Molecular ecology of a facultative swine waste lagoon |
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Authors: | SHM Goh AN Mabbett JP Welch SJ Hall AG McEwan |
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Institution: | School of Molecular and Microbial Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane, QLD, Australia; Advanced Water Management Centre, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane, QLD, Australia |
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Abstract: | Aims: To investigate the microbial ecology of three facultative swine waste lagoons. Methods and Results: Phylogenetic analysis of sequences in a 16S rRNA gene clone library and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analyses were used to assess bacterial diversity in a swine waste lagoon. FISH analysis and Gram-staining were used to compare the microbial communities of all three swine waste lagoons. Six operational taxonomic units were in high relative abundance and corresponded to the following phylotypes; Thiolamprovum , Verrucomicrobia , Acholeplasma , Turicibacter , Clostridium and Bacteroides . PCR was employed to detect the genes apsA and dsrAB which encode for enzymes specifically associated with dissimilatory sulfate-reduction within sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB). Amplification of these genes confirmed their presence within the lagoons. Conclusions: All lagoons were dominated by purple sulfur bacteria, affiliated to Thiolamprovum pedioforme . The molecular identification of fermentative bacteria and SRB indicate the following metabolic processes within such facultative ponds: sulfur-cycling, fermentation, inter-species hydrogen transfer and carbon cycling. Significance and Impact of the Study: This study provides the first molecular evidence for the existence of a sulfur cycle which is linked to phototrophic sulfide oxidation by purple bacteria and organotrophic sulfate-reduction by SRB. |
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Keywords: | facultative lagoons sulfide oxidation sulfur cycle Thiolamprovum pedioforme |
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