Fate of bacterial biomass derived fatty acids in soil and their contribution to soil organic matter

Soil organic matter (SOM) is a major pool of the global C cycle and determines soil fertility. The stability of SOM strongly depends on the molecular precursors and structures. Plant residues have been regarded as the dominant precursors, but recent results showed a major contribution of microbial biomass. The fate of microbial biomass constituents has not yet been explored; therefore, we investigated the fate of fatty acids (FA) from ¹³C labeled Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli) in a model soil study [Kindler, R., Miltner, A., Richnow, H.H., Kästner, M., 2006. Fate of gram negative bacterial biomass in soil—mineralization and contribution to SOM. Soil Biology & Biochemistry 38, 2860–2870]. After 224 days of incubation, the label in the total fatty acids (t-FA) in the soil decreased to 24% and in the phospholipid fatty acids (PLFA) of living microbes to 11% of the initially added amount. Since the bulk C decreased only to 44% in this period, the turnover of FA is clearly higher indicating that other compounds must have a lower turnover. The ¹³C label in the t-FA reached a stable level after 50 days but the label of the PLFA of the living microbial biomass declined until the end of the experiment. The isotopic enrichment of individual PLFA shows that the biomass derived C was spread across the microbial food web. Modelling of the C fluxes in this experiment indicated that microbial biomass is continuously mineralized after cell death and recycled by other organisms down to the 10% level, whereas the majority of biomass derived residual bulk C (～33%) was stabilized in the non-living SOM pool.     

森林土壤微生物与植物碳源的磷脂脂肪酸及其单体同位素研究

森林生态系统的土壤微生物群落组成和活性,是影响生物地球化学循环、有机质代谢和土壤质量的关键因素.磷脂脂肪酸(PLFA)是一类可有效表征活体微生物群落结构的生物标志物,而其单体稳定碳同位素(δ13C)水平对土壤微生物植物碳代谢具有独特的指示作用.本次研究以土壤PLFA为对象,分析了我国位处纬度梯度带上(24°N～47°N...     

Lipid biomarkers and carbon-isotopes of modern travertine deposits (Yellowstone National Park, USA): Implications for biogeochemical dynamics in hot-spring systems

Lipid biomarkers and ¹³C fractionation patterns were used to understand the dynamics of carbon cycling during microbial metabolisms in different environments of travertine precipitation (called facies) at Spring AT-1 on Angel Terrace in the Mammoth Hot Springs complex of Yellowstone National Park, USA. Microbial mats that encrust travertine deposits were collected for analyses of lipid biomarkers and carbon isotopes along the continuous drainage outflow system of Spring AT-1. The spring water exhibits a continuous temperature drop from 71°C in the vent at top to 24°C in the distal slope at bottom. Phospholipid fatty acids (PLFA) and glycolipid fatty acids (GLFA) exhibit distinctly different compositions in each of the facies, which are consistent with partitioning of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene sequences in the Spring AT-1 travertine facies (Fouke et al., 2003).The δ¹³C composition of total biomass within the microbial mats decreases from −16.1‰ in the vent to −23.5‰ in the distal slope. However, lower values occur in the pond (−26.0‰) and the proximal slope (−28.0‰) between the vent and the distal slope. Isotopic compositions of PLFA and GLFA have variations similar to those of total biomass. The average δ¹³C values of PLFA are −12.4 ± 5.2‰ (n = 10 individual fatty acids, same below) in the vent, −33.0 ± 3.1‰ (n = 11) in the pond, −33.7 ± 3.8‰ (n = 16) in the proximal slope, and −22.4 ± 3.4‰ (n = 10) in the distal slope; the average δ¹³C values of GLFA are −19.6 ± 3.0‰ (n = 3) in the vent, −30.4 ± 4.7‰ (n = 8) in the pond, −36.9 ± 2.8‰ (n = 12) in the proximal slope, and −27.9 ± 3.1‰ (n = 13) in the distal slope. In particular, fatty acids in the vent are enriched in ¹³C relative to the total biomass, which is consistent with the notion that the biosynthetic pathways of the extant microbial community in the vent may be dominated by Aquificales using the reversed tricarboxylic acid cycle. Fractionations between fatty acids and total biomass in the pond, the proximal slope and the distal slope suggest the involvement of other biosynthetic pathways for CO₂ fixation by extant microbial populations. The results indicate that lipid biomarkers provide valuable information on the changing diversity and activity of microbial communities in different depositional environments. Carbon-isotope fractionations, on the other hand, can provide insight into the operating biosynthetic pathways associated with different organisms in the changing environment. This integrated approach may serve as a powerful tool for identifying functional metabolism within a community and identify shifts in microbial community structure in modern hot-spring systems.     

