Effect of nutrient periodicity on microbial community dynamics.

ABSTRACT: When microbes are subjected to temporal changes in nutrient availability, growth rate and substrate affinity can contribute to competitive fitness and thereby affect microbial community structure. This hypothesis was tested using planktonic bacterial communities exposed to nutrient additions at 1-, 3-, 7-, or 14-day intervals. Growth rates after nutrient addition were inversely proportional to the pulse interval and declined from 0.5 h(-1) to 0.15 h(-1) as the pulse interval increased from 1 to 14 days. The dynamics of community structure were monitored by 16S rRNA gene PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis. At pulse intervals of more than 1 day, the community composition continued to change over 130 days. Although replicate systems exposed to the same pulse interval were physiologic

SUBMITTER: Carrero-Colon M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1472307 | biostudies-literature | 2006 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature