Seasonal composition and activity of sulfate-reducing prokaryotic communities in seagrass bed sediments

Seagrass (Zostera marina) Colonization Promotes the Accumulation of Diazotrophic Bacteria and Alters the Relative Abundances of Specific Bacterial Lineages Involved in Benthic Carbon and Sulfur Cycling

“…To test the hypothesis that the input of organic matter from seagrass roots gives rise to different bacterial communities in vegetated and unvegetated sediments, James et al (20) used double-gradient denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis, thereby demonstrating not only an effect of vegetation but also similarities between the bacterial communities in these sediment types on a seasonal scale. A relatively stable community composition of sulfate-reducing bacteria across these sediments was also noted (7). It was suggested that the differences in the communities likely stemmed from shifts in the abundance of some minor bacterial populations (20), but this has to be further investigated using more sensitive and quantitative approaches.…”

“…Studies on benthic microbial diversity and function are crucial to a better understanding of the global loss of seagrass habitats in coastal zones (1,4,7,8). In this study, using a range of molecular tools, we characterized the diversity, quantity, and community composition and structure of diazotrophs and all bacteria in both vegetated and unvegetated sediments of a shallow Z. marina-colonized lagoon.…”

“…Seagrass roots also release photosynthesis-produced O 2 into sediments, which results in less-reducing conditions in seagrass meadows than unvegetated sediments and contributes to the prevention of the accumulation of sulfides, the toxic products of sulfate reduction in anaerobic sedimentary environments that could play a role in dieback events in seagrass meadows (1,4). Higher bacterial populations and activities (particularly bacterium-mediated sulfate reduction) are usually found in seagrass-vegetated sites and not in unvegetated sediments (5)(6)(7)(8).…”

Aerobic heterotrophic microbial activity associated with seagrass roots: effects of plant type and nutrient amendment

“…sulphate reduction or nitrogen fixation rates) (Welsh et al 1996, Blaabjerg & Finster 1998, Blaabjerg et al 1998, Hansen et al 2000. Many of these studies have illustrated the importance of plantderived organic matter in fuelling microbial activity (Welsh et al 1997, Blaabjerg et al 1998, Holmer et al 2004, Smith et al 2004, with higher rates of sulphate reduction within seagrass sediments than in unvegetated sediments (Hansen et al 2000, Holmer et al 2001. Despite these advances in understanding single microbial processes, only a few studies have investigated the microbial community diversity of these systems.…”

Microbial Diversity inZostera Sp.Beds in South-Western Black Sea Region Analyzed by Amplified Ribosomal DNA Restriction Enzyme Analysis (ARDRA)

“…This could be possible explanation of received high similarity. Moreover in many recent studies of seagrasses in temperate waters (10,2,21) no differences between microbial communities in vegetated and unvegetated sediments were found. Moreover analyses were done based on day sampling, not taking into account diurnal variations.…”