Effects of seawater irrigation on soil microbial community structure and physiological function

Irrigation with diluted seawater would be an alternative water resource which can play an important role under scarce resources of freshwater for promoting agricultural production in coastal areas. Salvadora persica Linn. was irrigated with different concentrations of seawater (0, 10, 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 % seawater), and their effect on plant growth, nutrient contents in soil and plants, shift in soil microbial community structure (phospholipid fatty acid; PLFA) and community-level physiological profiling (CLPP, Biolog ECO MicroPlate) were studied. Plant dry matter was significantly increased with all seawater treatments, and highest increase was at 20 % seawater treatment. Sodium and chloride contents were significantly increased, whereas ratios of K/Na and Ca/Na were significantly decreased in plants with seawater irrigation. Soil electrical conductivity (EC), available K and Na were significantly increased with increasing the concentration of seawater. Total PLFA concentration and PLFA profile of soils were used as indices of total microbial biomass and community composition, respectively. The concentrations of total PLFA, gram-positive, gram-negative and actinomycetes biomarker PLFAs were significantly reduced at 20, 40, 80 and 40 % concentrations of seawater, respectively. The application of different concentrations of seawater induced a clear shift in the soil microbial community structure toward the bacterial abundance. The microbial community structure and community-level physiological profiling in seawater irrigation treatments had significantly differentiated. It can be concluded that irrigation with different concentrations of seawater had significant impact on soil chemical and microbial properties which is attributed due to the salinity stress.     

Variable effects of labile carbon on the carbon use of different microbial groups in black slate degradation

Weathering of ancient organic matter contributes significantly to biogeochemical carbon cycles over geological times. The principle role of microorganisms in this process is well recognized. However, information is lacking on the contribution of individual groups of microorganisms and on the effect of labile carbon sources to the degradation process. Therefore, we investigated the contribution of fungi, Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria in the degradation process using a column experiment. Investigations were performed on low metamorphic black slates. All columns contained freshly crushed, sieved (0.63-2 mm), not autoclaved black slates. Two columns were inoculated with the lignite-degrading fungus Schizophyllum commune and received a culture medium containing ¹³C labeled glucose, two columns received only this culture medium and two control columns received only water.The total mass balance was calculated from all carbon added to the slate and the CO₂ and DOC losses. Phospholipid fatty acids (PLFA) were extracted to investigate microbial communities. We used both the compound specific ¹⁴C and ¹³C signal of the PLFA to quantify carbon uptake from black slates and the glucose of the culture medium, respectively.The total carbon loss in these columns exceeded the amount of added carbon by approximately 60%, indicating that black slate carbon has been used. PLFA associated with Gram-positive bacteria dominated the indigenous community and took up 22% of carbon from black slate carbon, whereas PLFA of Gram-negative bacteria used only 8% of carbon from the slates. PLFA of Gram-negative bacteria and fungi were both mostly activated by the glucose addition. The added Schizophyllum did not establish well in the columns and was overgrown by the indigenous microbial community. Our results suggest that especially Gram-positive bacteria are able to live on and degrade black slate material. They also benefit from easy degradable carbon from the nutrient broth. In natural environments priming due to root exudates might consequently enhance weathering.     

