Physical heterogeneity increases biofilm resource use and its molecular diversity in stream mesocosms.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Evidence increasingly shows that stream ecosystems greatly contribute to global carbon fluxes. This involves a tight coupling between biofilms, the dominant form of microbial life in streams, and dissolved organic carbon (DOC), a very significant pool of organic carbon on Earth. Yet, the interactions between microbial biodiversity and the molecular diversity of resource use are poorly understood.

Methodology/principal findings

Using six 40-m-long streamside flumes, we created a gradient of streambed landscapes with increasing spatial flow heterogeneity to assess how physical heterogeneity, inherent to streams, affects biofilm diversity and DOC use. We determined bacterial biodiversity in all six landscapes using 16S-rRNA fingerprinting and measured carbon uptake f

SUBMITTER: Singer G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2848676 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature