Work

Depth profile of sulfate-reducing bacterial ribosomal RNA and mercury methylation in an estuarine sediment

Year: 1996

Type: article

Abstract: The community structure of complex anaerobic microbial communities has been difficult to elucidate because of an inability to cultivate most of the contributing populations. In this study, the distribution of sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) in anaerobic sediments was determined using oligonucleotide probes complementary to the 16S ribosomal RNAs of major phylogenetic groups. Sediment cores were collected from Santa Rosa Sound in northwest Florida, and sectioned by depth into 1 to 2 cm fractions. Nucleic acids were extracted from each fraction and hybridized with the SRB-specific ribosomal RNA probes. SRB ribosomal RNAs accounted for almost 5% of the microbial community ribosomal RNA pool in the 3–4 cm depth fraction and were dominated by Desulfovibrionaceae ribosomal RNA. The SRB ribosomal RNA peak coincided with mercury methylation, an activity attributed to SRB. Profiles of the ribosomal RNAs indicate that SRB populations in sediments are stratified by depth.

Source: FEMS Microbiology Ecology

DOI: 10.1016/0168-6496(96)00011-6

Authors: Richard Devereux, Michael R. Winfrey, Janet Winfrey, David A. Stahl

Institutions: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, University of Wisconsin–La Crosse, University of Illinois System

Language: English

Topic: Microbial Community Ecology and Physiology

Subfield: Ecology

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: bronze

Funder: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

OpenAlex ID: W2041717517