A comparison of sediment microbial communities associated with<Emphasis Type="Italic">Phragmites australis</Emphasis> and<Emphasis Type="Italic">Spartina alterniflora</Emphasis> in two brackish wetlands of New Jersey

The extensive spread ofPhragmites australis throughout brackish marshes on the East Coast of the United States is a major factor governing management and restoration decisions because it is assumed that biogeochemical functions are altered by the invasion. Microbial activity is important in providing wetland biogeochemical functions such as carbon and nitrogen cycling, but there is little known about sediment microbial communities inPhragmites marshes. Microbial populations associated with invasivePhragmites vegetation and with native salt marsh cordgrass,Spartina alterniflora, may differ in the relative abundance of microbial taxa (community structure) and in the ability of this biota to decompose organic substrates (community biogeochemical function). This study compares sediment microbial communities associated withPhragmites andSpartina vegetation in an undisturbed brackish marsh near Tuckerton, New Jersey (MUL), and in a brackish marsh in the anthropogenically affected Hackensack meadowlands (SMC). We use phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) analysis and enzymataic activity to profile sediment microbial communities associated with both plants in each site. Sediment analyses include bulk density, total organic matter, and root biomass. PLFA profiles indicate that the microbial communities differ between sites with the undisturbed site exhibiting greater fatty acid richness (62 PLFA recovered from MUL versus 38 from SMC). Activity of the 5 enzymes analyzed (β-glucosidase, acid phosphatase, chitobiase, and 2 oxidases) was higher in the undisturbed site. Differences between vegetation species as measured by Principal Components Analysis were significantly greater at the undisturbed MUL site than at SMC, and patterns of enzyme activity and PLFAs did not correspond to patterns of root biomass. We suggest that in natural wetland sediments, macrophyte rhizosphere effects influence the community composition of sediment microbial populations. Physical and chemical site disturbances may impose limits on these rhizosphere effects, decreasing sediment microbial diversity and potentially, microbial biogeochemical functions.     

Phospholipid fatty acids analysis of the vertical distribution of microbial communities in eutrophic lake sediments

Vertical distribution of microbial communities in a eutrophic lake sediments of Lake Xuanwu was quantified by phospholipid fatty acids analysis and multivariate statistical analysis was employed to interprete the data. Principle component analysis of sediment characteristics parameters, including total nitrogen, total phosphorus, organic matters and pH produced clustering of sampling sites for two distinct groups. These groups corresponded with the two sampling stations and the levels of nutrient enrichment. Total phospholipid fatty acids concentration, which is indicative of microbial biomass, reduced with depth, however, the relative percentage of anaerobic prokaryotes increased. To assess changes of microbial community along depth, phospholipid fatty acids compositions were analyzed by cluster analysis. Distinct clusters were observed in different sampling stations. Canonical correspondence analysis was carried out to infer the relationship between sediment characteristics and microbial communities. Phospholipid fatty acids samples collected at the same sampling site clustered together. Canonical correspondence analysis revealed that the environmental parameter with the greatest bearing on the phospholipid fatty acids profiles was pH. This study proved the successful application of phospholipid fatty acids and multivariate analysis to investigate the relationship between environment factors and microbial community composition.     

Fate of microbial biomass-derived amino acids in soil and their contribution to soil organic matter

Soil organic matter (SOM) is important for soil fertility and for the global C cycle. Previous studies have shown that during SOM formation no new compound classes are formed and that it consists basically of plant- and microorganism-derived materials. However, little data on the contribution from microbial sources are available. Therefore, we investigated previously in a model study the fate of C from ¹³C-labelled Gram-negative bacteria in soil (Kindler, R., Miltner, A. Richnow, H.H., Kästner, M., 2006. Fate of gram negative bacterial biomass in soil – mineralization and contribution to SOM. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 38, 2860–2870) and showed that 44% of the bulk ¹³C remained in the soil. Here we present the corresponding data on the fate of amino acids hydrolysed from proteins, which are the most abundant components of microbial biomass. After 224 days incubation, the label in the total amino acids in the soil amended with ¹³C-labelled cells decreased only to >95%. The total amino acids therefore clearly showed a lower turnover than the bulk ¹³C and a surprisingly stable concentration. Proteins therefore have to be considered as being stabilised in soil in dead, non-extractable biomass or cell fragments by known general stabilisation mechanisms. The label in the amino acids in a fraction highly enriched in living microbial biomass decreased to a greater extent, i.e. to 25% of the initially added amount. The amino acids removed from this fraction were redistributed via the microbial food web to non-living SOM. All amino acids in the microbial biomass were degraded at similar rates without a change in isotopic signature. The nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra of the soils were very similar and indicate that the residues of the degraded microbial biomass were very similar to those of the SOM and are a significant source for the formation of the SOM.     

Hydrocarbon biodegradation and soil microbial community response to repeated oil exposure

Bioremediation strategies continue to be developed to mitigate the environmental impact of petroleum hydrocarbon contamination. This study investigated the ability of soil microbiota, adapted by prior exposure, to biodegrade petroleum. Soils from Barrow Is. (W. Australia), a class A nature reserve and home to Australia’s largest onshore oil field, were exposed to Barrow production oil (50 ml/kg soil) and incubated (25 °C) for successive phases of 61 and 100 days. Controls in which oil was not added at Phase I or II were concurrently studied and all treatments were amended with the same levels of additional nutrient and water to promote microbial activity. Prior exposure resulted in accelerated biodegradation of most, but not all, hydrocarbon constituents in the production oil. Molecular biodegradation parameters measured using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) showed that several aromatic constituents were degraded more slowly with increased oil history. The unique structural response of the soil microbial community was reflected by the response of different phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) sub-classes (e.g. branched saturated fatty acids of odd or even carbon number) measured using a ratio termed Barrow PLFA ratio (B-PLFAr). The corresponding values of a previously proposed hydrocarbon degrading alteration index showed a negative correlation with hydrocarbon exposure, highlighting the site specificity of PLFA-based ratios and microbial community dynamics. B-PLFAr values increased with each Phase I and II addition of production oil. The different hydrocarbon biodegradation rates and responses of PLFA subclasses to the Barrow production oil probably relate to the relative bioavailability of production oil hydrocarbons. These different effects suggest preferred structural and functional microbial responses to anticipated contaminants may potentially be engineered by controlled pre-exposure to the same or closely related substrates. The bioremediation of soils freshly contaminated with petroleum could benefit from the addition of exhaustively bioremediated soils rich in biota primed for the impacting hydrocarbons.     

Biodegradation of C-labeled low molecular organic acids using three biometer methods

Low molecular weight organic acids (LMWOA) are produced in soil by various biological and chemical processes and can exhibit substantial metal complexing and dissolution capacity. The reactivity of these compounds in the soil environment is dependent on their non-complexed concentration in the soil solution. Adsorption of LMWOA has been shown to reduce their concentration in the soil solution; however, little is known about the reduction of LMWOA concentration due to microbial degradation. To examine the extent of microbial degradation in reducing LMWOA concentration in the soil solution, three-biometer methods were used: a soil biometer flask, an in-situ field biometer and a soil column biometer. Four soil horizons were used with each method. To each soil sample, 2.0×10⁻⁶ moles of organic acid containing 3.7×10⁴ Bq total activity was applied. The ¹⁴C-radiolabeled aliphatic and aromatic acids studied included oxalic, malonic, succinic, and phthalic acid. Evolved ¹⁴CO₂ was trapped in 0.5 mol l⁻¹ NaOH and measured using liquid scintillation counting. Labeled acids degraded rapidly within the first 5 days for the Ap1, Ap2, and BA horizons, with a generally slower rate of ¹⁴CO₂ evolution being observed for the Bt1 horizon. The % degradation of labeled acid was substantially greater for the soil biometer flask method, compared to the field and soil column biometer methods. The average % degradation for the soil biometer flask was 67% for all soil horizons and organic acids, compared to 14% for the field biometer and 13% for the soil column biometer. Results indicate that substantial microbial degradation of organic acids can occur within a relatively short time period and the biometer method selected can influence the % acid degraded. Based on primary results, the soil column biometer method better approximated microbial degradation under field conditions, as evaluated using the field biometer.     

