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Title: The Microbial Ferrous Wheel in a Neutral pH Groundwater Seep

Journal Article · · Frontiers in Microbiology
 [1];  [2];  [3];  [1];  [2];  [4];  [4];  [2];  [5]
  1. University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI (United States)
  2. Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, East Boothbay, ME (United States)
  3. University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI (United States); Geozentrum Hannover (Germany)
  4. University of Delaware, Lewes, DE (United States)
  5. Indiana University, Bloomington, IN (United States)
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Evidence for microbial Fe redox cycling was documented in a circumneutral pH groundwater seep near Bloomington, Indiana. Geochemical and microbiological analyses were conducted at two sites, a semi-consolidated microbial mat and a floating puffball structure. In situ voltammetric microelectrode measurements revealed steep opposing gradients of O2 and Fe(II) at both sites, similar to other groundwater seep and sedimentary environments known to support microbial Fe redox cycling. The puffball structure showed an abrupt increase in dissolved Fe(II) just at its surface (~5 cm depth), suggesting an internal Fe(II) source coupled to active Fe(III) reduction. Most probable number enumerations detected microaerophilic Fe(II)-oxidizing bacteria (FeOB) and dissimilatory Fe(III)-reducing bacteria (FeRB) at densities of 102 to 105 cells mL-1 in samples from both sites. In vitro Fe(III) reduction experiments revealed the potential for immediate reduction (no lag period) of native Fe(III) oxides. Conventional full-length 16S rRNA gene clone libraries were compared with high throughput barcode sequencing of the V1, V4, or V6 variable regions of 16S rRNA genes in order to evaluate the extent to which new sequencing approaches could provide enhanced insight into the composition of Fe redox cycling microbial community structure.The composition of the clone libraries suggested a lithotroph-dominated microbial community centered around taxa related to known FeOB (e.g., Gallionella, Sideroxydans, Aquabacterium). Sequences related to recognized FeRB (e.g., Rhodoferax, Aeromonas, Geobacter, Desulfovibrio) were also well-represented. Overall, sequences related to known FeOB and FeRB accounted for 88 and 59% of total clone sequences in the mat and puffball libraries, respectively. Taxa identified in the barcode libraries showed partial overlap with the clone libraries, but were not always consistent across different variable regions and sequencing platforms. However, the barcode libraries provided confirmation of key clone library results (e.g., the predominance of Betaproteobacteria) and an expanded view of lithotrophic microbial community composition.

Research Organization:
Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison, WI (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER); US Department of the Navy, Office of Naval Research (ONR); National Science Foundation (NSF)
Grant/Contract Number:
N00014-08-1-0334; IOS-0951077
OSTI ID:
1628063
Journal Information:
Frontiers in Microbiology, Vol. 3; ISSN 1664-302X
Publisher:
Frontiers Research FoundationCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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Opportunistic pathogens and large microbial diversity detected in source-to-distribution drinking water of three remote communities in Northern Australia journal September 2019
Genomic profiling of four cultivated Candidatus Nitrotoga spp. predicts broad metabolic potential and environmental distribution journal July 2018
Using in situ voltammetry as a tool to identify and characterize habitats of iron-oxidizing bacteria: from fresh water wetlands to hydrothermal vent sites journal January 2014
Relating Microbial Community Structure and Geochemistry in Deep Regolith Developed on Volcaniclastic Rock in the Luquillo Mountains, Puerto Rico text January 2015
Groundwater Isolation Governs Chemistry and Microbial Community Structure along Hydrologic Flowpaths journal December 2015
Functional Gene Analysis of Freshwater Iron-Rich Flocs at Circumneutral pH and Isolation of a Stalk-Forming Microaerophilic Iron-Oxidizing Bacterium journal June 2013
Growth of Iron-Oxidizing Bacteria Gallionella ferruginea and Leptothrix cholodnii in Oligotrophic Environments: Ca, Mg, and C as Limiting Factors and G. ferruginea Necromass as C-Source journal November 2019
Bacteria diversity, distribution and insight into their role in S and Fe biogeochemical cycling during black shale weathering: Bacteria in a black shale weathering profile journal July 2014
Microbial Iron Mats at the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and Evidence that Zetaproteobacteria May Be Restricted to Iron-Oxidizing Marine Systems journal March 2015
Relating Microbial Community Structure and Geochemistry in Deep Regolith Developed on Volcaniclastic Rock in the Luquillo Mountains, Puerto Rico journal September 2014
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Relating microbial community structure and geochemistry in deep regolith developed on volcaniclastic rock in the Luquillo Mountains, Puerto Rico text January 2015
Relating Microbial Community Structure and Geochemistry in Deep Regolith Developed on Volcaniclastic Rock in the Luquillo Mountains, Puerto Rico text January 2015
Metabolic Processes Preserved as Biosignatures in Iron-Oxidizing Microorganisms: Implications for Biosignature Detection on Mars journal January 2019
Unraveling the Stratification of an Iron-Oxidizing Microbial Mat by Metatranscriptomics journal July 2014
The microbial ferrous wheel: iron cycling in terrestrial, freshwater, and marine environments journal January 2012

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Related Subjects

58 GEOSCIENCES
neutral pH
microbial
iron
cycling
microscale
16S rRNA gene
barcode sequencing