Localized electron transfer rates and microelectrode-based enrichment of microbial communities within a phototrophic microbial mat.

ABSTRACT: Phototrophic microbial mats frequently exhibit sharp, light-dependent redox gradients that regulate microbial respiration on specific electron acceptors as a function of depth. In this work, a benthic phototrophic microbial mat from Hot Lake, a hypersaline, epsomitic lake located near Oroville in north-central Washington, was used to develop a microscale electrochemical method to study local electron transfer processes within the mat. To characterize the physicochemical variables influencing electron transfer, we initially quantified redox potential, pH, and dissolved oxygen gradients by depth in the mat under photic and aphotic conditions. We further demonstrated that power output of a mat fuel cell was light-dependent. To study local electron transfer processes, we deployed a microscale

SUBMITTER: Babauta JT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3902354 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature