A polyphasic approach To study the diversity and vertical distribution of sulfur-oxidizing thiomicrospira species in coastal sediments of the german wadden Sea

ABSTRACT: Recently, four Thiomicrospira strains were isolated from a coastal mud flat of the German Wadden Sea (T. Brinkhoff and G. Muyzer, Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 63:3789-3796, 1997). Here we describe the use of a polyphasic approach to investigate the functional role of these closely related bacteria. Microsensor measurements showed that there was oxygen penetration into the sediment to a depth of about 2.0 mm. The pH decreased from 8.15 in the overlaying water to a minimum value of 7.3 at a depth of 1.2 mm. Further down in the sediment the pH increased to about 7.8 and remained constant. Most-probable-number (MPN) counts of chemolithoautotrophic sulfur-oxidizing bacteria revealed nearly constant numbers along the vertical profile; the cell concentration ranged from 0.93 x 10(5) to 9.3 x 10(5) c

SUBMITTER: Brinkhoff T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC90904 | biostudies-literature | 1998 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature