Diversification of bacterial community composition along a temperature gradient at a thermal spring

Microbes Environ. 2012;27(4):374-81. doi: 10.1264/jsme2.me11350. Epub 2012 May 17.

Abstract

To better understand the biogeography and relationship between temperature and community structure within microbial mats, the bacterial diversity of mats at a slightly alkaline, sulfide-containing hot spring was explored. Microbial mats that developed at temperatures between 75-52°C were collected from an area of approximately 1 m(2) in Nakabusa, Nagano, Japan. Bacterial 16S rRNA genes from these samples were examined by terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) and clone library analysis. T-RFLP profiles revealed 66 unique fragments (T-RFs). Based on total T-RFs observed in environmental profiles and clone libraries, a temperature effect on diversity was determined, with complexity in the community increasing as temperature decreased. The T-RF pattern indicated four distinct community assemblages related to temperature. Members of the Aquificales and particularly the sulfur-oxidizing bacterium Sulfurihydrogenibium were present at all temperatures and were the dominant component of mats taken at 75-67°C. Sulfide oxidation, which persisted throughout the temperature gradient, was the presumed dominant pathway of primary production above 67°C. As temperature decreased, successive additions of anoxygenic and oxygenic phototrophs increased primary productivity, allowing for diversification of the community.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bacteria / genetics
  • Bacteria / isolation & purification*
  • Bacteria / metabolism
  • Base Sequence
  • Biodiversity
  • Ecosystem
  • Genes, Bacterial
  • Hot Springs / microbiology*
  • Japan
  • Microbial Consortia
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Phylogeny
  • Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / genetics
  • Sequence Analysis, RNA
  • Temperature*
  • Water Microbiology

Substances

  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S

Associated data

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