Temperature adaptation of microbial communities in different horizons of Siberian permafrost-affected soils from the Lena Delta

The cell membrane phospholipid (PL) inventory of microbial populations in a Siberian permafrost soil of the Lena Delta was analysed to examine as to how the microbial populations within different horizons of the active layer were adapted to the extreme temperature gradient in this environment. One surface-near and one permafrost-near soil sample were taken from the active layer on Samoylov Island in the southern central Lena Delta (Siberia) and in each case incubated at 4 and 28 °C. Subsequently, the phospholipid cell membrane composition of the indigenous microbial populations was qualitatively and quantitatively determined and compared. In both horizons, the incubation at 4 °C is characterized by a shift in the PL inventory to more short chain fatty acids. A significant trend in the proportions of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids, however, was not detected. A higher proportion of both short chain and unsaturated fatty acids counterbalances the effect of decreasing cell membrane fluidity with decreasing environmental temperature. Thus, the adaptation of the permafrost microbial populations within the different horizons to varying ambient temperature conditions appears to be mainly regulated by the chain length of the phospholipid fatty acids. Although there is almost no change in the proportions of unsaturated fatty acids between the 4 and 28 °C incubation experiments, the permafrost-near horizon in general contains more unsaturated fatty acids than the surface-near horizon and a higher proportion of short chain fatty acids. This suggests that the lipid inventory of the microbial population nearer to the perennially frozen ground is more adapted to lower temperatures than that of the microbial community from the surface-near horizon, which seems to show a higher flexibility toward higher temperature conditions. The permafrost-near horizon appears to be dominated by psychrophilic species, while the surface-near horizon is characterized by a mesophilic-dominated microbial community.     

Carbon isotope fractionation in phospholipid fatty acid biomarkers of bacteria and fungi native to an acid mine drainage lake

This study identifies isotope signatures associated with autotrophic and heterotrophic microbial communities that may provide a means to determine carbon cycling relationships in situ for acid mine drainage (AMD) sites. Stable carbon isotope ratios (δ¹³C) of carbon sources, bulk cells, and membrane phospholipids (PLFA) were measured for autotrophic and heterotrophic microbial enrichment cultures from a mine tailings impoundment in northern Ontario, Canada, and for pure strains of the sulfur oxidizing bacteria Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans and Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans. The autotrophic enrichments had indistinguishable PLFA distributions from the pure cultures, and the PLFA cyc-C_19:0 was determined to be a unique biomarker in this system for these sulfur oxidizing bacteria. The PLFA distributions produced by the heterotrophic enrichments were distinct from the autotrophic distributions and the C_18:2 PLFA was identified as a biomarker for these heterotrophic enrichments. Genetic analysis (16S, 18S rRNA) of the heterotrophic cultures indicated that these communities were primarily composed of Acremonium fungi.Stable carbon isotope analysis revealed that bulk cellular material in all autotrophic cultures was depleted in δ¹³C by 5.6–10.9‰ relative to their atmospheric CO₂ derived carbon source, suggesting that inorganic carbon fixation in these cultures is carbon limited. Individual PLFA from these autotrophs were further depleted by 8.2–14.6‰ compared to the bulk cell δ¹³C, which are among the largest biosynthetic isotope fractionation factors between bulk cell and PLFA reported in the literature. In contrast, the heterotrophic bulk cells were not significantly fractionated in δ¹³C relative to their carbon source and heterotrophic PLFA ranged from 3‰ enriched to 4‰ depleted relative to the isotopic composition of their total biomass. These distinct PLFA biomarkers and isotopic fractionations associated with autotrophic and heterotrophic activity in this laboratory study provide potential biomarkers for delineating autotrophic and heterotrophic carbon cycling in AMD environments.     

