Abundance and Diversity of the Phototrophic Microbial Mat Communities of Sulphur Mountain Banff Springs and Their Significance to the Endangered Snail, <i>Physella johnsoni</i>

Abstract

Seasonal population fluctuations and diversity of anoxygenic phototrophs and cyanobacteria at the Sulphur Mountain thermal springs, Banff, Canada were investigated and compared to drastic population changes of the endangered snail Physella johnsoni. The microbial community revealed new species of anoxygenic phototrophic bacteria with novel spectral and morphological characteristics. Major mat-forming organisms included densely growing Thiothrix-like species, oxygenic phototrophs of the genera Spirulina, Oscillatoria, and Phormidium and purple nonsulfur bacteria Rhodobacter, Rhodopseudomonas and Rhodomicrobium. Aerobic anoxygenic phototrophs comprised a significant portion, upwards of 9.6 × 10 4 CFU/cm 2 of mat or 18.9% of total aerobic heterotrophic isolates, while PNSB and purple sulfur bacteria were quantified at maximum abundance of 3.2 × 10 5 and 2.0 × 10 6 CFU/cm 2 of mat, respectively. Photosynthetic activity revealed incredibly productive carbon fixation rates, averaging 40.5 mg C/cm 2 /day at one studied spring system. A temporal mismatch was observed for mat area and available organics to the fluctuation of P. johnsoni population in a tracking inertia manner. Mat chlorophyll a content appeared directly proportional to snail numbers making it an appropriate indicator of population. This survey of the Sulphur springs microbial communities suggests that phototrophic species are among the main determinants to the proliferation of P. johnsoni. *Corresponding author. M. Bilyj et al.489

Interplay between abiotic and microbial biofilm‐mediated processes for travertine formation: Insights from a thermal spring (Piscine Carletti, Viterbo, Italy)

“…The complex microbial community inhabiting the biofilm along the channel was mainly composed of phototrophic micro‐organisms, in line with those previously observed in other hot springs (Bilyj et al, 2014; Coman et al, 2013; Portillo et al, 2009; Stal et al, 2017; Wang et al, 2013). In particular, the predominant metabolic pathway was the oxygenic and anoxygenic phototrophy driven by members of Cyanobacteria , Chloroflexi , Chlorobi and Alphaproteobacteria (Coman et al, 2013).…”

The Diversity and Extensive Presence of Culturable Anoxygenic Phototrophic Bacteria in Manitoba Marshes

“…Utilization of individual carbon sources were evaluated in RO medium initially prepared without organics and then before inoculation supplemented with 0.5% of the following: Na-acetate, Na-butyrate, Na-citrate, ethanol, Na-formate, fructose, glucose, Na-glutamate, lactose, malic acid, Na-pyruvate and Na-succinate. Photoheterotrophic anaerobic growth was assessed in purple non-sulfur medium (PNSM) [24]. Liquid cultures in PNSM as well as a modified version which substituted L-cysteine and Lmethionine for 1.0 mM of Na2S, were incubated in filled screw-capped tubes, in constant light.…”

Abundance, Characterization and Diversity of Culturable Anoxygenic Phototrophic Bacteria in Manitoban Marshlands

“…The utilization of individual carbon sources was evaluated in RO initially prepared without organics and then before inoculation, supplemented with 0.5% of the following: Na-acetate, Na-butyrate, Na-citrate, ethanol, Na-formate, fructose, glucose, Na-glutamate, lactose, malic acid, Na-pyruvate and Na-succinate. Photoheterotrophic anaerobic growth was assessed in purple non-sulfur medium (PNSM) [24]. The liquid cultures in PNSM, as well as a modified version which substituted L-cysteine and L-methionine for 1.0 mM of Na 2 S, were incubated in filled screw-capped tubes under constant light.…”