIOMASS; CALORIMETRY; FERMENTATION; SULFATE-reducing bacteria
- Publication
ISME Journal: Multidisciplinary Journal of Microbial Ecology, 2012, Vol 6, Issue 3, p660
- ISSN
1751-7362
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1038/ismej.2011.120