Fractionation of carbon isotopes in biosynthesis of fatty acids by a piezophilic bacterium Moritella japonica strain DSK1

We examined stable carbon isotope fractionation in biosynthesis of fatty acids of a piezophilic bacterium Moritella japonica strain DSK1. The bacterium was grown to stationary phase at pressures of 0.1, 10, 20, and 50 MPa in media prepared using sterile-filtered natural seawater supplied with glucose as the sole carbon source. Strain DSK1 synthesized typical bacterial fatty acids (C_14-19 saturated, monounsaturated, and cyclopropane fatty acids) as well as long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) (20:6ω3). Bacterial cell biomass and individual fatty acids exhibited consistent pressure-dependent carbon isotope fractionations relative to glucose. The observed Δδ_FA-glucose (−1.0‰ to −11.9‰) at 0.1 MPa was comparable to or slightly higher than fractionations reported in surface bacteria. However, bulk biomass and fatty acids became more depleted in ¹³C with pressure. Average carbon isotope fractionation (Δδ_FA-glucose) at high pressures was much higher than that for surface bacteria: −15.7‰, −15.3‰, and −18.3‰ at 10, 20, and 50 MPa, respectively. PUFA were more ¹³C depleted than saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids at all pressures. The observed isotope effects may be ascribed to the kinetics of enzymatic reactions that are affected by hydrostatic pressure and to biosynthetic pathways that are different for short-chain and long-chain fatty acids. A simple quantitative calculation suggests that in situ piezophilic bacterial contribution of polyunsaturated fatty acids to marine sediments is nearly two orders of magnitude higher than that of marine phytoplankton and that the carbon isotope imprint of piezophilic bacteria can override that of surface phytoplankton. Our results have important implications for marine biogeochemistry. Depleted fatty acids reported in marine sediments and the water column may be derived simply from piezophilic bacteria resynthesis of organic matter, not from bacterial utilization of a ¹³C-depleted carbon source (i.e., methane). The interpretation of carbon isotope signatures of marine lipids must be based on principles derived from piezophilic bacteria.     

Microbial,redox and organic characteristics of compacted clay-based buffer after 6.5 years of burial at AECL's Underground Research Laboratory

Many countries are considering options for long-term management of nuclear waste. One common aspect among deep geological disposal options in granitic host rock is the use of clay-based buffer materials to limit radionuclide migration in case of container failure. The isothermal test (ITT) involved placing ∼2.4 m³ of clay-based buffer in a borehole at the 240 m level of AECL's Underground Research Laboratory to study the response of buffer to resaturation by groundwater over a 6.5-year period. Results are reported here on measurements taken at the end of the test for microbial, redox and organic characterization of the buffer. Results from enumerations and biomass determinations suggested that the viable population of cells in the buffer was several orders of magnitude larger than could be cultured. It is postulated that, due to the constrictive and nutrient-poor buffer environment, viable and active cells became stressed during burial and lost activity and culturability but not viability. Culturable microbial populations at interfaces in the ITT were about an order of magnitude larger than in comparable bulk buffer samples, suggesting that interfaces may be preferred sites for microbial activity and transport. The presence of culturable SO₄-reducing bacteria and an increase in solid sulphide concentrations in the buffer suggested SO₄ reduction, which appeared to be very variable locally. Only about 0.02–0.5% of SO₄ was converted to sulphide, suggesting that SO₄ reduction was not (yet) a dominant process. No methanogens could be enumerated from the ITT, and phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) profiles did not suggest their presence. Gas analysis of samples recovered from the ITT suggested some reduction in O₂ near the top of the experiment, but deeper samples did not show a significant decrease in O₂ and had only a small increase in CH₄ and H₂ levels. This suggested that microbial processes were depressed in the buffer but may have been more active near the concrete/buffer interface. The suggestion of low microbial activity in the buffer was corroborated by the results from the PLFA analysis, which indicated low biomass turnover rates and starvation biomarkers. The combination of enumerations, PLFA and gas analysis results suggested that no significant evolution towards reducing conditions occurred during the duration of the ITT. Fulvic acids made up the largest fraction of water-leachable humic substances but accounted for only about 2% of the total C inventory of the buffer material. The complexing capacity of these humic substances, based on carboxylic functional groups, ranged from 24 to 32 meq/g dissolved organic C. This may provide buffer porewater with considerable complexing capacity for radionuclides.     

神农架大九湖不同生境表土磷脂脂肪酸揭示的微生物群落结构差异

磷脂脂肪酸(phospholipid fatty acid,PLFAs)是活体微生物细胞膜的重要组成部分,微生物通过改变细胞膜中PLFA组成,快速响应环境变化.目前,表土PLFAs研究主要集中于季节和植被群落变化对微生物群落结构影响,对于不同生境下表土PLFAs揭示的微生物群落结构的差异性尚不明确.基于此,对神农架大九湖7种不同生境表土进行PLFAs研究.结果表明,表土样品PLFAs集中分布于C₁₄到C₁₉;除湿生泥炭沼泽和湿生半退化沼泽生境外,其他生境以n16:0为主峰.不同生境的PLFAs含量差异较大,沼泽生境TPLFAs含量是草甸及阔叶林生境下的3~8倍.PLFAs组成还揭示出生境间主要受到pH和含水率的影响,微生物群落结构存在差异.不同生境下表层土壤PLFAs揭示的微生物丰度和群落结构具有一定的相似性及差异性.运用PLFAs对微生物量及微生物群落结构的划分将有助于更好的了解区域生态系统中微生物群落结构的变化,为研究微生物参与碳循环及古生态研究奠定基础.      

Biogeochemical characterization of bacterial assemblages in relation to release of arsenic from South East Asia (Bangladesh) sediments

Arsenic release experiments using natural indigenous microbial assemblages and natural sediment samples in Bangladesh have been performed. The As release appears to be facilitated by moderate organic input. Addition of some nutrients caused reducing conditions, which may generate the appropriate environment for Fe-reducing bacteria to become active. Detailed cellular phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) analysis suggests the presence of SO₄-reducing and Fe-reducing bacteria in the sediments. These Fe-reducing bacteria may serve as the agents catalyzing As release in the organic-rich sediments. 16S rDNA analysis of one cultured sample suggests the presence of clostridia, some of which are known to mediate Fe reduction. Based on new PLFA analyses, it is proposed that combined microbial processes of SO₄ reduction to generate anaerobic conditions and Fe reduction to co-reduce As are important biogeochemical factors for As release in the Bangladesh sediments.     

大兴安岭多年冻土区不同林型土壤微生物群落特征

高纬度多年冻土区是全球变化的敏感区域,揭示不同林型土壤微生物群落的演变规律,对于理解气候变化对寒区生态系统的影响机制具有重要意义。以大兴安岭多年冻土区3种典型林型（落叶松林、樟子松林和白桦林）为研究对象,运用磷脂脂肪酸法（PLFA）系统研究土壤微生物群落结构间差异及与土壤因子的关系。结果表明：不同林型土壤中共检测到38种PLFA生物标记,含量较高的PLFA为16∶0、18∶0、19∶0和18∶2ω6c;各类群微生物中,细菌PLFA含量最高,占总磷脂脂肪酸的83.78%~90.55%,其次为真菌,放线菌最低;白桦林土壤总磷脂脂肪酸、革兰氏阴性菌、革兰氏阳性菌、真菌和放线菌的含量最高分别为22.03、5.13、4.90、1.88和0.77 nmol·g^-1,而樟子松林最低分别为14.25、2.75、2.75、1.34和0.51 nmol·g^-1。Shannon-Wiener多样性指数主要表现为白桦林 > 落叶松林 > 樟子松林。冗余分析结果为：土壤含水量、全氮、总有机碳与总磷脂脂肪酸、细菌、革兰氏阳性菌和革兰氏阴性菌呈显著正相关（P<0.05）;铵态氮、硝态氮、全磷与真菌和放线菌呈显著正相关（P<0.05）。大兴安岭多年冻土区不同林型间土壤微生物群落特征存在显著差异,土壤含水量、全氮和总有机碳是影响多年冻土微生物群落结构的主要因素。     

Early diagenesis of organic matter in the water column and sediments: Microbial degradation and resynthesis of lipids in Lake Haruna

Particulate matter, sediment trap, and surface sediment samples collected in freshwater Lake Haruna were studied to understand early diageesis of organic materials in the water column and in bottom sediments. The samples were analyzed for biomarkers, including aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons, fatty alcohols, saturated and unsaturated fatty acids, β- and ω-hydroxyacids, and α,ω-dicar☐ylic acids. Decreases in concentrations of autochthonous saturated C₁₂–C₁₉ fatty acids and polyunsaturated C₁₈ acids relative to TOC occured with the settling of organic matter ot the lake bottom, whereas the amounts of terrestial saturated C₂₀–C₃₀ acids remained almost constant. Conversely, the concentrations of monosaturated fatty acids, branched chain fatty acids, and β- and ω-hydroxyacids, which are probably produced by microbial activity, increased. These results indicate that preferential degradation of algal lipids accompanies microbial resynthesis of lipids during settling, however, terrigenous lipids are relatively stable.     

Lipid Distribution in Marine Sediments from the Northern South China Sea and Association with Gas Hydrate

The distributions of lipids in surface and subsurface sediments from the northern South China Sea were determined. The n-alkanes were in bimodal distribution that is characterized by a centre at n-C16 –n-C20 with maximum at C18(or C19) and n-C27 –n-C31 as well as at C29(or C31). The short-chain alkanes suffered from significant losses due to their slow deposition in the water column, and their presence with a slight even carbon predominance in shallow seafloor sediments was ascribed mainly to the direct input from the benthos. The long-chain alkanes with odd predominance indicate transportion of terrigenous organic matter. Immature hopanoid biomarkers reflect the intense microbial activity for bacteria–derived organic matter and the gradual increase of maturity with burial depth. Abundant n-fatty acid methyl esters(n-FAMEs) that are in distributions coincident with fatty acids were detected in all samples. We proposed that the observed FAMEs originated from the methyl esterification of fatty acids; methanol production by methanotrophs and methanogenic archaea related to the anaerobic oxidation of methane, and sulfate reduction provided an O–methyl donor for methylation of fatty acids. The CH4 released from hydrate dissociation at oxygen isotope stage II of Cores ZD3 and ZS5, which had been confirmed by the occurrence of negative δ13C excursion and spherical pyrite aggregates, could have accelerated the above process and thus maximized the relative content of FAMEs at ZD3-2(400–420 cm depth) and ZS5-2(241–291 cm depth).     

The effect of long-term reclamation on enzyme activities and microbial community structure of saline soil at Shangyu, China

Reclamation of saline soil plays an important role in supporting high population growth in China. To evaluate the effects of reclamation and sustainability of salt-affected land production, soil chemical properties, enzyme activities, microbial community structure and function in sites reclaimed in 1976, 1984 and 1996 were characterized. The 2009 site was left to succession fallow and chosen as a control site. Results showed that electrical conductivity (EC) and pH decreased rapidly after the soil forming process started. An accumulation of soil organic C as a result of farming was observed. In all sites, inorganic N and available P were increased within 33 years after reclamation and commencement of agriculture. As a result of reclamation, soil enzyme activity (β-glucosidase, phosphatase, urease and arylsulfatase) was increased. There were no significant differences in soil enzyme activity between the sites reclaimed in 1976 and 1984, with the exception of phosphatase. Carbon source utilization patterns were less diverse in control soil than in treatment sites. The activities of reclamation resulted in synthesis of new phospholipid fatty acids (14:0, 17:1 c9, 16:0 2OH, 17:0 10Me, i17:0, 20:4 ω6c). Principal component analyses showed that the sites reclaimed in 1976 and 1984 clustered together and were distinct from 1996. Taken together, reclamation showed significantly increased soil quality and microbial activity. EC was the main limiting soil quality characteristic, which showed a comparative steady state after a reclamation time of 33 years. Differences in soil enzyme activity and microbial community function after long-term reclamation have potential to be reflected in soil functional integrity and ecosystem service.